Team, do you know what one of the greatest threats to our democracy right now is? It’s the filibuster. Here’s why:
The filibuster threatens the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, a vital piece of pro-voter and pro-democracy legislation, this Congress.
We must pass this legislation to restore essential voter protections that were stripped away after the Supreme Court dismantled a core section of the Voting Rights Act, paving the way for discriminatory election changes to go into effect across the country. But with the filibuster still in place, we’re at a crossroads.
It’s simple, folks: The filibuster is anti-democratic. If you agree we need to abolish the filibuster, add your name to my petition:
The main outcome of the filibuster is it allows a Senate minority to undermine the will of the Senate majority. And what’s more, Republicans in the Senate represent fewer and fewer Americans each year — some estimates show that by 2040, two thirds of the American people will be represented by just 30% of the U.S. senators.
In short: The filibuster allows Republicans to stymie progress for the masses. The longer we keep it around, the less democratic our government gets.
And here’s the truth about the history of the filibuster, folks: Throughout U.S. history, it has been used to uphold white supremacy, deny the rights of minorities and Black Americans, and entrench racism in our law making processes.
It was used against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill in 1922, and now it threatens the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act.
We can’t let this outdated and anti-American tactic block equal rights for Black Americans any longer.
The choice is clear: It’s voting rights or the filibuster. I know which side I stand on. Are you with me?
Thank you for standing up for this important issue,
Terri Sewell
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