Voting Rights Act: The Fight Continues

Lindsay Claiborn

August 02, 2005

The Voting Rights Act is hitting the big 4-0 this week. In celebration, a number of organizations are raising awareness of the significance of the act—and its vulnerability if Congress doesn't act soon. Portions of the act are up for renewal in 2007.  After the debacle in Ohio and other states during last year's elections—where numerous incidents of discrimination were found—the battle to extend the VRA is especially timely.

Rev. Jesse Jackson explained the urgency behind the push to reauthorize the VRA in a recent article about the upcoming march to commemorate the VRA:

"So there is a need to establish a new record of evidence to document for Congress the continued need for the Voting Rights Act enforcement provisions, and to set forth the history of racial discrimination in voting since the 1982 reauthorization."

Lots of events are planned to rally support for VRA. Marches are taking place down South. But for concerned citizens everywhere, note tomorrow's online discussion and the petition below.

Wednesday, August 3, 2005: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST
                   Voting Rights Act Online Discussion sponsored by MovingIdeas.org and CivilRights.org

Wednesday, August 3, 2005: 11 AM - 12 PM, Montgomery, Alabama
                   Town Hall meeting on the Voting Rights Act of 1965 

Or sign the petition to support reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act of 1965

The fight for the Voting Rights Act isn't going away so go support the VRA and help it survive another 40 years.