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“Go, Granny D!”: Reenactment of Doris “Granny D” Haddock’s March for Campaign Finance Reform

On New Year’s Day in 1999, Doris “Granny D” Haddock began a 3,200 miles march across the country at age 89 as a call for campaign finance reform. Her march across the United States started in Pasadena, California and ended on the steps of the Capital in Washington 14 months later.

Barbara Bates Smith and Jeff Sebens

Barbara Bates Smith, an Off-Broadway actress, and musician Jeff Sebens will be reenacting Granny’s D’s journey for bipartisan reform efforts in countrywide voter registration drives. The performance will take place in the Evelyn Johnson Room at the Watauga County Public Library. This free, can’t miss reenactment is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 18th.

Granny D’s 3,200 mile trek across the United States precipitated the passage of the McCain-Feingold Act as she declared, “Corporations are not people! Democracy is!” She continued advocating until her death at age 100.

Granny D during her 3,200 mile march across the United States.

As she continued her bipartisan reform efforts in countrywide voter registration drivers, her final challenge was: “Democracy is a running game. You huddle and you go back in. You keep going.”

Granny D sparked a national conversation about big money and politics, which still continues today. As Barbara Bates Smith’s website says, “Never underestimate grannies.”

Smith’s one-person performance of Granny D will run for less than an hour. All attendees are invited to stay after the show for a lively discussion. Don’t miss your chance to learn more about Granny D, a woman who inspired so many, at this wonderful reenactment this weekend.

For more information, contact Ross Copper at RCooper@arlibrary.org.

For more information on Barbara Bates Smith and the show, visit her website: http://www.barbarabatessmith.com/programs/go-granny-d.