#VRA50

[myfirstvote-blog]

I remember being 18 years old and standing in line at our local fire station at 6:45 AM so I could be one of the first to vote. It was the presidential preference primary in 1992. 

I voted Clinton then. 😄

— Michele

#myfirstvote #voting rights act #vra50 #hillary2016 #hillaryclinton #submission

[obamawhitehouse]

"What makes our country great is not that we are perfect, but that with time, courage and effort, we can become more perfect." —President Obama on why it's time to restore the Voting Rights Act

#President Barack Obama #Voting Rights Act #VRA50 #Selma #New York Times Magazine #New York Times #NYT

[whytuesday]

Last week Hillary responded to our call to restore the Voting Rights Act! Thanks Senator.

#VRA50 #hillary clinton #election reform

[onwurd]

More coverage of the living history that is the Voting Rights Act, and long-time activists like Cong. John Lewis who continue to fight for the document’s integrity.

#politics and government #VRA50 #MHP #interview

[libawr]

#fbf, National Voter Registration Day edition

(2012) Matt Singer/Bus Project: What if we made up a holiday dedicated to voter registration?

(2012) Tumblr: Cool, we're in. We'll register 100K+ voters on the first National Voter Registration Day without breaking a sweat. And our founder David will *finally* register for the first time at age 26. (And we'll do it again in 2014.)

(2015) President Obama: "Huge chunks of us - citizens - just give away our power." That's why, on the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, I'm declaring September 22 officially National Voter Registration Day.

US: Thanks, POTUS! (You're only 3 years late to the game, but better late than never!)

#NVRD #celebrateNVRD #VRA50 #tbt #fbf #National Voter Registration Day #Voting Rights Act #Obama #validation #go vote

[myfirstvote-blog]

My father told me, “People died so we could vote. Not voting is spitting on their grave.” He meant the countless soldiers and civil rights movement members who died for our rights.

Mom and Dad took me to vote since I was a baby, and my first unofficial vote was for President Carter, when my mom let me flip the switch in the old swoop machines. #MyFirstVote (officially) was in ‘96 for the re-election primary of President Bill Clinton. Then I voted again in November.

— Emi

#myfirstvote #voting rights act #vra50 #hillary2016 #hillaryclinton #submission

[obamawhitehouse]

"People were beaten, some arrested, some jailed, some even murdered, but we didn't give up. We didn't give in. We kept the faith, and we kept our eyes on the prize." —Congressman John Lewis on working to pass the Voting Rights Act 50 years ago

#VRA50 #Congressman John Lewis #President Barack Obama #Attorney General Loretta Lynch #Voting Rights Act #Selma

[whytuesday]

The Governor will not be able to attend as he is heading to Cleveland for the debate. Below is what the Governor has said on the issue. Governor Christie Said His Administration Has Made Sure People Have A Full Opportunity To Vote And Has Encouraged People To Vote SENATOR BARBARA BUONO: 'Governor, a few months ago the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act which protects poor and minorities' right to vote. At the time you were asked numerous times what your opinion was and you failed to respond, and in the aftermath of the Voting Rights Act Republican governors across the country are restricting the rights of poor and minority voters to exercise their right to vote. Are you ready to give an opinion? Was the Supreme Court wrong to gut the Voting Rights Act?' GOVERNOR CHRISTIE: 'Well I know you're talking about other Republican governors but you're not talking about this one, because this Republican governor has not moved one inch to restrict people's right to vote. In fact, what we've done is make sure that people have a full opportunity to vote. In fact tonight as we speak people are voting in New Jersey. Vote by mail ballots are out and people can nowvote in New Jersey as we speak, and so I'd rather instead of giving opinions rather let my conduct show what my record is, and my conduct has been this: we're encouraging people to vote, we want people to vote. I want as many people to vote. Believe me on November 5th l want as many people out there to vote as they possibly can, and we're looking forward to that vote and we're looking forward to the result.' (First Gubernatorial Debate. 10/8/13)

Chris Christie’s campaign

Just in case you were worried only Democrats had responded to our candidate challenge.

#vra50 #voting rights #chris christie #gop debate

[ppaction]

Planned Parenthood Honors 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act

“Planned Parenthood stands with those who continue to work to expand and protect voting rights for all people.”

Statement from Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

“Today, we honor the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, a landmark policy 50 years ago that prohibited racial discrimination in voting. A year after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act went several steps further to ensure people discriminated against because of their race had the necessary protection to exercise their constitutional rights. We are grateful for the Civil Rights leaders who pushed our nation to task to ensure people of color – particularly those living in the Jim Crow-era Deep South – were able to vote.

“While we celebrate this achievement, we must acknowledge that 50 years later, Congress has still yet to pass legislation that would correct the 2013 Supreme Court decision in Shelby v. Holder, which gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. We know that the same states that have been actively working to suppress the right to vote are also the same states that are working to erode women’s access to reproductive health care and defund Planned Parenthood. Voter ID laws are just a political smokescreen that actually limits voting rights for people of color, those in rural areas, and low-income people. These new laws seem to be the 21st century version of literacy tests that disenfranchised voters in the past.

“The right to vote is key to advocating for fundamental human rights – including reproductive health care, immigration reform, LGBT rights, and racial justice. Planned Parenthood stands with organizations and lawmakers who not only honor the 1965 Voting Rights Act, but continue to work to expand and protect voting rights for all people. The history of our country shows that we are better off when more people have a voice in our political process – we should be passing laws that make it easier to vote, not harder.”

#voting rights act #VRA #VRA50 #voting rights

[thisiswhywevote-blog]

By voting, we are making our voice heard. Especially for the Latinos that are not able to do so because of their immigration status.

Clara Puerta Atlanta, GA

#ThisIsWhyWeVote #VRA50 #RestoreTheVRA #YoungDemocratsOfAtlanta #YDATL #GADems #GAPol #Latinos #YourVoiceIsYourVote #YoungDemocrats #Democrats

[michaelmergen]

Thinking about this print on the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act, from a series I completed this summer about the Selma-to-Montgomery March.

Michael Mergen U.S. Congress Approves Voting Rights Act of 1965, 2015 32 x 44 inches Crayon over archival pigment print

#vra50 #Voting Rights Act

[myfirstvote-blog]

#myfirstvote #vra50 #voting rights act #hillary2016 #hillaryclinton

[obamawhitehouse]

Marching in support of voting rights, Congressman John Lewis and other peaceful protestors clashed with state troopers at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama in 1965. On August 6 that year, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law making the ballot box immediately more accessible to millions of Americans of every race, gender, region, economic status, and national origin. It has been called the most effective legislation of the last 50 years.

Congressman Lewis is taking over the White House Instagram to celebrate today's 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and talk about the work we still have to do to break down barriers to voting for all Americans. Follow along at Instagram.com/WhiteHouse. 

#Congress John Lewis #Selma #Edmund Pettus Bridge #Voting Rights Act #VRA50

[whytuesday]

"Nothing is more fundamental to our sacred democracy than the right to vote. As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, we recognize those who played a central role in America’s long tradition of expanding freedom. They helped bridge the gap between promise and reality in America. "While today should be a joyous occasion celebrating the efforts of those who sacrificed so much for this sacred right, it's also a reminder that progress is not permanent. The right to vote in America is still under threat. "In 2013, the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act and opened the door for restrictive voting laws. The following year, under the guise of preventing voter fraud – a virtually nonexistent problem in America – lawmakers in 29 states introduced more than 80 bills to curtail the right to vote. "To address these threats to our core civil rights, we need a solution that will guarantee the right to vote for all Americans, once and for all. The strongest and most comprehensive way to do that is through a constitutional amendment that enshrines the fundamental right to vote. This bold step would give U.S. courts the clarity and authority they need to strike down voter suppression efforts, defend Americans’ voting rights, and protect the integrity of our democracy for generations to come."

Martin O’Malley

Another response to our Candidate Challenge!

#VRA50 #martin o'malley #voting rights

[ppaction]

The history of our country shows that we are better off when more people have a voice in our political process. We should be passing laws that make it easier to vote, not harder. Tell Congress to restore the Voting Rights Act.

#voting rights act #Restore the VRA #VRA #restorethevra #VRA50

[thisiswhywevote-blog]

Voting Runs In This Family

“In my opinion voting should be compulsory.... A requirement. Too many that came before me lived and died in the fight for this basic right for me to take it for granted. People of color continue to face inequality thought the country today. Voting is the most basic, most simple, and most effective way for any group of people to let their collective voices be heard.” Ramone Rushing Political Director, Young Democrats of Atlanta Atlanta, GA

“Being a baby boomer, I came up during an era where the rights of minorities were negated. I was a witness to blacks not being allowed to vote. There were so many of my ancestors that died and were mutilated just so that people were able to exercise their right to vote. It is my responsibility to vote in honor of those people who died and fought for me.” Curtis E. Rushing Rocky Mount, NC

“I came from a part of the country where minorities were routinely denied the vote. As a child of the 50′s-60′s I personally witnessed Klan meetings, intimidations, cross-burnings and outright blatant discrimination. I grew up with a rebellious spirit that was somewhat inherited by witnessing how my parents, grandparents & family refused to bow or step off sidewalks. Now that things have changed (in theory), it’s my responsibility to be about what they fought for. I also see one purpose for me is to educate the next generation so they see the reason to be engaged.” Venesia Moore-Rushing Rocky Mount, NC

#ThisIsWhyWeVote #VRA50 #RestoreTheVRA #YoungDemocratsOfAtlanta #YDATL #GADems #GAPol #YourVoiceIsYourVote #AFamilyOfVoters #YoungDemocrats #Democrats