Congressman Cleaver Condemns Supreme Threat To Voting Rights Act

From our perspective . . .

Agree or disagree with the consequences, this week Americans earned another reminder that the legacy of the Civil Rights movement continues to fade into history.  

Accordingly . . .

Pending litigation over a massive voter referendum petition on Missouri redistricting, Congressman Cleaver might be directly impacted by the outcome of this SCOTUS decision and it could very well put an end to his career at 81-years-old and after serving in the House for more than 21 years. 

And so . . .

Here's his quote on the decision and more context . . .  

"The Voting Rights Act has been a vital pillar of American democracy, ensuring fair representation and the protection of voting rights that are entitled to every citizen across this great nation. Passage of this landmark legislation, along with the Civil Rights Act, was the seminal moment of the Civil Rights Movement and another step in America’s march toward becoming a true multi-racial democracy, helping to fulfill the promise of our nation’s founding.

"Tragically, the Supreme Court released an appalling decision this week that unilaterally guts this historic law. This decision was not only wrong—it was deeply disrespectful of the generations of African Americans and civil rights advocates who gave their freedom, their blood, and even their lives to make it possible. With one fell swoop, this increasingly partisan and unaccountable court has turned the clock back decades to a time when state legislatures were legally allowed to silence the voices of entire communities based on the color of their skin.

"Now more than ever, it is incumbent on lawmakers who genuinely believe in the principles of American democracy to reject the court’s invitation to racially gerrymander our fellow citizens out of representation in the halls of power. Congress can, and must immediately, enact legislation like the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to put an end to these undemocratic practices and protect the voices and voting rights of all Americans." 

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links from both sides of the aisle . . .

National Review: A Righteous Blow Against Racial Gerrymandering

PBS: How the Supreme Court's Louisiana districting decision weakens the Voting Rights Act

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