Several Tucson women’s organizations celebrated Valentine’s Day by performing a mock wedding between brides and corporations on the UA Mall.
About 15 women and a single man participated in the event. Members from the Tucson Raging Grannies, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and Code Pink acted and sang while wearing lace wedding dresses and formal clothing during the 25-minute ceremony. The groups believe corporations have so many of the same rights as individuals that they are nearly “”eligible bachelors.””
“”We were out to celebrate Valentine’s Day by marrying corporations,”” said Betts Putnam-Hidalgo, a member of Code Pink and the Tucson Raging Grannies.
“”They’ve been long-time considered people, and the Supreme Court extended their rights.””
Putnam-Hidalgo was a bride marrying Raytheon in the performance. The group sang “”Chapel of Love”” but replaced the lyrics with lines like “”corporations are so special”” and “”no protections for anything but profit galore.””
The corporation “”groom”” was a large, black skeleton. Putnam-Hidalgo’s mother in the skit tried to dissuade her from marrying “”Ray.””
“”Corporations are only interested in one thing — short-term profits,”” said Carole Edelsky, co-chair of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. “”Not what’s best for your or anyone in the long-run.””
The women advertised the ceremony to students by walking around campus in their wedding dresses and shouting questions like “”What do we have to do to get you to understand what’s happening to our country?””
Putnam-Hidalgo said the organizations chose the Mall because it is highly trafficked. The audience neared about 10 people including a few students.
“”We were hoping there’d be lots of people,”” Putnam-Hidalgo said. “”It’s amazing how much noise you can make and how much of the campus you can cover and people don’t really notice you.””
Joyce Smith, a supporter of Tucson Raging Grannies, said students should be aware of the impact of corporations.
“”We now have a government of the corporation, by the corporation and for the corporation,”” Smith said. “”It’s really up to we the people to reclaim democracy.””
Molecular and cellular biology senior Charity Adusei came to the end of the performance. She said the mock wedding was a unique way to prove a point.
“”It is a very effective way (to draw students),”” she said. “”We came over because of the outfits. That’s the only reason.””
Adusei said she thought the women were students from a distance and was surprised by the group.
“”It’s cool though,”” she said. “”They’re seniors and they’re still going.””
