For the better part of the 20th century we saw barriers to citizens’ voting rights knocked down, but so far the 21st century has been all about putting them back up. This country is now blatantly suppressing the voting rights of people of color, seniors, students, incarcerated and formerly incarcerated, and low-income Americans, and has stripped any remaining power from those who actually can exercise their vote thanks to big money.
If we want to change the course of this century, then we have to demand action now.
This April 16th to 18th, join Democracy Awakening 2016 - a nationwide movement that will converge on state capitals and Washington, D.C. for an array of actions, including demonstrations, teach-ins, direct action trainings, music, a Rally for Democracy, and pressing for a Congress of Conscience through non-violent direct action and advocacy.
Watch and share the official Democracy Awakening video:
Democracy Awakening is mobilizing to demand a nation where voting rights are protected and the integrity of the vote is not undermined by big money. Your actions will support reform measures to restore previously struck-down protections against voting discrimination, update the Voting Rights Act of 1965, modernize voter registration, and prevent deceptive practices keeping people from voting, just to name a few. You will also be fighting for “The Democracy for all Amendment” - a constitutional amendment to overturn Supreme Court decisions like Citizens United and allow elected representatives to set commonsense limits on money in elections.
Sign up to take part in and/or volunteer for this nationwide mobilization at democracyawakening.org.
Fighting for every voice to be heard and every vote to be counted is as American as apple pie, so don’t get complacent - get angry and get your voice back. Remember, it’s only a democracy if it works for everyone.
TAKE ACTION:
Visit democracyawakening.org to sign up as a volunteer to help organize this event or to participate in April.
Follow @DemAwakening on Twitter and on Facebook for the latest updates on the campaign.
Engage with the movement to restore the Voting Rights Act via #RestoretheVRA on social media.
Sources/further reading:
"Voting Rights - and Wrongs: We're in the midst of the biggest rollback of the rights to vote since Jim Crow" (via Sojourners)
"North Carolina Exemplifies National Battles Over Voting Laws" (via The New York Times)
"Six Pieces of a Real Democracy Movement We've Never Had Before" (via HuffPost Politics)
Hear the segment in context:
Episode #998 http://www.bestoftheleft.com/_998_voting_rights
Written by BOTL Communications Director Amanda Hoffman.
