The People’s Organization for Progress To Hold March Voting Rights On MLK Birthday In Newark

A Newark group is planning to hold a march on Saturday, the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., in support of voting rights and several social justice issues.

The People’s Organization for Progress (POP) is spearheading a rally at noon. It will begin at the Lincoln Statue, 12 Springfield Avenue in Newark. Those who plan to attend the march are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing.

“The right to vote in the United States is under attack,” POP Chair Lawrence Hamm said. “We are calling this march to demand passage of legislation that will protect and strengthen voting rights.”

“Since the November 2020 presidential election nearly 400 bills have been introduced in 48 states to restrict voting rights, and 34 of these have become law in 19 states,” Hamm continued. “The POP is calling for passage of the Freedom To Vote Act (S 2747), For The People Act (H.R. 1), and The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4). These bills will protect and strengthen voting rights.”

Black radio legend Joe Madison goes on hunger strike until Congress passes the voting rights act

Black radio legend, Joe Madison of SiriusXM Urban View’s Joe Madison Show announced on his program that he’s starting a hunger strike in protest of voting rights not getting passed in the Senate.

He will continue his hunger strike until congress passes, and President Biden signs, the Freedom to Vote Act or the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Listen to his announcement below:

Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, and Rev. Al Sharpton will visit Capitol Hill and Meet With Lawmakers

On Monday, September 13th, 2021 Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, and Rev. Al Sharpton will visit Capitol Hill to urge congressional leaders to pass federal voting rights legislation and deliver an open letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell requesting a meeting to discuss the necessity of passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Restoration Act, the For The People Act, and the Washington, D.C. Admission Act.

During the visit, the Kings and Rev. Sharpton will meet with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. This visit comes as a follow-up to the August 28th March on For Voting Rights, which brought together 250 partners to hold 101 marches and activations nationwide, uniting tens of thousands of people in the fight against voter suppression. #VotingRightsMarch reached over 100 million people online.

At 2:45p.m., following the meeting with Sen. Schumer, the Kings and Rev. Sharpton will hand-deliver a letter to Senate Minority Leader McConnell before holding a press conference outside of the U.S. Capitol.

Rev. Dr. William Barber says it's time to “reset this whole argument” on voting rights

Rev. Dr. William Barber, Co-Chairman of “The Poor People’s Campaign” and ‘Moral Mondays’ architect, has been leading marches of clergy and voting rights activists, often getting arrested. As the pressure campaign from the public builds, members of Congress are trying to work out some form of ‘compromise.’ But Barber and fellow advocates say a “watered down” voting rights bill isn’t enough. He calls this game a “Washington two-step,” making a bill “so weak it doesn’t deal with the problem.” “We are talking about the greatest attack on voting rights since the Civil War...you shouldn’t be watering it down, you should be strengthening it.”

Rep. Hank Johnson arrested at voting rights demonstration

Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., was among 10 demonstrators arrested by U.S. Capitol Police on Thursday in an orchestrated act of civil disobedience outside the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill.

Johnson and voting rights advocates participating in Black Voters Matter Fund's "Brothers Day of Action," a protest led by Black men to advocate for voting rights, called on Congress to end the filibuster and pass the For the People Act.

After his arrest Rep. Johnson tweeted:

.@BlackCaucus I was arrested today protesting against Senate inaction on voting rights legislation & filibuster reform. In the spirit of my dear friend and mentor – the late Congressman John Lewis – I was getting in #goodtrouble pic.twitter.com/JjN51mRpaC

— Rep. Hank Johnson (@RepHankJohnson) July 22, 2021

Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn pushes for using reconciliation in the fight for voting rights

On The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart Rep. James Clyburn pushed for Democrats to use reconciliation in the fight for voting rights. Watch him explain how reconciliation could be used to pass voting rights legislation.