Hundreds of Civil Rights & Labor Activists Lead Rally To Stop Voter Suppression
Washington, D.C. — Over the weekend, hundreds of local leaders, activists and members of the Fighting for Our Vote coalition, comprised of the NAACP, National Education Association, ACLU, AFSCME, the American Federation of Teachers, and AFL-CIO, held a massive rally in Detroit, Milwaukee and D.C. calling for new federal and state voting rights protections to combat voter suppression. The rallies included remarks from local leaders as well as coalition partners. In addition, participants received educational materials about voter suppression, engaged in digital advocacy actions, and planned for canvassing in the coming months.
The Fighting for Our Vote coalition organized the rallies to mobilize and educate communities against anti-democratic attacks on voting rights. Fighting for Our Vote collectively represents more than 10 million Americans and is organizing a diverse group of activists and volunteers to become voting rights champions who advocate for stronger voting rights legislation at the municipal, state, and federal level. The coalition's critical national priorities are:
- Passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.
- Protecting and expanding mail and early voting options.
- Efficient election administration.
"All across the country, there is a tidal wave of legislation to restrict access to the ballot box and suppress the vote," said Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP. "When democracy is under attack, we must all become voting rights champions and advocates. The time to fight back is now, and through our coalition of more than 10 million Americans, we are going to make sure that our friends, family and neighbors know how to fight back. When we all know what voter suppression laws look like – we can easily fight them together."
"As educators, we teach students about civics, American history and the importance of voting. We know that our public schools are more than places of learning – they are the foundation of our democracy," said Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association. "At a time when Americans want elected leaders to be focused on supporting students and educators getting ready for the new school year, some politicians continue focusing on making it harder for millions of Americans – particularly Black, Brown and young voters – to cast a ballot. Educators are standing firm against these unjust laws to ensure our students have the tools needed so they can participate in our democracy and make their voices heard. We will continue calling on all who believe in our democracy to join us in the 'Fighting For Our Vote Campaign.' And we will keep organizing to ensure every Americans' right to vote – a right fundamental to a racially and socially just society."
"We are here Today because the very foundations of our democracy are under siege. In state after state, powerful forces have made a ruthless and immoral calculation. They know that when more people participate in our elections, they lose," said Lee Saunders, president of AFSCME. "All the issues we care about depend on this struggle. If you care about expanding union rights, increasing access to health care, fixing wealth inequality or fighting for racial justice, this is your fight. Throughout the coming year, we will be taking this message to targeted cities and states nationwide. We will be educating, organizing and mobilizing from New Hampshire to Georgia to Miami to Houston to Arizona. We will make sure elected officials in those places know that the people they represent are watching them, holding them accountable when it comes to protecting voting rights and stopping voter suppression."
"Regardless of political affiliation, every voter has an unalienable right to have a voice in our democracy and a say in how we're governed. Any effort to limit those rights should be seen as an existential threat to the well-being of our republic," said Randi Weingarten, president of AFT. "So our responsibility now — as anti-democracy forces are working to limit voting rights, interfere with vote counting and even manipulate the outcome of elections — is not just to vote; it is to stand up so that everyone who is eligible can vote and every vote is counted."
"The right to vote is under attack in every community and corner of the United States, and this is the moment to act," said Fedrick C. Ingram, secretary treasurer of AFT. "This coalition representing millions of Americans is calling for everyone, no matter where you live, to become a voting rights champion. Hold your lawmakers accountable, educate your families and neighbors. Our democracy hangs in the balance."
"This is a frightening and dangerous time in our democracy, as forces at every level of government are fighting to stifle the rights of so many of our communities to vote," said Liz Schuler, president of AFL-CIO. "We must come together to rally, educate and mobilize our families, friends and neighbors to protect that invaluable right we each have to use our voice and our vote. Our leaders in Washington and in every corner of the United States must pass robust voting rights laws."
"Around the country we've seen innumerable attacks on the right to vote," said Ronnie Newman, National Political Director at the ACLU. "This year in statehouses across the country, we have witnessed overt efforts to disenfranchise Black, Latinx, and Indigenous voters through attacks on vote by mail, cuts to early voting periods, and unnecessary and burdensome identification requirements. There is a real and present threat to our democracy. Congress and President Biden must pass federal voting rights legislation. There is no time for delay."
Over the next year, the Fighting for Our Vote coalition will coordinate a mass mobilization effort to elevate advocacy in response to the voting rights attacks happening in states and cities across the country. The mobilization campaign comes at a time when statehouses nationwide are disenfranchising voters by imposing identification requirements and restricting access to vote early and by mail. In Congress, lawmakers have failed to pass legislation that will provide strong voting rights protections, institute early voting and increase access to polling sites.
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About NAACP
Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2 million activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
About AFSCME
AFSCME's 1.4 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in communities across the nation, serving in hundreds of different occupations — from nurses to corrections officers, child care providers to sanitation workers — AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and freedom and opportunity for all working families.
About ACLU
For more than 100 years, the ACLU has worked in courts, legislatures, and communities to protect the constitutional rights of all people. With a nationwide network of offices and millions of members and supporters, the ACLU takes on the toughest civil liberties fights in pursuit of liberty and justice for all.
About AFT
The American Federation of Teachers is a union of 1.7 million professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, healthcare and public services for our students, their families and our communities. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through the work our members do.
About NEA
The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.