Washington, DC— As President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris prepare to travel to Atlanta to call for federal voting rights protections, People For the American Way President Ben Jealous released the following statement:
“This visit to Atlanta, the cradle of the civil rights movement, is a moment of truth for the president on voting rights. We are proud to be part of the movement that has brought the country and the president to this decisive juncture. Now he must deliver, and we expect he will. We expect to hear the president make it crystal clear that voting rights protections must be passed – and that there is a solid plan in place to make any rules reforms necessary to achieve that. When he does, it will be a great moment for our country.”
The administration’s focus on voting rights follows several months in which People For the American Way, along with the League of Women Voters and Declaration for American Democracy, led five major civil disobedience actions at the White House. The events featured participants from around the country, including faith leaders, civil rights activists, young elected officials, labor leaders, and students. The events were held from August through November of 2021 and were aimed at spurring the administration to take action to get the Senate to pass both the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Nearly 300 protesters were arrested overall.
About People For the American Way
People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.