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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis, and several other civil rights activists and leaders led thousands of nonviolent demonstrators in March 1965 From Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The five-day, 54-mile march aims to safely register black voters in the South and fight for broader voting rights, regardless of race and ethnicity. Civil Rights Act of 1964— Passed only a few months ago — bans unequal application of voter registration requirements, racial segregation in schools and public spaces, and employment discrimination. However, the law was poorly enforced and did little to ensure and protect the right to vote for blacks.
The upsurge in literacy testing, economic retaliation, and racial terrorism has prevented many black people from registering to vote and fully participating in our democracy, especially in southern states.inexplicable connection brutality and voter suppression Deeply ingrained in American history, it shaped many historical events of the Civil Rights era.
The racial violence and tension that many black people experience every day reached a boiling point on the first attempt to march from Selma to Montgomery, where demonstrators led by John Lewis and others were beaten and tear-gassed by state police and members of the Ku Klux Klan gas, making it impossible for them to move forward.
The infamous “Bloody Sunday”, the horrific demonstrations that shook the nation. The fury led to a federal court order allowing voting rights marchers to complete their journey under the protection of the National Guard.Events in Selma and growing public support for protesters later prompted Congress to pass Voting Rights Act of 1965 Ban racial discrimination in voting, and ban voter registration loopholes like poll taxes and literacy tests.With the passage of the Voting Rights Act, voter registration increased significantly, such as Figure A.
Black Voter Registration in Selected Southern States Before and After the Voting Rights Act of 1965
| Voter Registration Before the Voting Rights Act (March 1965) | Voter Registration After the Voting Rights Act (September 1967) | |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 19.3% | 51.6% |
| Arkansas | 40.4% | 62.8% |
| Florida | 51.2% | 63.6% |
| Georgia | 27.4% | 52.6% |
| Louisiana State | 31.6% | 58.9% |
| Mississippi | 6.7% | 59.8% |
| North Carolina | 46.8% | 51.3% |
| South Carolina | 37.3% | 51.2% |
| Tennessee | 69.5% | 71.7% |
| Texas | 53.1% | 61.6% |
| Virginia | 38.3% | 55.6% |
The legacy of the Selma Parade is both inspiring and melancholic for several reasons. Without the sacrifice of so many brave citizen protesters, activists and demonstrators, we would not have many of the vote protections we have today. Yet despite their heroic efforts, more than 50 years later, our country is still fighting to protect our fundamental right to vote. Currently, Faith Leaders and Activists Hunger strikes are being passed across the country, urging Congress to pass meaningful voting rights legislation to combat threats to our democracy in the form of rampant voter suppression.
Across the country, state legislatures are cutting early voting, gerrymandering, shrinking voter identification requirements and passing felony disenfranchisement laws. After the 2020 election, at least 19 states Thirty-four voting-restricting laws have been passed, and more than 440 bills with voting-restricting provisions have been introduced in 49 states in the 2021 legislative session. Figure B Describe states that have enacted broad voter protection laws, voter restriction laws, or both.
States enacting broad, restrictive, and broad and restrictive voting laws in 2021
| state | Voting Law Changes | Voting Law Changes |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 0 |
| Arizona | Restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 0 |
|
Arkansas |
Restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 0 |
| Florida | Restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 0 |
| Georgia | Restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 0 |
| Idaho | Restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 0 |
| Iowa | Restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 0 |
| Kansas | Restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 0 |
| Texas | Restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 0 |
| Utah | Restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 0 |
| Wyoming | Restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 0 |
| California | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| Colorado | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| Connecticut | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| Delaware | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| hawaii | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| Illinois | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| Maine | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| Maryland | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| Massachusetts | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| Minnesota | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| New Jersey | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| new mexico | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| North Dakota | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| Oregon | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| Vermont | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| Virginia | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| Washington | Extensive laws enacted in 2021 | 1 |
| Indiana | Expanding and restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 2 |
| Kentucky | Expanding and restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 2 |
| Louisiana State | Expanding and restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 2 |
| Montana | Expanding and restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 2 |
| Nevada | Expanding and restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 2 |
| New Hampshire | Expanding and restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 2 |
| New York | Expanding and restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 2 |
| Oklahoma | Expanding and restrictive laws enacted in 2021 | 2 |
| Alaska | ||
| Washington DC | ||
| Michigan | ||
| Mississippi | ||
| Missouri | ||
| Nebraska | ||
| North Carolina | ||
| Ohio | ||
| Pennsylvania | ||
| Rhode Island | ||
| South Carolina | ||
| South Dakota | ||
| Tennessee | ||
| West Virginia | ||
| the state of Wisconsin |
Most of the states that passed these restrictive voting laws also implemented policies that increased economic inequality and weakened workers’ power. For example, of the 19 states that passed restrictive voting laws, 16 have so-called “”right to work law In place, 13 states use meager federal minimum wage $7.25.
Both policies help lower wages and benefits while weakening workplace protections and the economic security of these workers and their families.These policies also Disproportionately harm workers of color And exacerbate economic harm and disparities in communities of color. Without broader voting access and enhanced protections against voter suppression tactics, these policies will continue the nation’s long history of segregation and economic oppression.
Congress has a unique opportunity to pass Free Voting Act, which will significantly enhance voter participation and engagement, promote racial justice and equity, and counter ongoing attacks on voting rights within national policy. Specifically, the Freedom to Vote Act will:
- Develop new federal standards to protect people’s right to vote.
- Expand mail-in voting and early voting.
- Regulate automatic voter registration.
- Make Election Day a legal public holiday.
- Restore voting rights to all felony convicts who have completed their sentences.
- Strengthen protections for election management officials, crack down on gerrymandering practices, and support campaign finance laws.
Voting rights are an important economic provision that enables people to have a say in local, state and federal decisions and how resources are allocated to their families and communities. If this right is not protected, the needs of voters and their families will go unmet and their economic well-being may be at risk.
Limited voting options – as in The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 election– More challenges for voters exercising their rights, while other forms of voter suppression keep many of the least privileged members of society from voting. For historically disadvantaged groups, these effects are far more severe and maintain current inequalities. Congress must pass this bill to invest in our democracy and uphold our rights.
The Free to Vote Act embodies the many sacrifices, hopes and dreams that demonstrators fought for in the Selma march. Fifty years later, our nation is rebuilding these dreams into restorative policies. This comprehensive bill reform embodies the true purpose of our democracy and works to strengthen the voices of those left out of the system.
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