John —
Today marks the anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 being signed into law.
The Voting Rights Act – which prohibits racial discrimination in voting and protects access to the ballot box – is one of the single most successful pieces of legislation passed in our nation’s history.
Leaders like John Lewis risked their lives to ensure that all of us could exercise the fundamental right to vote. In the heart of the Deep South – and in the face of Jim Crow – civil rights activists paved the way for the passage of the landmark Voting Rights Act.
And because of their leadership, the Voting Rights Act has since opened the door for countless Black and brown voters to participate in our democracy.
But this fight is far from over.
We’ve witnessed the Supreme Court gut the Voting Rights Act time and time again. And over the past few years, we’ve seen an outrageous assault on our right to vote – aimed squarely at communities of color. In states across the nation, state legislatures have passed “Jim Crow 2.0” laws that are designed to weaken access to the ballot box.
It’s time to fight back.
We MUST take bold action to protect the right to vote and restore the critical protections provided by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We can’t wait any longer for action – add your name if you agree:
Thanks for everything.
– Marilyn
