August 2021 - The Time for Voting Rights and LGBTQ Legislation is NOW
In this issue:
**Voting Rights and LGBTQ Legislation: The Time is NOW
**Action and Events Calendar
Educate, Activate, Convene
August 2021
Today, the federal Infrastructure Bill Passed.
Now it's time for Congress to Focus
on VOTING RIGHTS and LGBTQ LEGISLATION !
The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act:
In the fight for voting rights, nothing is more important than remembering we're in it for the long haul. When We All Vote and Fair Fight Action are two groups leading the effort to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act into law. Here's what's happening now, and what we need to do to keep the momentum going:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has set a September deadline for the completion of reports on voter discrimination, a crucial step in the battle that's being waged at the Supreme Court level. The Supreme Court has already struck down aspects of the Voting Rights Act, so Democrats are working hard to collect the contemporaneous evidence of voter discrimination called for by the Court. Last Friday, Subcommittee on Elections Chairman G. K. Butterfield released a staff report, “Voting in America: Ensuring Free and Fair Access to the Ballot”. This crucial report summarizes the Subcommittee’s investigation and will be key in the efforts to support H.R. 4 and the full enforcement of the Voting Rights Act.
August 16 is the deadline for the release of the Census data, followed immediately by redistricting and attempts at gerrymandering. Experts say that Republicans could pick up anywhere from 6 to 13 seats in the House of Representatives—enough to retake the House in 2022—through its control of the redistricting process in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Texas alone.
WHAT WE CAN DO NOW--
Call to Action: Keep calls to Congress coming! Fair Fight Action estimates that we made 50,000 calls this summer. It's crucial to keep contacting members of Congress NOW, even if your MOC is a Democrat and already expressed support for H.R. 4. Text "democracy" to 33339 to subscribe to daily reminders to call your Senators and demand they pass the #ForThe People Act. Click here to volunteer for text bank training with Fair Fight Action.
Call to Action: Make sure you aren't purged from the voter rolls. Secretary of State Raffensperger has sent postcards to 185,000 Georgia voters who might be removed from the voter rolls. Fair Fight Action says that nearly half of the postcard recipients are people of color. If you received a card or know someone who did, follow the instructions on the card and return it ASAP. Then visit MyVotingStory.com to share your experience.
Call to Action: Check your voter registration status!!! Thousands of voter registrations could be canceled because of the "use it or lose it law" passed by Gov. Kemp. Use this Guide to check your status and encourage everyone you know to do the same.
Call to Action: combat re-districting by writing postcards to legislators, and letters to the editor of your local newspaper. Postcard volunteers, email Fair Districts GA [email protected] or join the Cobb African American Caucus this Saturday 8/7 from 11 am - 1 pm. LTE volunteers: fill out this form.
Call to Action: Keep sharing information on why voting rights are so important. The Brennan Center and Democracy Docket are excellent resources for news and background.
Questions: call 866-OUR-VOTE
The Equality Act:
Five years ago, then-Governor Nathan Deal did the right thing by voting down the "license to discriminate" law in Georgia. Now US Senators are on the brink of further shutting down LGBTQ discrimination by passing the Equality Act, nearly 50 years after its first introduction in Congress. The Equality Act has passed with bipartisan support in the House and received its first-ever Senate hearing. Every Senator needs to hear from their constituents NOW, even if you think they're already supportive. Click here to tell lawmakers to vote YES on the Equality Act.
Social Justice Action and Events Calendar
TONIGHT at 6 pm, the Georgia EPD is hosting a public hearing for Georgia Power's "cap-in-place" plans at Plant Hammond, and each member of the public will be given 3 minutes to speak. Georgia Power wants to leave more than a million tons of toxic coal ash in a leaking, unlined pit at Plant Hammond west of Rome, GA -- dangerously close to the Coosa River. The company has six other coal plants where they are planning the same dangerous approach. Join the virtual public hearing at 6 p.m. to speak out for clean water and the full safe cleanup of toxic coal ash across Georgia. Click here for a link to the virtual meeting, call-in options, and a link to share the event on Facebook.
TUES., 8/10 through TUES., 9/28: Voting Rights Webinars at 6:30 pm
Join the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda, the Southern Poverty Law Center and partners for a discussion on changes to election laws in Georgia and pending federal voting rights legislation. Register for one of four dates starting tonight.
SUN, 8/15, Online Presentation, The Lynching Of Black America, 8-9:30 pm
An online discussion of the history of lynchings in America; the effects and legacy on the Black community; and how it manifests itself today. Register here
WED., 8/18, Criminal Justice Reform Webinar, 7-8 pm
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