NAACP President and CEO, Derrick Johnson, Released the Following Statement on his Meeting with Senator Joe Manchin:

 "Over the past few months, we have witnessed an assault on the right to vote by state legislatures across the nation. That is why we firmly believe, more than ever, that we must pass federal legislation that will ensure that all Americans can make their voices heard in our democracy.

Our meeting today with Senator Manchin was robust and insightful. We discussed several topics, most notably the urgent need to maintain the integrity and viability of our democracy through updated voting and election protection legislation. We focused on finding common ground and acknowledged that the American people desire a government and democratic process that works in their best interest through free, fair, and inclusive elections. We are committed to ongoing conversations with Senator Manchin, as well as all senators as we work to pass federal legislation that will protect our most sacred and fundamental right, the right to vote."

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Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP 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 2M 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. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP.