March 4, 2021

Advancement Project National Office Celebrates Passage of For the People Act

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives historically passed H.R. 1 – the For the People Act – a pro-democracy piece of legislation that protects and strengthens access to voting, blunts the influence of dark money in politics and establishes anti-corruption measures for government. Advancement Project National Office, a 21^st century civil rights and racial justice organization released the following statement.

“By passing H.R. 1, the House of Representatives voted to create a more inclusive democracy—one in which Black and Brown voters have equal access to the ballot box and have an equal say in the governing of the communities in which they live,” said Judith Browne Dianis, Executive Director of Advancement Project National Office. “The 2020 election and its aftermath revealed that some state and local officials believe that making it harder for people of color to vote gives them a political advantage. The provisions of H.R. 1 help dispose of the voter suppression tools used to silence the voice of communities of color. By blocking discriminatory voter roll purges, restoring the voting rights of 1.7 million Americans disenfranchised by criminal convictions, and expanding access to voter registration, the legislation makes transformative changes that will expand our democracy.”

“As the Supreme Court considers a case that would further weaken the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the significance of H.R. 1 cannot be understated,” said Jorge Vasquez, Power & Democracy Director for Advancement Project National Office. “Democracy deferred is democracy denied for Black and Brown communities. Ensuring that the voice of America’s increasingly diverse electorate is heard will ensure government is of the people and for the people. There is no doubt that the For the People Act will strengthen the political voice of Black and Brown communities.

“The record turnout during the 2020 elections also showed us what is possible when voting is free, fair, safe and accessible to all communities,” continued Dianis. “Americans want to participate in our democracy and when measures are implemented to make voting less cumbersome, they eagerly participate in the process. Black and Brown voters cast ballots in record numbers despite a pandemic, waiting in disproportionately longer lines, at fewer early voting sites, with fewer election resources. The For the People Act is one step that moves us closer to a reality where this is no more. We applaud the passage of H.R. 1 and urge the U.S. Senate to quickly pass the legislation.”

###

Advancement Project National Office is a next-generation, multi-racial civil rights organization. Rooted in the great human rights struggles for equality and justice, we exist to fulfill America’s promise of a caring, inclusive and just democracy. We use innovative tools and strategies to strengthen social movements and achieve high impact policy change. Visit www.advancementproject.org

KEEP READING

Advancement Project Releases Poll and Focus Group Data on Gen Z Voters of Color Spanning Four States October 24, 2022

Advancement Project Releases Poll and Focus Group Data on Gen Z Voters of Color in Michigan, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia Issues that rose to the top include abortion access, the economy, and systemic racism and discrimination WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Advancement Project released findings from a poll and focus groups of Gen Z voters of color (Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian American and Pacific Islander) in Michigan, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. This survey was conducted by HIT Strategies in September 2022. “We know that when our…

BREAKING: Court Denies Motion from Civil Rights Groups Challenging Georgia’s Voting Line Relief Ban August 19, 2022

GEORGIA – The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia denied a motion for a preliminary injunction to suspend the line relief ban in Senate Bill 202. Line relief is the practice of distributing food, water and other support to voters stuck waiting in line at a polling place. The plaintiffs include local Black faith leaders and Georgia civil rights groups. In response, Jess Unger, Staff Attorney for the Power and Democracy program at Advancement Project National Office, released this statement: “The criminalization of people providing food and water to voters who are waiting to cast their…

Hearing in Lawsuit Challenging Georgia Anti-Voting Rights Law Weighs Impact of Line Relief Restrictions July 18, 2022

GEORGIA — The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia will be hearing motions for a preliminary injunction in the consolidated litigation challenging SB 202 (In Re Georgia Senate Bill 202). This hearing will consider the “line relief” provision that criminalizes those who provide voters waiting in line with food and water, which disproportionately impacts communities of color in Georgia who face some of the longest waiting times at the ballot box in the country. SB 202 creates significant barriers for Black, Latinx and other voters of color…

Advancement Project National Office Condemns New Anti-Voting Rights Law in Florida that Creates Office of Election Crimes, Mandates Special Voter-Fraud Police Officers April 26, 2022

FLORIDA – Moments ago, Governor DeSantis signed into law a bill passed by the Republican Florida legislature that claims to fight “voter fraud” by creating an Office of Election Crimes and mandating the appointment of “special” members of law enforcement. This comes on the heels of the conclusion of a trial challenging SB 90, another anti-voting rights measure in Florida. This law was successfully challenged in court by several national and Florida civil rights and voting rights groups, including Advancement Project. Similar anti-voting rights bills…

Civil Rights Organizations Celebrate Decision in Florida Voting Rights Trial March 31, 2022

Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker released a landmark decision today in the nationally-watched voting rights trial on Florida’s SB 90 bill to strike down key provisions of the law. This restrictive voting law passed by the Republican-majority legislature and Gov. DeSantis would have put in place new constraints on the use of drop boxes and organizations conducting voter registration drives, among other measures that would significantly hinder access to the vote for millions of state residents.

Trial Challenging Florida’s SB 90 Voter Suppression Law Begins Today January 31, 2022

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A trial challenging SB 90 (League of Women Voters v Lee), a Florida measure to make it harder and in many ways impossible for Black and Brown people to vote, kicked off on Monday, Jan. 31. This is one of the first trials of the year challenging anti-voting laws at the state level. It comes just as national voting rights efforts have stalled, with the Senate recently failing to change rules on the filibuster to pass voting rights. SB 90 was passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis in spring…

Advancement Project National Office Statement on the Senate’s Failure to Pass Voting Rights Legislation January 20, 2022

WASHINGTON — Last night, the Senate blocked the Freedom to Vote John R. Lewis Act from advancing to a final passage vote. In response to this, Judith Browne Dianis, Executive Director of the Advancement Project National Office released this statement: “Last night, all 50 Senate Republicans and two Senate Democrats voted to maintain the filibuster and block the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act from advancing to a final vote. These bills would protect voters and undo many of the barriers and restrictions that bar thousands of Black, Latinx, Asian, and…

Advancement Project National Office: “Passing voting rights legislation will protect right to free, fair, and accessible elections” January 11, 2022

Washington, DC — In response to President Biden’s speech in Georgia today on voting rights legislation and the filibuster, Judith Browne Dianis, Executive Director of Advancement Project National Office, issued this statement: “While President Biden’s speech in Georgia today rings the alarm on voting rights, we need to put out the fire by immediately changing Senate rules on the filibuster to pass voting rights legislation. “The urgency of this moment cannot be understated. Black voters and other voters of color need concrete action on voting rights immediately. Over 400 state-level bills undermining the right to vote were introduced last…

Advancement Project National Office Applauds the Passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act August 23, 2021

CONTACT Jeralyn Cave [email protected] 202-921-7321 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The legislation restores key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and helps prevent racial discrimination in voting by requiring states to obtain federal approval before enacting specific types of voting changes known to be racially discriminatory. The legislation also restores voters’ ability to challenge racial discrimination in court. Advancement Project National Office, a national racial justice and civil rights organization, released the following statement: “We applaud the efforts of the U.S.

Congress Must Combat New Wave of Voter Suppression, Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act August 18, 2021

On Monday, the U.S. House Judiciary hosted a hearing on H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (VRAA), discussing the need to restore federal oversight of elections in the wake of a new wave of voter suppression sweeping the nation.