General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCelebrating the Right to Vote
We all witnessed that large influx of new voters which helped bring the Democratic party back into power in the WH in 2008. . . a large majority of those new voters, African Americans and other minority citizens.
In the next presidential election, whoever we choose to be our nominee, our party will be challenged to get these same voters (and a host of other new voters) to the polls. That challenge means that the level of our commitment to voting rights, access, and fairness will likely determine the question of whether our party's nominees will continue to be upheld and advanced ahead of the republican opposition.
Today is the anniversary of the signing of the original Voting Rights Act.
Consider how the VRA transformed American democracy (from The Nation):
-In 1965, only 31 percent of eligible black voters were registered to vote the in the seven Southern states originally covered by the VRA, compared to 72 percent of white voters. The number of black registered voters was as low as 6.7 percent in Mississippi. In Selma, only 393 of 15,000 eligible black voters were registered when LBJ introduced the VRA in March 1965.
Today, 73 percent of black voters are registered to vote according to the US Census and black voter turnout exceeded white turnout in 2012 for the first time in recorded history.
-In 1965, there were fewer than 500 black elected officials nationwide. Today, there are more than 10,500.
-In 1965, there were only five black members of Congress. Today there are forty-four. The 113th Congress is the most diverse in history, with 97 minority elected representatives.
-Since 1965, the Justice Department blocked at least 1,150 discriminatory voting changes from going into effect under Section 5 of the VRA.
Yet the Supreme Courts decision in late June invalidating Section 4 of the VRA threatens to roll back much of the progress made over the past forty-eight years. Since the ruling, six Southern states previously covered under Section 4 have passed or implemented new voting restrictions, with North Carolina recently passing the countrys worst voter suppression law. The latest assault on the franchise comes on the heels of a presidential election in which voter suppression attempts played a starring role, with 180 bills introduced in 41 states to restrict access to the ballot in 2011-2012, which NAACP President Ben Jealous called the greatest attacks on voting rights since segregation. The broad scope of contemporary voting discrimination is why John Lewis testified before Congress last month that the Voting Rights Act is needed now like never before.
LBJ made clear, in his remarks at the signing of the Act, that the defense and protection of voting rights for black Americans was, ultimately a powerful advance for ALL Americans:
"It is difficult to fight for freedom. But I also know how difficult it can be to bend long years of habit and custom to grant it. There is no room for injustice anywhere in the American mansion. But there is always room for understanding toward those who see the old ways crumbling. And to them today I say simply this: It must come. It is right that it should come. And when it has, you will find that a burden has been lifted from your shoulders, too.
It is not just a question of guilt, although there is that. It is that men cannot live with a lie and not be stained by it.
The central fact of American civilizationone so hard for others to understandis that freedom and justice and the dignity of man are not just words to us. We believe in them. Under all the growth and the tumult and abundance, we believe. And so, as long as some among us are oppressedand we are part of that oppressionit must blunt our faith and sap the strength of our high purpose.
Thus, this is a victory for the freedom of the American Negro. But it is also a victory for the freedom of the American Nation. And every family across this great, entire, searching land will live stronger in liberty, will live more splendid in expectation, and will be prouder to be American because of the act that you have passed that I will sign today."
As we work to defend against the latest republican assaults on the continuation of these important voting protections - and work for the enactment of expanded rights and protections for every American - we need to keep the Voting Rights Act at the forefront of our political activity to ensure that the promises made in the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments were more than just lip service.
We must continue to make certain that those important rights and privileges are backed up by the unfaltering and immediate actions of the federal government to defend and enhance these vital protections of our participation in our democratic process of government and law.
MLK's White House Invitation to Signing of Voting Rights Act
Response to bigtree (Original post)
bigtree This message was self-deleted by its author.
sheshe2
(83,737 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)10,000 showed up in N.C. yesterday in regard to this issue - and before the month is out, many more will show up in D.C. to commemorate MLK's march there.
But more essential, to rekindle the fire of those days, over the cause of equality and justice that has been ongoing for centuries. I have my own opinion of why these events are not even given lip service here, that go without repeating.
But I remember too that the RW was so amazed at the people I call invisible who went to the polls in 2012 to once again elect Obama. Apathic people and cynics don't get this done. We who care can overcome this.
The forces who oppose equality are fighting in less direct ways than in the past to destroy the lives of many people. We have not forgotten.
Perhaps it simply will not garner attention on DU anymore. Which is sad.
Thanks for posting that telegram - I had never seen it before.
Cha
(297,137 posts)So very important.. these dedicated people in history made it possible for everyone to vote and now they're trying to take it away.
Mahalo for this.. We are the ones who will make this happen. We can't change what the rw SCOTUS does(for now anyway).. but, we can do everything possible to help everyone vote who wants to just do it.
I'm thinking OFA could be big asset in 2016 even though Obama won't be running.
sheshe2
(83,737 posts)I only just found your OP.
I understand your frustration. I really do. Happened to me about VAWA. No takers. Silence from many.
These issues about voter suppression, they are paramount to our future. Our future is about our freedoms. OUR FREEDOMS!
I am sorry bigtree, for the lack of response. Truly sorry.
No vote should be denied, it is our right. Our right and our dignity. We cannot let them take that away from us.
DevonRex
(22,541 posts)not just our past. It's a past that we can be proud of, that came from another darker one which we should be determined never to repeat.
Many were lost in the fight for the Voting Rights Act. Let us all march tall and strong now - before uglier forces regain power. That is the right and only way to honor this anniversary and the brave people who gave all they had for those who came after.
Thank you so much.
sheshe2
(83,737 posts)and Standing together!
Together we can.
DevonRex
(22,541 posts)They're doing it right. All together. Black and white, gay and straight. The artists and the locals, the women and the farmers. Blue collar, white collar. Everyone. It's beautiful.
DevonRex
(22,541 posts)OMG. Why haven't I ever seen them before? Stunning.
MADem
(135,425 posts)BIG kick.
BIG rec.
Some truths are self evident.
Cha
(297,137 posts)Cha
(297,137 posts)if I lived on the East Coast
cali
(114,904 posts)was tragic. Only Congress can remedy it.
BumRushDaShow
(128,839 posts)Thanks for posting this thread!!! Always more work to do!!
bigtree
(85,986 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)Cha
(297,137 posts)such an important OP, bigtree!