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August 06, 2005
Happy Birthday Voting Rights Act!
Today is the 40th anniversary of Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The date was commemorated by a march in Atlanta organized by the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rainbow Push Coalition. Ambassador Andrew Young (former mayor of Atlanta), Rep. Joe Lewis and Rev. Jesse Jackson were amont the notables participating in the march. The Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that there were hundreds of marchers, but it looks like more than that to me. More photos here.
Andrew Young remarked that, "this is not a celebration. We're talking about extending the Voting Rights Act and also wondering if that is enough." This is especially true in Georgia where, unlike Texas, an effort to pass a law requiring voters to present photo identification in order to vote.
Jackson and other march organizers hope the "Keep the Vote Alive" march will increase pressure on Congress and President Bush to extend sections of the law supporters say protect black voters from efforts to keep them from the polls. The provisions are set to expire in 2007...
... After pre-march speeches, the crowd walked a about a mile and a half westward along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to Morris Brown College's Herndon Stadium at 643 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, between Vine and Sunset streets. Once there, the march became day of speeches and entertainment.
Entertainers scheduled to appear include singers Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson, John Legend, Roberta Flack, and gospel singer Bobby Jones...
The NAACP explains the facts surrounding the expiration of the act.
Now the real work begins. Visit WhyTuesday.org to join the grassroots effort to make voting more friendly by changing the day of the week elections are held and sign the pledge to work towards making voting more accessible. At the bottom of the home page, you'll find the first question of a very interesting survey where I'm sure you'll learn something you didn't already know.
Visit renewthevra.org and the National Commission on the Voting Rights Act to learn more about the history and activities surrounding renewal of the National Votings Right Act.
Posted by Lyn Wall at August 6, 2005 02:49 PM | Permalink
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