January 15, 2024
“Today, we honor the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As our nation officially inaugurates the 2024 elections with tonight’s Iowa Caucus, we reflect on the enduring relevance of Dr. King’s vision of voting rights for all.”
“In his “Give Us The Ballot” address, Dr. King said, “The denial of this sacred right [to the ballot] is a tragic betrayal of the highest mandates of our democratic tradition.” Nearly a century after his birth, our nation is confronted with the disheartening reality that we are still facing aggressive efforts to deny the right to vote. In 2023 alone, over 325 restrictive voting bills were introduced in 45 states, with at least 14 states enacting 17 restrictive laws. The years since our last presidential election have been marked by assault after assault on our election systems, the American people, and our democracy. As we enter the 2024 election cycle, the continued spreading of false election conspiracy theories has led to the erosion of trust in our democratic institutions.”
“Despite these efforts to suppress the voice of the people, the fight for equal voting rights – particularly for Black, Brown, Native American, and other communities who for too long have been cut off from accessing the ballot – continues and is a tribute to Dr. King’s enduring legacy. Let us honor his legacy by calling on our leaders to protect voter access and ensure every vote counts, thereby ensuring that his dream of an inclusive and just democracy becomes a reality for every American.”
– Hannah Fried, Executive Director, All Voting is Local