June 22, 2009—After two weeks of Glenn Beck and 14 months of investigations of the FBI for vote fraud, the Association of Community Organizers for Reform Now [ACORN] has changed its name to Community Organizers International. The new name is branded as a registered trademark. What that means is if the media and/or the blogger community and/or any whistleblowers use their new name in any manner not authorized by The-Organization-Formerly-Known-As-ACORN, they could be liable for monetary damages and injunctive relief.
Even though ACORN is shedding its tarnished shell, they will still attempt to block reporters and bloggers from using their old name to describe The-Organization-Formerly-Known-As-ACORN. ACORN'S general counsel, Arthur Schwartz sent cease and desist orders to Marcel Reid, the current Chairperson of DC ACORN 8 and fired ACORN board member Karen Inman, threatening them with lawsuits.
Inman was fired for asking for the financial records pertaining to the covered-up embezzlement of what was reportedly $1 million by ACORN founder Wade Rathke's brother Dale. When ACORN's board decided to prosecute Dale Rathke for the misappropriation of ACORN funds, the Tides Foundation reimbursed ACORN for its loss. It seems the money crowd that supports ACORN did not want their books opened for scrutiny. In the letter, Schwartz said "...it is a violation of federal and state law for you to use the ACORN name and mark without the written permission of ACORN. Should you continue to do so, you will be liable for monetary and injunctive relief." Schwartz intends to use under trademark or copyright infringement.
Reid told the media that her group, ACORN 8, knew "...for many months that the name ACORN [was] going to be retired. The name has been so damaged to the point where the leadership knows it simply can't go on as it has with the ACORN label out front and center, especially after all of the reporting....ACORN has been decapitated. The senior staff and current national board should be dismantled.
The only way to have reform is for the current leadership to be removed completely. We also need a forensic audit." Expect the ACORN audit to take place about a day after the complete audit of the Federal Reserve.
