Folks, 58 years ago today, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) was signed into law.

This landmark legislation outlawed racist voter discrimination and removed barriers put in place to deny Black voters access to the polls.

But before the VRA made its way to Washington, the fight for voting rights started at the local level.

In Alabama, one of Groundwork Project’s target states, thousands of activists — including civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lewis — marched from Selma to the capitol building in Montgomery in protest of the racist voter suppression tactics that were preventing Black Americans from exercising their fundamental right to vote.

This local action garnered national attention, and ultimately is what led to the VRA being signed into law — a clear example of how community-based efforts, like the work our grantees are doing right now, can result in sweeping, large-scale change.

However, because of a 2013 Supreme Court decision that also originated in Alabama, the original VRA was gutted — carving a path for voter suppression tactics to reenter our elections system.

That’s why our grantees are focused on registering voters, pushing back against any anti-voter tactics Republicans try to throw their way, and putting in the work to build upon the original VRA.

Can you show your support for our work dedicated to strengthening and expanding voting rights by adding your name today, in honor of the civil rights leaders who came before us?

Thank you,

Joe