Monroe, MI — Early, Stronger Together Huddle and Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and Common Cause led a rally in Downtown Monroe in support of the For the People Act. Backed by a coalition of activists and organizers, the event, an Olympic-theme “Relay to the Ballot Box: Go for the Gold,” rally, aimed to pressure Congress to approve the once-in-a-generation legislative package called the For the People Act —a comprehensive voting rights, campaign finance, ethics, and accountability bill Senate Republicans blocked in late June.

“U.S. citizens need to know their vote is secure and counted. Forty-three states, including Michigan, have either passed or are considering passing bills that would make it harder to vote. The passage of the ‘For the People Act’ is the most important action we can take to protect access to the ballot,” said Sharon McNeil, Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Associate and the event coordinator.

The relay, which ended with presentations from several religious and community leaders, featured symbolic barriers —2 by 4 feet banners— Michiganders would face without the For the People Act protection if the voter suppression bills proposed in Michigan passed.

“This event is accessible to everyone, just like Democracy should be,” said Sarah Nash, IHM Associate and coordinator of the IHM Justice, Peace and Sustainability Office, proclaiming that the event was open for all with hopes that people would encourage their loved ones to support the For the People Act.

Organizers have hosted hundreds of other events in states like New York, Ohio, and Virginia supporting the For the People Act.

“The reforms in the ‘For the People Act’ are overwhelmingly popular across the political spectrum,” said Quentin Turner, Program Director of Common Cause Michigan. “The bill draws from policies that have long had bipartisan support at both federal and state levels, including Michigan’s Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.”

Many parts of the bill are reforms already being implemented in states and localities across the nation, including Michigan’s automatic voter registration and Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission.