Thread by @DemocracyDocket

🗳@SenatorWarnock just gave a speech on the Senate floor on the urgent need for voting rights legislation.

Here are some highlights from his speech⤵️🧵

"The American people have been pushing for leaders in Washington to address voting rights...They know their history. They are witnessing what is happening to our democracy in real-time. And they see the handwriting on the wall."

"They see the sweeping voter suppression proposals in 49 states and the dozens of new laws that have now popped up across the nation, fueled by the Big Lie that seeks to delegitimize the voices of millions of Georgians and Americans, who made their voices heard..." 1/2

"...made history and more importantly made a difference last November and last January. The American people see what is happening in Arizona, and in Texas, and in Florida, and in Wisconsin and in Iowa. They see what is happening in Georgia." 2/2

"And in the face of this crisis, the question is this: Has this chamber risen to the occasion to take on the issue of voting rights, which I submit is the central moral issue confronting this Congress in this moment?"

"What have we done to strengthen access to the ballot as bedrock voting rights protections have been shredded by our courts? Or to protect the sacred right to vote as partisan state legislatures have passed laws to dilute that right for so many people?"

"Well, some of us have acted. Democrats in this body have tried not once, not twice, but we've tried this Congress on three occasions, to consider legislation to protect and expand voting rights so that more eligible Americans can make their voices heard..." 1/2

"...And each time whether it was for the #ForThePeopleAct, or the John Lewis VRAA, or the #FreedomToVoteAct, with just one lone exception, all of our friends across the aisle have refused to engage with us in any way to address the growing barriers to...the ballot box." 2/2

"So here we are. Months have passed — no, that's not true. Years have passed. Democrats have tried again and again to engage our Republican friends in a discussion on this issue, one that lies at the foundation of our democracy..." 1/2

"...and time and time again, because of a lack of good faith engagement, the rules of the Senate have prevented us from moving that conversation forward." 2/2

"While we cannot let our Republican friends off the hook for not being equitable governing partners, if we are serious about protecting the right to vote that's under assault right now, here's the truth: It will fall to Democrats to do it." 1/2

"And if Democrats alone must raise the debt ceiling, then Democrats alone must raise and repair the ceiling of our democracy. How do we in good conscience justify doing one and not the other?" 2/2

"Some of my Democratic colleagues are saying, 'but what about bipartisanship? Isn't that important?' I say of course it is. But here's the thing we must remember. Slavery was bipartisan. Jim Crow segregation was bipartisan. The refusal of women's suffrage was bipartisan..." 1/2

"So when colleagues in this chamber talk to me about bipartisanship, which I believe in, I just have to ask: at whose expense? Who is being asked to foot the bill for this bipartisanship? Is liberty itself the cost? I submit that that's a price too high & a bridge too far." 2/2

"The most important thing that we can do this Congress is to get voting rights done. Voting rights are preservative of all other rights, they lay the ground for all of the other debates."

"So to my Democratic colleagues, I say while it is deeply unfortunate, it is more than apparent that it has been left to us to handle alone the task of safeguarding our democracy. Sadly, many of our Republican friends have already cast their vote with voter suppression."

"And so the judgment of history is upon us. Future generations will ask 'when the democracy was in a 9-1-1 state of emergency, what did you do to put the fire out?' Did we rise to the moment or did we hide behind procedural rules?"

"The people of Georgia and across the country are saying that voting rights are important enough. I think that voting rights are important enough. And so we cannot delay."

"We cannot wait on [Republicans]. With uncanny and eerie relevance, Dr. King's words summon us to this very moment. He said the hour is late. The clock of destiny is ticking out. And we must act now before it is too late."