Latest news with #JohnLewisVotingRightsAdvancementAct
Black America Web
3 days ago
- Politics
- Black America Web
Fighting For Black Political Power As Voting Rights Act Turns 60
As one of the most impactful pieces of legislation in American history, the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act should be a time of celebration. Now, instead of celebrating the advancements of American democracy, communities across the country find themselves in the middle of a multi-generational attack on the franchise and all the other rights that flow from it. Signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson on Aug. 6, 1965, the Voting Rights Act offered the first real promise of full political participation for Black Americans across the South. The safeguards and protections established by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 paved the way for a more representative government that began to reflect the will of the people, by the people. Civil Rights groups have commemorated the day, reflecting on the resilience and determination of our predecessors, as we face an increasingly hostile anti-democracy minority running recklessly across the federal government. We care about your data. See our privacy policy. Despite efforts to restore and expand the protections afforded by the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the moral clarity from 60 years ago is lacking in congressional leadership. Ahead of the landmark anniversary, Sen. Reverend Raphael Warnock, supported by the Senate Democratic Caucus, reintroduced the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. If passed, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore geographic preclearance under an updated formula, create new nationwide practices of pre-clearance for voting practices with known discriminatory effects. It would further bolster protections against vote dilution, denial, and abridgement as we've seen in many states post- Shelby County v. Holder . According to the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, over 200 civil rights and democracy organizations signed on in support of the reintroduction of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in the Senate. 'Extremists who prefer a White, Christian and male controlled country don't mind destroying our rights to see a return to the days when Black people, Latinos, Asian Americans and Native Americans could be blocked from the ballot but told it's not due to racism,' said Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. 'We are not just celebrating 60 years of voting rights, we're calling out more than a decade of deliberate harm aimed at voters of color.' According to Wiley, overcoming the expansive and arguably unconstitutional overreach that undermines our rights requires the passage of a suite of pro-democracy reforms, including the Freedom to Vote Act, the Native American Voting Rights Act, and the DC statehood bill. She said this freedom package was necessary to protect our communities and hold 'anti-voter' politicians accountable. 'Those in power see the rise of a multiracial democracy as a threat, and they are doing everything they can to silence it,' Wiley said. 'We will keep rising up and speaking out for the fundamental right to decide who represents us and what they do with our power.' And yet, at the state level, community coalitions are stepping up efforts to combat the growing reach of authoritarianism on multiple fronts. Texas has grabbed the national attention as Republicans steeped in white entitlement and resentment demand five extra congressional seats as they further deny and restrict Black voters' right to fair representation. With over four million Black Texans, the largest Black population in the country, it's unsurprising that the Lone Star State is ground zero for the latest Republican scheme. Speaking with NewsOne about the politically motivated mid-decade redistricting effort, Resha Thomas, project director for the Texas Black Action Fund, said the move was grounded in fear. 'We are not even in our final stages on the maps that were redistricted in 2021,' Thomas said. 'It's a fear from those who have been used to retaining power in the state of Texas.' Fear of Black power and political representation has long been a driving force of anti-democracy factions in this country. It's part of why the Voting Rights Act was even needed in 1965, despite the passage of the 15th Amendment nearly 100 years earlier. 'If they're able to succeed in the state of Texas, they are looking to do this in other states,' she said. Thomas said, calling the Texas mid-decade power grab an attack 'not only on access to voting, but representation.' 'It's like who do you call when you have a veteran who's seeking services?' she said. 'It means if you have concerns or issues around your SNAP benefits or Medicaid, having limited resources of having someone answer that phone and help advocate for you.' The current far-right assault on democracy follows a calculated decades-long attack on the federal courts that paved the way for this moment. But a disingenuous opinion by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in Shelby County , claiming the end of discrimination as we knew it in 1965, gave Texas and several other Republican controlled states free rein to get back into the disenfranchisement business. Trump and his cronies are simply exploiting the loopholes and chaos the Roberts court has inflicted on the very institutions meant to serve the people. 'What we're telling folks is there's a lot to come,' Thomas said. 'We've just finished six and a half, almost seven months of this new administration. We still got years to go.' If the need for doing more than just showing up to vote wasn't clear before, hopefully, people are finally getting the message loud and clear. For Tiffany Roberts, public policy director for the Southern Center for Human Rights, the long road ahead has been fortified by movement groundwork that laid the foundation for passing critical legislation, such as the Voting Rights Act. As she reflected on the act's 60th anniversary, Roberts called for people to reconnect with why our ancestors fought for the right to vote. 'We've reduced it to just literally going to the ballot box,' she said.' But we've forgotten that the point of it is for the place where we live and raise our families to reflect our values and our dignity.' For Roberts, part of the shift also requires people to understand that we cannot simply focus on the right to vote alone. The right to vote exists in direct relationship with all the other rights and issues that flow from it. She also challenged people's complacency and acceptance of restrictions on core freedoms, such as the right to protest and free speech, which has paved the way for where we are now. 'We will talk about the dire straits that we are in and still believe that our advocacy must be comfortable,' Roberts said. 'If the state is unchecked, that means that the power of life and death is in the hands of people who really only wanted us to labor for free and build the wealth of this economy under draconian conditions.' SEE ALSO: Florida Supreme Court Backs DeSantis in Diluting Black Voter Power Celebrating Juneteenth Amid Resurging Fascism 160 Years Later SEE ALSO Fighting For Black Political Power As Voting Rights Act Turns 60 was originally published on
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Colorado is ready to preserve voting rights
Darryl Walker fills out his ballot while voting in the presidential primary election on Super Tuesday in Denver, March 5, 2024. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline) Upon the inauguration of the president, America witnessed one of the most vicious attacks on humanity in its history. How did we arrive at this era where hatred and division have become the new normal? As a Denver native, raised as a Southern Baptist Christian by a father born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, I was taught the golden rule: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' This principle was not just a nice sentiment, but a way of life. I've lived across this state — Denver, Aurora, Colorado Springs — and have seen firsthand the power of unity and democracy. For nearly 50 years, the federal Voting Rights Act had bipartisan support. Now in 2025, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in Washington, D.C., authored by Rep. Terri Sewell, who represents Alabama's 7th Congressional District, would protect voters if lawmakers pass it. But why, in this day and age, are we still fighting for what is right in voting? Getting the John Lewis Act passed is a long haul, not because it's the right thing to do, but because doing the right thing is no longer the norm. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX I'll never forget the day in 2016 when it was announced that Hillary Clinton had lost. I wept for an entire day — not because of the loss, but because it signaled that despite the election of Barack Obama, one of the most intelligent presidents in history, nothing had changed for Black people. The memo was clear: racism, sexism and bigotry were still alive and well in our country. Fast forward to Kamala Harris's presidential campaign, where her powerful message was, 'Let's save democracy.' While this rallying cry seemed poised to propel her to become the first woman of color in office, it ultimately fell short of securing her success. As a mother of a college student, I find myself deeply reflecting on what the future holds for America. We talk often about democracy and freedom, but do we truly understand what they mean? How can the younger generation grasp the essence of democracy when they've never experienced life without it? Democracy holds meaning only when we fully understand the consequences of a life without choice, voice or vote — when we understand the profound absence of a Barack Obama or a Kamala Harris. Growing up, I never imagined I would live to see a Black president, let alone a Black woman as vice president. But has their success sparked resentment among right-wing Christian groups, driving efforts to suppress the vote? More troubling still, has their success misled people of color into believing our voting rights are equal — when, in reality, they are far from it? It's time for our elected officials to step down from their ivory towers and understand why voting truly matters. Protecting the vote in Colorado isn't about race or division — it's about humanity. Voting is fundamental to our democracy, a right that must be cherished and safeguarded. Yet, instead of progressing, we've seen troubling steps backward. As we move through 2025, political discourse remains fixated on figures like Trump, but the real issue runs deeper. A culture of hatred and division has taken root, and confronting it is imperative. Colorado holds a unique place in this fight. I saw this firsthand when I attended Brown University and told my peers I was from Denver. Their reaction — silence, followed by judgmental stereotypes — suggested Colorado was only for white people, as if skiing and hiking weren't for people of color like me. What could Colorado possibly offer an immigrant or a person of color? Yet, our state has the power to shatter those misconceptions. By championing voting rights, Colorado can lead the way toward a more just and inclusive democracy for all. On the federal level, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore protections removed from the 1965 Voting Rights Act. It would help ensure that every voter — regardless of race, income, language, or location — has an equal voice in our democracy. But Colorado cannot wait for Congress to do the right thing. We must compel the federal legislators by leading as an example. Voting is not a privilege; it's a promise. A promise that each of us should have an equal say in the decisions that shape our lives. Let's keep that promise. Senate Bill 25-1, the Colorado Voting Rights Act, would restore crucial protections, expand access to multilingual ballots, and ensure fairness in our election process across the state. It's about fairness. It's about ensuring that every Coloradan, no matter their race, income, location in the state or language, has an equal voice in our democracy We have come a long way, but the work is not done. The racial turnout gap in Colorado is one of the largest in the nation, and it's crucial that we address this gap through measures like the Colorado Voting Rights Act. This bill would help eliminate systematic disenfranchisement, expand access, and ensure that our elections are fair and accessible to all. We can't afford to wait for Washington to act. The right to vote should be protected, and COVRA is a critical step in ensuring that every voter in Colorado has the opportunity to cast their ballot free from fear or intimidation. Let's keep Colorado a leader in accessible and fair elections. Let's protect our democracy and ensure that every vote counts. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
