People For the American Way was proud to play an instrumental role in turning out hundreds of activists to rally in support of S.1, the For the People Act, on June 9. The event also marked the delivery to the Senate of a petition in favor of the Act with 330,000 signatures – represented by a 50-foot scroll. People For the American Way President Ben Jealous spoke along with a dozen lawmakers including Sens. Jeff Merkley, Amy Klobuchar, Raphael Warnock, Elizabeth Warren, and Sheldon Whitehouse, and in addition to leaders of national civil rights and pro-democracy organizations. Young Elected Officials network member DC Councilmember Robert White and African American Ministers In Action member Reverend George Gilbert also spoke. Rio Tazewell, Director of Strategy at People For, served as one of the event emcees and was the principal organizer in putting together the event.
The For the People Act is sweeping legislation that would protect voting rights, curb the influence of big money in politics, and fight political corruption. A vote on the legislation is expected this month.
NOW: We're outside the Supreme Court calling on Congress to pass the #ForThePeopleAct. Tune in now! https://t.co/ANJ26CtkwC pic.twitter.com/2LQ3pJXE14
— People For the American Way (@peoplefor) June 9, 2021
"No Senate procedure, no Senate rule is more important than peoples' constitutional rights...We will not allow them to steal our democracy," says @SenatorWarnock.
Congress must pass the #ForThePeopleAct pic.twitter.com/JNNzxCeAVv
— People For the American Way (@peoplefor) June 9, 2021
"These are just some of the hundreds of thousands of signatures we've collected in support of the #ForThePeopleAct."
The people have spoken. It's time to protect our democracy and pass the For the People Act. pic.twitter.com/kOCBWsZYJV
— People For the American Way (@peoplefor) June 9, 2021
"We're here because we believe in our democracy, and we're willing to fight for it. And when we fight, we win," says @SenWarren at the rally urging Congress to pass the #ForThePeopleAct pic.twitter.com/T82FGgtDt7
— People For the American Way (@peoplefor) June 9, 2021
When we turn people away from voting, we're building a fence around access to our democracy. And the higher that fence is, the less we have a democracy, says @YEONetwork member @CMRobertWhiteDC.
To protect our democracy, we need to pass the #ForThePeopleAct. pic.twitter.com/n4XVPA0Kiv
— People For the American Way (@peoplefor) June 9, 2021
"We are here today to demand that America holds up to the rhetoric of her words that says she is the land of the free, home of the brave." - African American Ministers In Action member Reverend George Gilbert
To protect our democracy, we need to pass the #ForThePeopleAct.
Add your name: https://t.co/pRuLbz1JcF pic.twitter.com/NAUVx44X0w
— People For the American Way (@peoplefor) June 9, 2021
You can watch the full event here: