To the Editor:

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen’s recent revelation that the corporation intentionally “amplifies division, extremism, and polarization” is deeply disturbing. It underscores the danger of social media corporations possessing First Amendment free speech rights with the power to decide the First Amendment free speech rights of others. Those decisions, like so many business decisions, should be public, not private/corporate. Social media corporations, similar to other large corporations, have become not just too powerful economically, but politically.

Fortunately, there’s a solution with wide public support – the #WethePeopleAmendment, HJR48. It’s a proposed constitutional amendment that would end the undemocratic Supreme Court-created doctrines that political money equals free speech and that corporations are persons with constitutional rights. Only human beings were intended to have constitutional rights.

Seven states, more than 700 communities and 600 organizations have taken positions supporting this initiative. HJR48 currently has 76 cosponsors.

When Rep. Langevin was a candidate in 2018, took our “Pledge to Amend” as a candidate – meaning he pledged if elected to work to enact the We the People Amendment. Why hasn’t he followed through on his pledge? I was one of several constituents who met with an aide to Rep. Langevin asking that he follow through on his pledged support. He has yet to respond.

The rights of big money in elections and corporations should never trump those of people and communities. Facebook’s extreme actions are just the latest reason why Rep. Langevin should cosponsor the We the People Amendment.

Brian Wilder

Cranston