Green Party of Pennsylvania
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Thursday, April 16, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT
Chris Robinson, Communication Team Co-Leader
Green Party Favors March to Ban Bribery
The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA) has endorsed the March to Ban Bribery which will descend upon Harrisburg in early May. The march was called by activists who want to stop graft in our Commonwealth. The organizers say, “We are marching to demand lawmakers stop billionaire bribes and pass a gift ban.”
GPPA Steering Committee Member Beth Schongar said, "The March to Ban Bribery intends to change the fact that anyone can legally give any gift to PA lawmakers. Bribes mean that regular constituents are priced out of representation. Especially concerning are gifts from petroleum-based companies making us more vulnerable to environmental disasters and childhood deaths."
The Green Party of the U.S. has said, “The Green Party stands with like-minded people who are tired of the dirty politics that stand in the way of real progress. We want to bring fairness and integrity back to our governing institutions by getting big money out of politics and fighting for equal opportunity in an open, inclusive society.”
According to Kat Marquez of the Green Party of Allegheny County (GPOAC) executive committee, “It isn't emphasized enough that Pennsylvania politicians -- our representatives -- are bribed constantly by big corporations who are just looking to profit. As the media coordinator of GPOAC, I want to participate in the march to continue to publicize the need to ban bribery. It's frustrating that the two corporate parties have not said or done anything to prevent their elected officials from being bribed. By marching, I'm hopeful we can demonstrate and encourage others on how we can all take action for our community members across the state.”
This will not be the first time Green Party members have marched against corruption in Harrisburg. During 2022, the Green Party participated in the Climate Convergence with actions described by Green Party Mayor Michael Bagdes-Canning (Butler County), Our “second action had 11 people willing to risk arrest while visiting the House chambers. The plan was to ‘bribe’ the legislators and drop a banner. The money droppers tossed money over the side [of the House balcony], but the banner droppers were unable to unfurl the banner because of a very quick police response. One of the banner droppers was Christina “PK” DiGiulio, the Green Party Candidate for PA Governor. The ‘bribers’ rained down $203 of real money ($1 for each PA Representative) which had ‘BRIBE’ or another appropriate message written on it. Their banner read ‘You Take Bribes, The Planet Dies.’” At the time, Bagdes-Canning was the Green Party candidate for PA Lieutenant Governor.
This year’s March to Ban Bribery will begin on April 30 in Reading (Berks County). It will end with a massive rally in Harrisburg on May 4. Please register here for more information, https://actionnetwork.org/events/march-to-ban-bribery/
According to Kat Marquez of the Green Party of Allegheny County (GPOAC) executive committee, “It isn't emphasized enough that Pennsylvania politicians -- our representatives -- are bribed constantly by big corporations who are just looking to profit. As the media coordinator of GPOAC, I want to participate in the march to continue to publicize the need to ban bribery. It's frustrating that the two corporate parties have not said or done anything to prevent their elected officials from being bribed. By marching, I'm hopeful we can demonstrate and encourage others on how we can all take action for our community members across the state.”
This will not be the first time Green Party members have marched against corruption in Harrisburg. During 2022, the Green Party participated in the Climate Convergence with actions described by Green Party Mayor Michael Bagdes-Canning (Butler County), Our “second action had 11 people willing to risk arrest while visiting the House chambers. The plan was to ‘bribe’ the legislators and drop a banner. The money droppers tossed money over the side [of the House balcony], but the banner droppers were unable to unfurl the banner because of a very quick police response. One of the banner droppers was Christina “PK” DiGiulio, the Green Party Candidate for PA Governor. The ‘bribers’ rained down $203 of real money ($1 for each PA Representative) which had ‘BRIBE’ or another appropriate message written on it. Their banner read ‘You Take Bribes, The Planet Dies.’” At the time, Bagdes-Canning was the Green Party candidate for PA Lieutenant Governor.
This year’s March to Ban Bribery will begin on April 30 in Reading (Berks County). It will end with a massive rally in Harrisburg on May 4. Please register here for more information, https://actionnetwork.org/events/march-to-ban-bribery/
The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA), https://www.gpofpa.org, is an independent political party which stands in opposition to the two corporate parties. GPPA candidates promote public policy based on the Green Party’s Four Pillars: grassroots democracy, nonviolence, ecological wisdom, and social justice/equal opportunity. For further information about GPPA, please email [email protected]. Please follow GPPA on social media: Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/gpofpa/ and Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/pagreenparty/
For more information:
“Combat Corruption and Promote Transparency,” Green Party of the U.S., news release, December 2, 2022,
https://www.gp.org/combat_corruption_and_promote_transparency
https://www.gp.org/combat_corruption_and_promote_transparency
“Nonviolent Direct Action to Stop Climate Change,” Michael Bagdes-Canning for PA Lieutenant Governor, news release, June 22, 2022,
https://www.gpofpa.org/nonviolent_direct_action_to_stop_climate_change
“Green Party of Philadelphia Denounces Corruption of Local Elected Officials” by Jarrett Anderson, Philadelphia Weekly, January 6, 2022,
https://www.gpofpa.org/nonviolent_direct_action_to_stop_climate_change
“Green Party of Philadelphia Denounces Corruption of Local Elected Officials” by Jarrett Anderson, Philadelphia Weekly, January 6, 2022,
Do you like this post?