First published in Sludge.

The controversial conservative group behind “stand your ground” gun laws and “right-to-work” labor policies is celebrating 50 years on Wednesday night with a gala in D.C.

…

Before the event, a coalition of pro-democracy groups will be holding a rally to protest what it describes as “50 years of community harm caused by bills that were drafted and promoted by ALEC.” The coalition will also be calling on corporations to drop ALEC, according to a press advisory.

“This isn’t how our democracy was supposed to work, and we need Congress to step up and pass the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to curb ALEC’s power and put the people, not corporations, in charge of our democracy,” said Svante Myrick, president of the progressive group People For the American Way, one of the organizers of the protest.

Read the full article in Sludge.