Tomorrow, Wednesday, 27 Feb 2013, Shelby v. Holder goes to the Supreme Court challenging Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA).
Writing those words makes me physically ill.
For my whole life, I have been fascinated by the civil rights movement, and what came out of it, proud at what our Congress did to make our Union more perfect. That's the point, right?
It sure doesn't feel like that right now.
At this moment, the cornerstone of the landmark civil rights legislation is being threatened by those who do not want certain U.S. citizens to vote. This very threat is the most obvious way to see that the VRA is still very much needed, and should not be weakened.
At this moment, the cornerstone of the landmark civil rights legislation is being threatened by those who do not want certain U.S. citizens to vote. This very threat is the most obvious way to see that the VRA is still very much needed, and should not be weakened.
On the same day Shelby is argued at SCOTUS, a statute to Rosa Parks will be installed in the U.S. Capitol. It is ironic, and that irony should not be lost on anyone.
If you have time and want to read some much more expansive information about the history of the VRA, and what's at stake, these are the best posts of the bazillion I have read for you...
http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/02/voting_rights_act_photos.html
http://www.theroot.com/views/tough-voting-protections-fair
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/26/supreme-court-voting-rights-act-doj-tom-perez_n_2663863.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-we-still-need-the-voting-rights-act/2013/02/24/a70a930c-7d43-11e2-9a75-dab0201670da_story.html
That last article is an Editorial John Lewis wrote for the Washington Post. I found this picture today, of John Lewis and I at the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights annual dinner last Spring.
I'll be glued to SCOTUS blog, and then to the transcript. We won't know anything tomorrow, the Justices have until June to make their ruling. Stay tuned...
If you have time and want to read some much more expansive information about the history of the VRA, and what's at stake, these are the best posts of the bazillion I have read for you...
http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/02/voting_rights_act_photos.html
http://www.theroot.com/views/tough-voting-protections-fair
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/26/supreme-court-voting-rights-act-doj-tom-perez_n_2663863.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-we-still-need-the-voting-rights-act/2013/02/24/a70a930c-7d43-11e2-9a75-dab0201670da_story.html
That last article is an Editorial John Lewis wrote for the Washington Post. I found this picture today, of John Lewis and I at the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights annual dinner last Spring.
I'm honored to be able to know someone for whom the struggle for voting rights and civil rights is the cause of his life and often risked his for those rights. I've been thinking about him and and all who worked along side him to help form a more perfect Union.
I'll be glued to SCOTUS blog, and then to the transcript. We won't know anything tomorrow, the Justices have until June to make their ruling. Stay tuned...
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