The following is a statement from the SOLVE Network, a coalition of 300 grassroots groups dedicated to voting access, on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act on Aug. 6.
August 6th marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a watershed moment in our country when critical protections for minority voters, and in particular Black and Brown Americans, were enacted to stop discriminatory voting practices.
Passed by a bipartisan Congress and signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson, the Voting Rights Act is one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation in our country. It came from the tremendous and brave advocacy of Black Americans and allies who challenged the violence and cruelty of white supremacy and Jim Crow laws that violated the voting rights of Black Americans across the South.
However, we have seen the VRA’s promises of freedom to have a say over the decisions that impact our lives and pick our leaders broken with waves of restrictions to the ballot in Southern states, that continually come.
Harmful court decisions beginning with the U.S. Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder (2013) and Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021) have weakened the Voting Rights Act and effectively given a greenlight for discriminatory voting practices and unfair voting maps to go largely unremedied in the South.
The Southern Leadership for Voter Engagement network has noted and described the multitude of voter suppression bills that have been passed since Shelby County in 2013. Meanwhile, Congress has failed to respond to the crisis for years, by failing to update the Voting Rights Act as previous Congresses have.
We, members of Southern Leadership for Voter Engagement Network, a coalition of close to 300 grassroots voting rights groups based in Southern communities, are demanding restoration of the protections afforded in the Voting Rights Act and an urgently needed strengthening of these protections through other measures that will address modern day methods of voter suppression.
We need these comprehensive voting rights protections more than ever, as we experience the most brazen attacks on our civil rights and democracy in a generation.
Just as before, the movement for this change must come from the people and include the South as a central focus given how inequitable the forces of discrimination and disenfranchisement have fallen on our communities.
We will work together to strengthen, preserve, and perfect our nation’s multiracial democracy until every citizen is fully and fairly served by our nation’s promise of just and equal electoral access.
Endorsing organizations include the following SOLVE members:
| ACLU People Power Fairfax (Virginia) |
| African American Clergy Collective of Tennessee |
| Alabama Election Protection Network |
| All About the Ballots (Florida) |
| All Ballots Count (Louisiana) |
| Be The Ones (S.C.) |
| Black Clergy Collaborative of Memphis (Tennessee) |
| Bogalusa AARP (Louisiana) |
| Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ (COOLJC) Region 8 Social Justice Economic & Racial Equality Commission (S.C.) |
| Countywide Family Development Center, Inc. (Mississippi) |
| Edu-Futuro (Virginia) |
| Elmahaba Center (Tennessee) |
| Equal Ground Education Fund (Florida) |
| Farmworkers Self-Help Inc. (Florida) |
| Fayetteville Police Accountability Community Taskforce (N.C.) |
| Harriet Tubman Freedom Fighters (Florida) |
| Joynt Production Network (Georgia) |
| League of Women Voters of Florida |
| Lila Latinx LGBTQ (N.C.) |
| Mi Familia en Accion |
| NAACP Lee County Branch 5038 (Alabama) |
| NC Counts Coalition |
| New Disabled South |
| Newtown Florist Club Inc. (Georgia) |
| One Voice (Mississippi) |
| Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative for Economic and Social Justice |
| Southern Coalition for Social Justice |
| Sowing Justice (Tennessee) |
| Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice |
| Virginia Civic Engagement Table |
| Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights |
| Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations |
| Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy |
| Wallace Foundation |
| We Must Vote, Inc. (Mississippi) |
| Westside Sponsoring Committee (Louisiana) |
| Women of Purpose Global Ministries |
| Women Working Together USA |
Felecia Phillips Ollie DD (h.c.) is the inspiring leader and founder of The Equality Network LLC (TEN). With a background in coaching, travel, and a career in news, Felecia brings a unique perspective to promoting diversity and inclusion. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in English/Communications, she is passionate about creating a more inclusive future. From graduating from Mississippi Valley State University to leading initiatives like the Washington State Department of Ecology’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Felecia is dedicated to making a positive impact. Join her journey on our blog as she shares insights and leads the charge for equity through The Equality Network.
