Today is the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. A pro-democracy march and rally will be held in Atlanta today to commemorate the signing of the Act and to call attention to the threats facing minorities and the poor as key provisions of the act come up for renewal in 2007. I wish I could be there.
To learn more about the march and rally, which will feature a lot of the original marchers from 40 years ago, and an all-star concert lineup featuring Stevie Wonder, Harry Belafonte, Roberta Flack, Willie Nelson, and more, click here.
Some basics, from the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition:
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Most Americans are not aware that the right to vote is not explicitly stated in the Constitution. The right to vote is a state right, and thus subject to differing laws and regulations as established by each individual state. This accounts for the various abuses that have been practiced at different times over the years including poll taxes, literacy tests, property ownership requirements, and the many abuses of the system we face today.
The Voting Rights Act was passed by Congress and signed by Lyndon Johnson in 1965. It provides protection for voters against actions taken by states to limit participation in the electoral process, actions most often targeted toward black, Hispanic, and low income citizens.
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For more information about the Voting Rights Act and how you can help to keep it intact, go to ww.votingrightsact.org and www.renewthevra.org.
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