As Voting Rights Act Turns 50, Protecting and Strengthening It Should be Washington’s Top Priority
- Scott Swenson
Media Contact
Common Cause Supporting Wide Range of Commemorative Events
As America marks the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, Congress and the Obama administration have a shared responsibility to pass new legislation renewing our nation’s commitment to guaranteeing every citizen easy access to the ballot.
“Protecting and strengthening voting rights should be the highest priority for Congress and the President,” said Common Cause President Miles Rapoport. “It’s unacceptable that a half-century after the Voting Rights Act removed centuries-old barriers to voting, state legislatures in much of the country are concocting new schemes targeting communities that are mostly black, elderly, or have large student populations.”
“The President has rightly sounded the alarm about today’s threats to voting rights,” Rapoport said. “The failure of congressional leaders to respond feeds into a growing sense among voters that Congress only cares about moneyed special interests, not the concerns of working families, many of whom work more than one job, making time to register and vote a challenge.”
Common Cause is urging President Obama to press for action so that the election next year to choose his successor can truly be open to every qualified citizen.
The Voting Rights Act anniversary coincides with Thursday’s first scheduled debate in Cleveland between Republican presidential hopefuls. In advance of that event, Common Cause will be delivering petitions signed by tens of thousands of Americans to Fox News, the debate host, calling on the debate moderators to press the candidates for details on their plans to protect and strengthen voting rights.
The assault on voting rights and the need for a new Voting Rights Act are among the focal points of “America’s Journey for Justice,” a 40 day, 860 mile march from Selma, Alabama to Washington D.C. that began on Saturday. Common Cause is a partner organization for the Journey and will be sponsoring several special events along the march route.
Here is a state-by-state list of VRA anniversary events being sponsored or supported by Common Cause and allied organizations. Events continue to be added to the schedule and additional information may be available at www.vrafortoday.org/events/.
Alabama
What: Shelby vs. Holder: Challenges to Voting Rights Today Lecture Session
When: 6 p.m., Thursday, August 6
Where: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute 520 Sixteenth Street North
What: Film screening – “Selma, The Bridge to the Ballot”
When: 6 p.m., Thursday, August 6
Where: Selma Community Church, Selma Avenue
California
What: City of Los Angeles 50th Anniversary of the 1965 VRA Resolution & Vote
When: 10 a.m., Wednesday August 5
Where: Los Angeles City Council Chambers; 200 North Spring Street
What: The 1965 Voting Rights Act 50th Anniversary Tribute
When: 6 p.m., Thursday August 6
Where: Holman United Methodist Church; 3320 W. Adams Boulevard, Los Angeles
What: Candlelight Vigil and Voter Registration Event
When: 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Thursday, August 6
Where: California State Capitol, South Steps; 10th and N Sts., Sacramento
What: 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, New Frontier Democratic Club Conference
When: 10 a.m. — 5 p.m., Saturday, August 8
Where: USC Mark Taper Hall, University Park, Los Angeles
Delaware:
What: Press conference marking the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act
When: 10 a.m., Thursday, August 6
Where: Peter Spencer Plaza, 800 N. French St., Wilmington
Florida:
What: Film Screening: “Selma: The Bridge to the Ballot”
When: 2 p.m., Saturday, August 8
Where: Miami Dade Public Library; 101 Flagler Street, Miami
Georgia:
What: Film Screening: “Selma: The Bridge to the Ballot”
When: 7 p.m., Thursday, August 6
Where: Ebenezer Baptist Church; 101 Flagler Street, Atlanta
Louisiana:
What: Film Screening: “Selma: The Bridge to the Ballot”
When: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, August 6
Where: Christ Church Cathedral; 2919 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans
Maryland:
What: Unlock the Vote in Maryland Rally
When: 5:30 p.m., Thursday, August 6
Where: Starts at McKeldin Square (Pratt & Light Streets), Baltimore
Minnesota:
What: Annual Conference: Association of Black Journalists
When: August 5-9
Where: Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave SE, Minneapolis
What: Stay Restless: A Community Gathering on the Voting Rights Act 50 Years Later
When, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, August 6
Where: Harrison Neighborhood Association; 503 N. Irving Ave., Minneapolis
New York:
What: Rally for Voting Rights
When: 12 noon, Thursday, August 6
Where: Foley Square; Centre Street near Courthouse, Manhattan
Contact: restoretheVRA@gmail.com for more details
Ohio:
What: March across the Roebling Bridge: “Bridges to Cross: Building Bridges”
When: 9 a.m. until 12 noon, Saturday, August 8
Where: Roebling Bridge, Cincinnati; Program to follow at the Freedom Center, 1301 Western Avenue
Pennsylvania:
What: Concurrent Press Conferences in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh
When: Thursday, August 6, 2015, 11 a.m.
Where:
Philadelphia: Independence National Historic Park, 6th & Market Sts.
Coordinator: Kati Sipp, PA Working Families
215-474-1670 or ksipp@workingfamilies.org
Harrisburg: Capitol Rotunda, Third & State Streets, Harrisburg
Coordinator: Barry Kauffman, Common Cause/PA
Pittsburgh: Freedom Corner; Crawford Street at Centre Avenue
Coordinator: Tim Stevens, Black Political Empowerment Project
Texas:
What: Press Conference on Voting Rights
When: 10 a.m., Thursday, August 6
Where: Progressive Black Baptist Convention; Hyatt Regency Hotel (Shawnee Trail Room); 300 Reunion Blvd., Dallas
Virginia:
What: 50th anniversary commemoration of the Voting Rights Act
When: 11 a.m., Thursday, August 6
Where: Lynchburg City Hall, Lynchburg
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