Thread: 55 years and the struggle to protect and expand the franchise continues in the middle of the 2nd presidential election cycle without full protection of the VRA and a global health pandemic that forced voters to choose health and safety and voting in some cases 1/ #VRA55
The Wisconsin spring primary was a "sobering reminder that protecting the public health, voting rights, and process integrity are complementary endeavors that must be considered ahead of the next round of elections" 2/ ourprism.org/article/2020/4…
“The short-term remedies that are being discussed right now could easily be implemented long-term. That will require political will, and political will is determined by our votes.” - Ashley Shelton of @powercoej on #COVID19 3/ powercoalition.org/oped-voting-as…
Poll closures, consolidations, voter roll purges, high rates of absentee ballot rejections for POC voters have been an issue in states like GA. In response to the pandemic it was virtually non-existent voter fraud that warranted an election task force. 4/ ourprism.org/article/2020/5…
Georgia, Ohio, Wisconsin, Texas, and more all experienced disruption to already burdened election systems. Advocates continue to push for federal funding in the HEROES Act to aid states to prepare ahead of the general election to avoid the mishaps in GA 5/ ourprism.org/article/2020/6…
Many fine people on both sides are demanding support for USPS. There is funding earmarked in the HEROES Act to sure up support for the agency. It's not just the integrity of the election at stake but people's basic necessities are being screwed with. 6/ ourprism.org/article/2020/4…
The past 8 months, I've worked w/ @prismreports to shape and develop Electoral Justice as a beat expanding beyond traditional reporting on electoral work as an that recognizes there are no off cycles, the work is year-round and so is our coverage, and is grounded accordingly 7/
As Alexis Anderson-Reed of @state_voices wrote this summer, electoral justice is not simply about the vote. Voting is important but we must have a holistic approach to social change organizing. Read more here 8/ ourprism.org/article/2020/6…
Voting rights work, notably the work in the deep south, is rooted in community organizing that understands the importance of voting as a strategy within a multigenerational organizing framework. Earlier this spring SNCC celebrated its 60th. Read more 9/ 👇🏾ourprism.org/article/2020/6…
As we reflect on #VRA55 and building toward a more just and equitable democracy, we must not exclude those in our communities who organize, grind, and defend these issues but do not have access to the Franchise. The youngs aren't waiting to step up. 10/
ourprism.org/article/2020/8…
ourprism.org/article/2020/8…
Democratic process is being attacked on multiple fronts from voting rights, to election integrity, as well as the census. Fair and Accurate counts are necessary to for community resources and redistricting. 11/ ourprism.org/article/2020/7…
Marinate on these quotes from Southern Horrors by Ida B. Wells (1892) #VRA55
“The South resented giving the Afro-American his freedom, the ballot box and the Civil Rights Law.”
“The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press.” 12/
“The South resented giving the Afro-American his freedom, the ballot box and the Civil Rights Law.”
“The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press.” 12/
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