Nation’s oldest and largest civil and human rights coalition leads fight for access to the ballot box
WASHINGTON – The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and All Voting is Local are launching “And Still I Vote,” a national call to action to overcome discriminatory barriers to voting. Inspired by the late Maya Angelou’s acclaimed poem “And Still I Rise,” the national campaign will spotlight tactics some government officials use to erect barriers to the voting booth. These anti-democratic efforts most typically target people of color, people with limited English proficiency, young voters, people with disabilities, and other groups historically excluded from our political process. “And Still I Vote” will highlight stories of resistance and resilience from historically disenfranchised communities, while providing practical tools to fight back.
“Our vote is our voice. Yet far too many in this country are actively plotting to silence our voice and block our ability to vote,” said Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference. “‘And Still I Vote’ is a rallying cry of democratic defiance, uniting communities in the common struggle to protect and preserve our voting rights and democracy. They’ll try to block our path to the ballot box. And still we’ll fight. And still we’ll persist. And still we’ll vote.”
Partners include celebrity influencers lifting their voices to protect our voting rights and democracy during the 2020 election cycle. Participants include actors Alfre Woodard, Michael Ealy, and Guillermo Díaz, dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen, comedians Cristela Alonzo and Jenny Yang, former NBA athlete Jason Collins, and performing artist Estelle.
The “And Still I Vote” tour launched Sunday, March 1, in Selma, Ala., to commemorate the 55th anniversary of Bloody Sunday – the brutal 1965 attacks on peaceful civil rights activists by Alabama law enforcement officers. Future tour stops include Milwaukee and Phoenix, cities with noted voting rights obstacles and where All Voting is Local campaign workers are on the ground fighting to remove discriminatory barriers to the ballot.
“As we honor the brave patriots who endured ‘Bloody Sunday’ 55 years ago, we must tear down the barriers to the ballot that still exist today,” said Ashley Allison, executive vice president of campaigns and programs at The Leadership Conference. “Unless we act now, millions of Americans will be denied the right to vote in the next election.”
To follow ‘And Still I Vote’ developments, use #AndStillIVote on social media, and follow The Leadership Conference on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and follow All Voting is Local on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To learn more about the campaign, visit AndStillIVote.org.
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The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 220 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.
All Voting is Local fights to eliminate needless and discriminatory barriers to voting before they happen, to build a democracy that works for us all. It is a collaborative campaign housed at The Leadership Conference Education Fund, in conjunction with the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation; the American Constitution Society; the Campaign Legal Center; and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. For more information about All Voting is Local, visit https://allvotingislocal.org and follow us on Twitter @votingislocal.