I was just sent this from the Courage Campaign

"SAN FRANCISCO -- Leaders of the campaign to outlaw same-sex marriage in California made an offer to businesses that have given money to the state's largest gay-rights group: 'Give us money or we'll publicly identify you as opponents of traditional unions.'" -- Lisa Leff, Associated Press, October 23

Dear Daniel,

Apparently lying wasn't enough. Now the official Prop 8 campaign is blackmailing businesses into donating to their crusade to eliminate the fundamental rights of Californians.

On Thursday, we told you about President-Prophet Thomas Monson of the Mormon Church, who has intimidated church members into giving millions of dollars to the Prop 8 campaign, which has saturated California's airwaves with lies and distortions. We asked you to sign a letter to President-Prophet Monson asking the Mormon Church to cease funding the "Yes on 8" campaign.

Your response has been overwhelming -- 8,485 Californians have joined you in signing the letter in less than 48 hours!

Now, the Associated Press is reporting that ProtectMarriage.com -- the organization leading the "Yes on 8" campaign -- is embroiled in a shocking new scandal driven by a Mormon Church member. This week, the Prop 8 campaign sent a certified letter to several California businesses, demanding that they withdraw their support for Equality California, a nonprofit organization leading the "No on 8" campaign -- and instead donate to support the Prop 8 campaign.

The price of not complying with this letter's demands? Placement on a public blacklist of anti-Prop 8 businesses published by the official "Yes on 8" campaign.

Mark Jansson, a "Yes on 8" Executive Committee member and self-described member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was one of four signers to this blackmail letter. This latest episode is yet another example of intimidation by the Mormon Church to pass Prop 8 and dictate public policy to Californians.

We need to stop the Mormon Church from pushing their marriage views on Californians through the ballot box. On Tuesday, we will deliver your letters to President-Prophet Thomas Monson at the Los Angeles Mormon Temple, demanding that his church cease funding the "Yes on 8" campaign and condemn Mark Jansson's extortion. Click here to watch a CBS report about the blackmail letter and forward this email on to your friends now:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/StopTheLies

Jim Abbott, a small businessman in San Diego, was targeted by the Prop 8 campaign with this shocking letter because he contributed $10,000 to Equality California. The "Yes on 8" letter to Abbott, also sent to at least 30 other companies large and small, reads:

"We respectfully request that Abbott & Associates withdraw its support of Equality California. Make a donation of a like amount to ProtectMarriage.com which will help us correct this error and protect Traditional Marriage... Were you to elect not to donate comparably, it would be a clear indication that you are in opposition to traditional marriage... The names of any companies and organizations that choose not to donate in like manner to ProtectMarriage.com but have given to Equality California will be published."

"I feel like it's blackmail," said Jim Abbott. But he won't be intimidated. "We're not caving... we'll support our employees. We're going to support the freedom to marry, a fundamental right to do what we can to make sure it's not taken away."

Click here to watch a CBS report featuring Jim Abbott and then forward this email to your friends and family. On Tuesday, I will personally deliver your signatures to the Los Angeles Mormon Temple, calling on the church to condemn Mark Jansson's blackmail and cease funding Prop 8:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/StopTheLies

To stop the Prop 8 campaign's blackmail against Jim Abbott and other business owners, we need to maximize the media spotlight on the Mormon Church's role in funding this extortion.

Please help us gather as many signatures as possible by forwarding this email message to your friends and family across California and the country ASAP.

Thank you for protecting marriage equality in California.

Rick Jacobs
Chair

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