Staff Reports
President Joe Biden is facing mounting pressure from voting rights activists to move forward with the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act as his State of the Union address coincides with the anniversary of “Bloody Sunday.”
The late John Lewis, a Democrat and former congressman, was one of the activists who marched on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on March 7, 1965, when they were violently confronted by state troopers. The day became infamous as “Bloody Sunday” due to the brutal attacks on the peaceful protesters, resulting in numerous injuries and hospitalizations, including Lewis, who suffered a cracked skull.
The voting rights activists are urging the president to prioritize the passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which has already been approved by the House but has yet to be voted on by the Senate. The legislation aims to require clearance from the Department of Justice before states can implement any voting restrictions.
Black Voters Matter co-founder Cliff Albright expressed his hopes that President Biden would address the legislation during his State of the Union speech. He emphasized the importance of the president’s commitment to signing the bills into law should he be reelected.
Additionally, the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is actively challenging voting restrictions in Texas and Georgia, with its international president, Elsie Cooke-Holmes, asserting that federal intervention is the only effective solution to safeguard voting rights.
Activist groups, including the Sierra Club, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, and the National Urban League, sent an open letter to President Biden, emphasizing the urgent need to protect democracy and urging him to advocate for the passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
Rev. Al Sharpton also brought attention to the issue of racial disparities in the country during an interview with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, expressing concerns about waning enthusiasm among black voters regarding the Biden administration’s commitments.
Vice President Kamala Harris visited Selma ahead of the anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” and vowed to continue the administration’s efforts to press Congress to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.
It’s clear that President Biden is under mounting pressure from various activist groups and political figures to prioritize the voting rights legislation as a crucial component of his agenda.
