Showing posts with label voting rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label voting rights. Show all posts

Sunday, March 03, 2024

NAACP Supports Reintroduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act

On Febrary 29, 2024 Sen. Raphael Warnock (GA) reintroduced the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The bill, which the NAACP has signed onto, aims to revitalize the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by expanding the government's ability to respond to voting discrimination. The reintroduction of the act comes following a failed attempt at passage of the original bill, and increasing attacks on voting rights from courts and politicians across the nation.

NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson released the following statement:

"The NAACP is proud to support Senator Warnock's reintroduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act bill. Right now, Americans, particularly Black Americans' right to vote is under attack. While the NAACP remains unwavering in our efforts to litigate, agitate, and advocate, we can't do this alone. Federal action must be swift and decisive.

The reintroduction of this bill marks another pivotal moment in the fight to ensure every American has access to the ballot box. We know that democracy can't exist without the Black vote. Now, it's up to our leaders to protect it, ensuring that every voice is heard, and every vote counted. Together, we'll repair democracy."

This week, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson met with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House to discuss voting rights in America. The NAACP is also currently litigating eight voting rights cases across the country. Ahead of the 2024 election, the Association has launched a multi-million dollar civic engagement campaign throughout 26 priority states in its ongoing advocacy efforts to preserve equitable access to the ballot box for Black Americans.

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Watch Vice President Harris in a Conversation at the NAACP Annual Convention

Watch the full remarks by Vice President Harris during a moderated conversation at the NAACP 114th annual convention. A conversation in which she urges Black Americans to vote and cast Republicans as extremists on everything from abortion, voting rights and gun reform.

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Black Louisiana Senate Candidate Burns Confederate Flag in New Campaign Video

Gary Chambers, a Black U.S. Senate candidate from Louisiana burned a Confederate flag while speaking out against restrictive voting laws in his latest campaign video released on Wednesday.

Watch that video below:

Friday, January 21, 2022

"The Black Eagle' Joe Madison ends hunger strike

Sirius XM radio host Joe Madison , "The Black Eagle" announced the end of his hunger strike after 74 days of protest in order to bring awareness to voting rights legislation. Listen to the radio legend explain why he striked and why he decided to end the strike below:

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Stevie Wonder's blunt message to U.S. Senators about voting rights

Music legend, Stevie wonder posted a video message to his YouTube channel in which he rather blunty expressed his thoughts about the voting rights bill that Senate Democrats are expected to meet about on Tuesday.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson's letter to U.S. Senators asking them to pass voting rights reform

The president of the NAACP Derrick Johnson penned a letter to all U.S. senators on Tuesday stating that it is essential that they approve voting rights reform. Read the entire letter below.

Monday, January 17, 2022

Kamala Harris Calls On Senate To ‘Do Its Job’ & Pass Voting Rights During MLK Day Address

Watch Vice President Kamala Harris deliver remarks to the congregation at Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church remotely from Washington commemorating Martin Luther King Day. She called on the Senate to “do its job” and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act in order to secure the freedom to vote.

On MLK Holiday Martin Luther King III calls out U.S. Senate on failure to pass voting rights bills

On the national observance of Martin Luther King Junior's birthday, his eldest son called out the Senate for its failure so far to pass voting rights legislation.

Saturday, January 15, 2022

SPEAKER PELOSI TO JOIN MARTIN LUTHER KING III & FAMILY FOR MLK DAY PRESS CONFERENCE ON VOTING RIGHTS

On Monday,  the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will join Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King and Yolanda Renee King, as well as other elected officials and civil rights leaders at a press conference to discuss the critical need for action on voting rights legislation. The press conference comes as the Senate heads for a vote on the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act on Tuesday. Mr. King and others will call on the Senate to do away with the filibuster in order to pass this bill.


The list of speakers includes:


  • Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi  
  • Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus 
  • Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL), United States Congress
  • Martin Luther King III, Chairman of the Drum Major Institute
  • Arndrea Waters King, President of the Drum Major Institute
  • Yolanda Renee King, Director of Youth Programming for the Drum Major Institute and Granddaughter of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King
  • Rev. Al Sharpton, President of National Action Network 
  • DaMareo Cooper Co-Chair of the Center for Popular Democracy 
  • Kelly Robinson, Executive Director of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Vice President of Advocacy and Organizing at Planned Parenthood Federation of America 
  • Maria Teresa Kumar, President and CEO of Voto Latino  
  • Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers 
  • Becky Pringle, President of the National Education Association 
  • Melanie Campbell, President and CEO of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation 
  • LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder of Black Voters Matter
  • Rahna Epting, Executive Director of MoveOn
  • Donald Cravins, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the National Urban League
  • Rev. Lis Theoharis, Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign 
  • Ramón Cruz, President of Sierra Club 
  • Stephanie Young, Executive Director of When We All Vote 
  • Taifa Smith Butler, President of Demos
  • Virginia Kase Solomón, CEO of League of Women Voters 

In the morning before the press conference, Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King, Yolanda Renee King and representatives from partner organizations will join the D.C. MLK Holiday Committee for their D.C. Peace Walk: Change Happens with Good Hope and a Dream. The King family will not be formally speaking at the Peace Walk; however, media is invited to capture footage and photos of the family crossing the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge.

Martin Luther King Jr still relevant quote on voting rights and the filibuster

59 years ago Martin Luther King Jr. made a statement about the minority of senators blocking voting rights and the filibuster that is still true today.

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.”

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

Congressional Black Caucus Holds News Conference on Filibuster For Voting Rights

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) held a news conference on voting rights from Capitol Hill. The CBC called on the Senate to change the filibuster rules to allow a vote on the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

Watch that news conference below:

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Dr. Bernice King delivers message about commerating the MLK Holiday and voting rights

Dr. Bernice King, the King Center CEO and daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr., offered an explanation of the center's and her family's plans for the MLK Day holiday in 2022 after her brother, Martin Luther King III indicated this week they would not formally celebrate it unless voting rights bills pass in Congress.

In a video message posted to social media, Bernice King said she stands in solidarity with her brother, Martin Luther King III, in "calling our nation's attention to securing and protecting the most sacred right of our democracy, which is the right to vote."

Tuesday, November 09, 2021

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:

Wednesday, November 03, 2021

Senate Republicans block John Lewis voting rights bill

Senate Democrats failed to advance a revised version of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act on Wednesday after Republicans blocked the vote from advancing to debate.

The legislation would replace part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in 2013 and would aim to restore Justice Department review of changes in election law in states with a history of discrimination.

The bill did not receive the 60 votes needed to overcome a legislative hurdle called a filibuster, preventing the start of debate on the legislation.

In a vote of 50 to 49, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican who supported proceeding to debate. Speaking from the Senate floor prior to the vote, she said while she had "reservations" on the legislation, she believed it was the best starting point to begin debating voting rights legislation.

The revised bill that Republicans blocked on Wednesday includes changes such as what factors courts can consider when determining if Section 2 of the VRA has been violated. The bill also drops a requirement for localities with growing minority populations to get preclearance for changes on offering food or drinks to people waiting in line to vote. The change has been included under the earlier version of the bill's new requirement for "practice-based" preclearance.

Monday, November 01, 2021

Schumer to force vote on John Lewis voting rights bill

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Monday that he will force a vote this week on a voting rights bill named after the late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.)

Schumer will force a vote on Wednesday on whether to debate the bill. It is expected to fail to get the 60 votes needed to advance.

"I will file cloture on the motion to proceed to the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, setting up a vote to take place on Wednesday," Schumer said from the Senate floor.

"If there's anything that merits debate here in the Senate, it's protecting the precious right of Americans to participate in our elections," Schumer added.

The voting rights bill named after Lewis would update the Voting Rights Act (VRA) to strengthen sections of the 1965 law that were gutted by the Supreme Court's 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision, which focused on Section 5 of the VRA that required Justice Department preclearance before some states could change voting laws, and the 2021 Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee decision, which advocates believe weakened Section 2 of the 1965 law focused on racially targeted voting policies.

Schumer pledged that if Republicans help start debate on the bill, which is unlikely, that they would have a chance to offer amendments. Even if Republicans allowed a debate on the bill, they could still block it from passing because it will need to overcome a second 60-vote hurdle.

"I am prepared to offer a full-fledged debate befitting this great chamber. Republicans will be given the chance to raise their objections, to offer amendments and make changes to the bill," Schumer said.

"I know that both parties have serious disagreements on this important issue, so we want to hear from the other side what they propose. But for that to happen, we need to start debate first. We need to vote to allow the Senate to work through its process," Schumer added.

[MSN]

Friday, October 29, 2021

NAACP Urges Professional Athletes In Free Agency to Avoid Texas

In response to the most recent attacks on voting rights and reproductive care, the Association sent an open letter to the National Players' Leagues, urging free agents to reconsider moving their families to a state that is not safe for anyone.

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson:

"We must stand up for what is right and protect our loved ones from the dangerous attacks on freedoms taking place in Texas."

Signed by NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson and NAACP Texas President Gary Bledsoe, the letter was delivered to the National Football League Players Association, Women's National Basketball Player's Association, National Basketball Players Association, Major League Baseball Players Association, and National Hockey League Players' Association. The letter calls on athletes to consider not only their influential platforms as professional athletes, but as parents and role models for our children and those in their personal lives. >/p>

"As we watch an incomprehensible assault on basic human rights unfold in Texas, we are simultaneously witnessing a threat to constitutional guarantees for women, children and marginalized communities," write the authors. "Over the past few months, legislators in Texas have passed archaic policies, disguised as laws, that directly violate privacy rights and a woman's freedom to choose, restrict access to free and fair elections for Black and brown voters, and increase the risk of contracting coronavirus. If you are a woman, avoid Texas. If you are Black, avoid Texas. If you want to lower your chances of dying from coronavirus, avoid Texas."

"When all else fails, we must look within and answer the call to protect the basic human rights and democratic values which are fundamental to this country" said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO, NAACP. "Professional athletes serve as some of our country's greatest role models and we need them to join us to fight for democracy."

Over the past few months, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed into law extreme voting laws to severely restrict the right to vote, empowered vigilantes with the authority of the law to restrict women's freedom to make choices about their bodies, and has most recently codified redistricting maps that aim to disenfranchise Black, brown, and Latinx voters. Recently released data from the 2020 census shows that people of color have driven 95% of the Texas population growth.

"The continued attacks on people of color in the state of Texas are reprehensible," said Gary Bledsoe, President of the Texas NAACP. "In the absence of federal action, advocates in Texas must stand together and use all of the tools at their disposal to ensure that basic human rights are delivered to the people of Texas. We must fight for our Constitution and the freedoms that it guarantees to all Americans."

Sunday, September 12, 2021

Democrats near a compromise on a federal voting rights bill

Rep. Terri Sewell discussed the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and her belief that Democrats are near a deal on Jonathan Capehart's MSNBC show, The Sunday Show.

Watch that segment 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.

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley speech at 2021 March on Washington




U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley joined protesters speaking out against racial injustice and police brutality at the March on Washington Friday, 57 years after the first march was held and led by the Rev. Martin Luther King. Jr., on Aug. 28, 1963.

Watch her speech below: