Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spent his adult life fighting for equity and justice for all people, including their right to vote. As we observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this year, voting rights in America are at great risk. According to the Brennan Center For Justice, “19 states passed 34 laws restricting access to voting in 2021,” and “More than 440 bills with provisions that restrict voting access have been introduced in 49 states in the 2021 legislative sessions.” This trend is expected to continue in 2022.

In honor of Dr. King and our commitment to the equity of all people, Gamaliel is renewing its commitment to supporting communities as they fight to protect their rights and training leaders to have powerful voices in the decisions that affect their lives.

To that end, we are committed to the following in 2022:

Distributing grants to Gamaliel affiliates who are planning to use Integrated Voter Engagement strategies in the leadup to primaries and elections in 2022.
Working to expand the In-Prison Relational Voter Program first introduced by WISDOM, our statewide affiliate in Wisconsin, which trains disenfranchised people who are in prison to encourage their community members to vote.
Conduct workshops throughout 2022 to train our affiliates and leaders in Integrated Voter Engagement strategies.
Continue pushing for voting rights restoration for people with conviction histories.

We encourage our affiliates and leaders to organize their communities around issues related to voting rights and redistricting as we work together toward a day in which all Americans have an equal opportunity to vote.

Join Gamaliel in the fight for equity and justice by investing in our work today.