The corporate money machine has been snaking its way through our government for much longer than five years. However, this Wednesday marks the fifth anniversary of the moment when that snake went from insidious slithering to a boa constrictor-like tightening on our feeble and fragile democracy.

Five years ago, the Supreme Court's ruling in the case of Citizens United v. the Federal Elections Commission allowed corporations and unions the right to spend as much money as they want to influence elections. It gave rise to dark money spending and Super PACs where donors remain hidden from public view while funneling millions of dollars into state and federal elections.

In 2012, non-party outside spending passed the $1 billion mark for the first time in our history – three times the amount spent in the 2008 presidential elections. The immediate effects were glaringly noticeable, as the Sunlight Foundation points out. In the 2010 midterm elections, “outside groups raised and spent $126 million on elections without disclosing the source... Citizens United allowed this election to be the costliest and least transparent midterm election in recent history.”

When the Supreme Court ruled that money is speech and that corporations have the right to use their exorbitant wealth to dictate how our government is run, they put government up for sale to the highest bidders. In other words, government works for those who can pay allegiance.

When the grassroots activist group Backbone Campaign posted a giant "SOLD" sign outside the Capitol building, they weren't being hyperbolic. And over the past five years, many organizations like them have worked to not only shed light on the dark money-fueled mayhem that Citizens United unleashed, but also to fight to have it overturned.

This Wednesday activists and organizations across the country are marking the anniversary with even louder, bolder and more creative actions calling for the overturn of Citizens United, with particular focus on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its various branches.

There's a good reason for this: The Chamber of Commerce was the “largest spender in the 2014 congressional elections among outside groups that do not disclose their contributors.” As the largest lobbying organization in Washington, D.C., the Chamber outspent the next runner-up by more than $40 million.

Despite the fact that the Chamber is supposed to serve and speak for businesses of “all sizes, sectors and regions,” statistics showthat only 1,500 entities provided 94% of the Chamber's funding in 2012 – out of the 3 million businesses it claims to represent. Even further, more than half the Chamber's contributions came from just 64 donors.

But the Chamber isn't the only target of Wednesday's CU5 actions. There is a wide spectrum of events planned from screenings to monopoly games, from speeches to street theater. Across the country, activists and organizations are raising their voices against the bull horn of monied interests and taking a stand for democracy over oligarchy.

Here is a list of some of those actions – and if you don't see one happening in your area, you can create and submit your own. Over 30 organizations including Public Citizen, Common Cause, People For the American Way, 99Rise, 350org, Greenpeace, Other 98, Sum of Us and U.S. PIRG are collaborating on the nationwide CU5 day of action.

For those who can't join in the streets, join in online by signing the petitions below, sharing them and adding in the hashtags #GetMoneyOut, #CitizensUnited, #CU5 and #OverturnCitizensUnited. Note: all actions listed here are for Jan. 21, although there are mobilizations taking place throughout the week.

Washington, D.C.

"Rally to Highlight U.S. Chamber of Commerce" at Lafayette Park on H street between 15th and 17th streets NW, from noon to 1pm. The focus of the rally is “to mark the fifth anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision and shine a light on the fact that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the biggest secret spender in elections.” Speakers include Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), among others.

Los Angeles

"Mourning in America," organized by Money Out/Voters In, Common Cause, Courage Campaign, California Clean Money and 99Rise, at 4pm at L.A. City Hall, 200 N. Main St. The action includes a march from L.A. City Hall to the L.A. Chamber of Commerce. Marchers are using a “Dia de Los Muertos” theme to signify the death of democracy: wear red shirts and black armbands, bring candles and signs. There will also be a musical procession and a banner drop over the 110 freeway. The march will finish with speeches by U.S. congressional candidate Marianne Williamson, Daniel Lee of Move to Amend, Trent Lange of California Clean Money, Kathay Feng of Common Cause, and others. For more info visit here.

San Francisco

"Mourning in America" event similar to the action in Los Angeles. Meet at Market and Montgomery at 3:30pm, for a march to the U.S. District Court and a 4:30 p.m. rally and “memorial service” for democracy. Again, wear black and bring signs. More info available here.

New York City

"Citizens Unite Against Citizens United," organized by Money Out/Voters In, takes place at 3:30 p.m. at the New York Stock Exchange, 11 Wall St. Activists will gather on Wall Street to play monopoly and “demand that MONEY IS NOT SPEECH and CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE.”

Concord, N.H.

Marking the end of the <New Hampshire Rebellion march](http://www.nhrebellion.org/), activists will meet at the Capitol Center for the Arts at 44 S. Main St. at 11:30 a.m. The marchers, led by Lawrence Lessig, will hold a rally at the State House at 1 p.m. followed by a full program at the Capitol Center and finally a celebration of Granny D, the 88-year-old who walked from L.A. to D.C. to raise awareness about getting money out of politics in 1999. More information here.

Atlanta

"Citizens United Fifth Anniversary Event" at the Georgia State Capitol at 206 Washington St. SW at 11 a.m. The full day of action includes a "Democracy and Donuts" teach-in, Legislative Lobby Training, and a "Stand in Solidarity" press conference calling for Congress to overturn Citizens United. A separate action happens in Savannah, with a "Rally for Democracy" at the Savannah Chamber of Commerce at 101 E. Bay St., 12 p.m.

New Orleans

"Anti-Corruption Rally" at One Shell Square at 5:30 p.m. The event includes a large-scale film projection on the corrupting influence of money in politics, and the announcement of a local resolution to “create stronger campaign finance ethical standards.”

Chicago

"Citizens United Fifth Anniversary Event" at Kluczynski Federal Building at 11 a.m. Features a protest as well as public discussion and presentation of solutions, including Constitutional Amendment and small donor public financing.

Minneapolis

"Welcome Back Student Debtors" at University of Minnesota at 11 a.m. “Money is Speech, says the Supreme Court, but how loud can students speak when they are saddled with a lifetime of debt?” Two actions are planned using artistic installations and signs. For more info visit here.

Pay2Play Screenings

The documentary on “Democracy's High Stakes” outlines the systemic corruption brought on by Citizens United and shows how people can get involved fighting it in the most creative ways. Screenings in Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, Nevada, Maine and elsewhere. For details check here

Online Petitions

Democracy For America: Bernie Sanders's '5 Million Signatures'

Tell Congress: Overturn Citizens United

Money Out/Voters In petition to overturn Citizens United

People for the American Way petition to Congress

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