Liberation.

It’s what countless Black Americans envisioned for their communities throughout our nation’s history. Harry T. Moore, a Florida educator and voting rights pioneer, envisioned a future where the will of Black communities was represented at the ballot box. From 1944-1950, Moore succeed in registering thousands of Black voters, in addition to speaking out against white primaries and filing lawsuits in response to the lynching of Black men.

While Moore’s activism ultimately cost him his life, his vision of using elections to build Black political power lives on today. This Black History Month, we celebrate the sacrifice of voting rights heroes like Moore.

We also realize that the voting rights of Black and Brown communities are still under attack.

With states implementing aggressive purges that disproportionately remove Black Americans from voting rolls, we must continue our advocacy work to protect the fundamental right to vote and combat voter suppression efforts.

While Trump’s 2020 priorities include implementing policies that will continue to attack the social, economic and political health of Black communities, it is up us to actualize our vision for free and safe communities of color today.

We applaud the current work of our partners like the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, which is remaking the state’s democracy to include Floridians with prior felony convictions. By helping Floridians navigate the voting rights restoration process, they are actualizing a bold liberation vision to end felony disenfranchisement, a pernicious policy that disproportionately silences Black Americans. Support their work by amplifying their upcoming Tallahassee Advocacy Day on Feb. 18, 2020. 

But what else can you do to fight attacks on voting, a critical tool for building Black power?

Tonight, join our live #StateofRace Twitter chat at 9:00 p.m. ET using #SOTU and #StateofRace2020. During Trump’s congressional address, we’ll discuss how policies around voting rights, education, immigration and policing could impact Black and Brown communities. Help us uplift a transformative vision of #BlackLiberation in the wake of #SOTULies. Follow @adv_project tonight to share your thoughts!

Throughout this year, also help us advocate for a fundamental right to vote in our U.S. Constitution! As presidential hopefuls echo the need for a fundamental right to vote, call your U.S. Senator to express your support of this pro-democracy reform.

We know our ability to advance a bold liberation vision partially hinges on the status of our voting rights.

In Solidarity,

Advancement Project National Office Team

P.S. Happy Birthday Rosa Parks! On this day, Feb 4, Ms. Parks would have turned 107!