We talk a lot about how Big Money tries to influence our government through campaign contributions, independent expenditures, and unaccountable dark money spending. Usually, we think of how corporate interests spend on legislative and executive elections to benefit their bottom line. But we cannot ignore some of the subtler ways Big Money is undermining our… Read more
Tag: voting rights
January 6th and the Future of Voting Rights
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This Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of the violent January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The attack resulted in the deaths of 5 people, 140 injured Capitol police officers, and severe psychological trauma for many of the law enforcement officials who sought to protect our leaders in Congress. Those who stormed the Capitol put… Read more
Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
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On March 7, 1965, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Chairman John Lewis led hundreds of activists across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in a march for voting rights for people of color. They were met at the end of the bridge by a wall of state troopers, who proceeded to attack the marchers with nightsticks, tear… Read more
The Battle for Democracy in Texas
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In the wake of the contentious 2020 election, state legislatures have proposed nearly 400 bills designed to restrict voting rights. Some states, like Georgia and Florida, have succeeded in passing legislation that primarily disenfranchises communities of color. And then there’s Texas, the current battleground state for voting rights. Back up. What’s happening in Texas? It’s… Read more
President Biden Urges Democracy Reform in Address to Congress
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President Biden made his first address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night, the eve of his 100th day in office. His remarks were wide-ranging, from addressing COVID to promoting landmark measures on job growth and equity. But he saved the end of his speech to discuss America’s heart and soul – our… Read more
To Protect Democracy, The Senate Must Pass The For The People Act
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The For The People Act is headed towards an epic showdown in the Senate. Last week, Georgia’s legislature passed a sweeping bill to restrict voting rights following a surge in Black voter turnout in November and January. Under the false claim of “combatting voter fraud,” the new law requires photo ID for absentee ballots, allows… Read more
VICTORY: House Passes For The People Act
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BREAKING NEWS: Last night, in a vote of 220-210, the House passed the For The People Act (H.R. 1), bringing us one step closer to getting big money OUT of our politics and voters IN! But we’re not done yet. H.R. 1 is now on its way to the Senate for a vote. Call your… Read more
The Modern Voting Rights Movement
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100 years ago this week, the Tennessee House of Representatives made history when it became the deciding state to ratify the 19th Amendment, prohibiting voter discrimination on the basis of sex. Nearly 50 years after the Seneca Falls Convention, white women gained the right to vote in U.S. elections. It would still be many years… Read more
THE DEMOCRACY REBELLION: Coming to PBS in January
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Americans may be divided over impeachment and the next election but they are united on one thing – strong majorities of Democrats, Independents and Republicans want political reforms that will restore a government that works for average Americans and not wealthy special interests. Polls confirm that, but what many Americans don’t know is that citizen… Read more
A Voting Rights Victory in the House
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Back in June, we reflected on how the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling in Shelby County v. Holder rolled back key parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and led to rampant voter suppression. Now the House of Representatives has taken a major step towards restoring voting rights protections. On Friday, the House of Representatives voted 228-187 to… Read more