National Black Justice Coalition Responds to GOP Filibuster Blockage of For the People Act
CONTACT: Anna Zuccaro, anna@unbendablemedia.com
WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, U.S. Senate Republicans filibustered and blocked the passage of the For the People Act, a bill that would have increased voting and election security and mitigated the flow of money from unknown sources and special interest groups into political campaigns, among other reforms.
In response, David J. Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, issued the following statement:
“Republicans have sought to stifle our votes and silence our voices for centuries. From redlining and gerrymandering in voting districts to illegitimate concerns over issues like seldom found ‘voter fraud,’ Republicans are well aware that the more access Americans have to the ballot box, the higher the chances that they lose their power.
“The filibuster is racist. Elected officials used the filibuster during the antebellum and Jim Crow eras to perpetuate racist policies. This fact is not up for debate, nor is it a matter of political opinion. In modern day, the filibuster is directly tied to right-wing blockage of our Civil Rights. Yesterday was no exception.
“As Republicans continue to make the same arguments about voting and ‘voter fraud’ as they did a century ago, we will continue to advocate for the expansion of voting rights and passage of legislation like the John Lewis Voting Rights Act .”
