This was written by Myla, one of our student interns. The opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of Civitas other than respect for the value of open dialogue.
On July 15, 2021, Representative Joyce Beatty, a Democrat of Ohio, was arrested for advocating for voting rights. Since 2013, Beatty has been a representative for Ohio’s 3rd congressional district. She is also the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. The congresswoman, along with other Black activists, were arrested while peacefully demonstrating in support of voting rights. After her arrest, Beatty shared a photo of her arrest with the caption “Let the people vote. Fight for justice.” The congresswoman shared another tweet that said, “#GoodTrouble.” That phrase is a reference to the late civil rights icon, Congressman John Lewis.
A few days before Beatty’s demonstration, Democrats of Texas’ House of Representatives left the state in opposition to GOP-backed voting restrictions. The lawmakers flew to the nation’s capital to urge Congress to pass federal legislation for voting rights reform. They have vowed to stay in Washington D.C. until the end of the chamber’s session. The Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott has threatened to immediately arrest the Democrats upon their return. The NAACP has committed to pay the bail for any lawmakers taken into custody. “War has been declared on democracy, and we will support anyone who stands up to defend it. We are fully invested in good trouble,” NAACP President Derrick Johnson declared.
After the results of the 2020 election, Republicans have made it their business to enact voting restrictions on a state level. According to a report by the Brennan Center for Justice, “As of June 21, 17 states have enacted 28 new laws that restrict access to the vote.” Unsurprisingly, more restrictive laws are on the way. “At least 61 bills with restrictive provisions are moving through 18 state legislatures. More specifically, 31 have passed at least one chamber. Overall, lawmakers have introduced at least 389 restrictive bills in 48 states in the 2021 legislative sessions” (Brennan Center for Justice). With voting rights in jeopardy, many Democrats are advocating for Congress to pass two voting reform bills: For The People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
The For The People Act passed the House of Representatives in March, but the bill is held up in the Senate due to a Republican filibuster. A filibuster is designed to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill. The Republican party is harming our democracy by refusing to pass voting reform legislation. If this bill is passed, it would make it easier to vote in federal elections, end congressional gerrymandering, overhaul federal campaign finance laws, increase safeguards against foreign interference, strengthen government ethics rules, and more. According to CBS News, “the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore a provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that was gutted by the Supreme Court in 2013. That provision required certain jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination in voting to receive approval from the Justice Department before making changes to their voting rules.” The bill has yet to be written but is expected to be considered in the fall. The passage of this bill would be a historical moment for our country. However, only one Republican has supported the bill thus far.
Since the demonstrations from Democrats, Attorney General Merrick Garland has made a statement in support of voting rights. “The Justice Department is using all the tools at its disposal to protect the voting rights of all citizens, but that is not enough, “ Garland proclaimed. “We need Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would provide the Department with important tools to protect the right to vote and to ensure that every vote is counted. There is no more fitting way to honor the profound legacy of Congressman Lewis.”
As Republicans continue their effort to restrict voting rights, I am proud of the Democrats who have pushed back against them. GOP-led legislation is taking us back to the old days of Jim Crow. Voting restrictions are another way of saying voter suppression. Voting is one of the most fundamental rights in our country. Therefore, Congress must do what is right to keep the spirit of John Lewis alive.
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