Last night was a tragic moment for our nation.

First, Senate Republicans voted in lockstep against legislation — the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act — that is critical to safeguarding our democracy.

Then, Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema — both of whom had just voted *for* the bill — sided with Senate Republicans in blocking commonsense reforms to Senate rules that would have allowed the legislation to pass despite Republican stonewalling.

So, even though it had the support of the majority, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act was defeated last night.

America now faces a frightening future.
The scene last night could not have been starker.

Voting in the very chamber from which they had to flee a year ago to escape an insurrectionist mob intent on overturning a legitimate election, senators were unable to pass legislation to secure our democracy.

Though the Senate’s failure makes the challenge of protecting our democracy exponentially greater, we cannot — WE WILL NOT — accept racist voter suppression and fast-creeping authoritarianism as our fate.

Tomorrow, I’ll share some thoughts about how we move forward.

Today, we mark this vote that will live in infamy.

Tell every Senate Republican, along with Democratic Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema:

Shame. With our democracy under siege, you cowered. Whether it was from racism, flagrant partisan self-interest, a misguided conception of “civility,” egomania, some combination, or something else, you failed our country. History will remember what you did yesterday, and so will we.

Add your name now.

This is a hard moment friends, no doubt.

But the fight to protect and expand democracy has been a hard one at every step of American history.

Setbacks are just obstacles to be overcome.

Thank you for taking action.

For democracy,

- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen
 
 
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