FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2021
Contact: Kenny Palmer | press@indivisible.org
Washington, DC — Today, Meagan Hatcher-Mays, Director of Democracy Policy for Indivisible, issued the following statement:
“Today’s successful vote on the John Lewis Voting Rights Act in the House is a historic moment for voting rights and is an appropriate honor to the legacy of John Lewis, who put his own life on the line to secure the right to vote for everyone. He dedicated his life to pushing the limits of what was politically possible even in the face of impossible odds. Our activists have learned from his example and refuse to give in until the job to save our democracy is done.
“This new VRA is a critical step toward restoring the bill that was gutted by the unscrupulous conservatives on the Supreme Court back in 2013 in Shelby County v. Holder, and again just this June in Brnovich v. DNC. These decisions, issued by a Court more interested in helping Republicans win elections than they are in upholding the constitution, have led to a wave of racist voter suppression bills in Georgia, Texas, Michigan, and throughout the country. We need the John Lewis Voting Rights Act signed into law, along with the For the People Act, as soon as is humanly possible -- without these bills, there will be no end to the GOP’s march towards authoritarianism.
“Thanks to Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats’ work to pass the John Lewis VRA, and with the For the People Act ready pending in the Senate, Majority Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats now have a once in a generation opportunity to pass two transformational democracy reform bills when they return from recess. President Joe Biden has so far been absent from this fight to save our democracy, so it is now up to Leader Schumer to be a hero. That means he cannot delay. He must bring both of these bills up immediately upon return, and he must convince his caucus to change any arcane Senate rule that stands in the way of passage. As Leader Schumer himself has said, ‘Our democracy demands no less.’”
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ABOUT THE INDIVISIBLE PROJECT
The Indivisible Project (501c4) is a social movement non-profit driven by a vision of a real democracy - of, by, and for the people. Indivisible began in 2016 as a viral guide to resisting Trump’s agenda. Today, the Indivisible movement is a network of thousands of local groups and millions of activists across every state. The Indivisible Project drives campaigns for bold progressive policies, lobbies Congress, and equips activists with tools to build lasting progressive power, everywhere. Together, we fight to defeat the rightwing takeover of American government and build an inclusive democracy.