Washington, DC – July 20, 2006 – Today marks one of the most important milestones in the history of our nation. The bipartisan passage of the Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006 (VRA) by both houses of Congress keeps whole the legacy left to us by countless numbers of civil rights activists and the three brave women whose names are carried on this legislation. I commend the majority and minority leadership of the U. S. Congress for uniting the country around the most fundamental right in our nation's democracy and that is the right to vote and have that vote protected through the rule of law.

Democracy’s cornerstone is the unobstructed right to vote by all of our nation’s citizens. And, it is the abiding belief in this principal that we commend America’s legislative leaders. The victory is not only shared by African Americans and other ethnic minorities whose rights still need protecting, but also by the nation as a whole. We as a nation must remain vigilant in monitoring the implementation of VRA and challenge the federal government to uphold the VRA by enforcing the enforcement provisions that protect all citizens voting rights whenever and wherever they are violated.

Campbell notes that the Voting Rights Act serves as the legacy to the countless numbers of African Americans and other citizens of conscience who braved hostility and brutality to ensure the right to vote. “We just can’t fail in our mission to keep our democracy strong. And the only way to accomplish this is to continue on the march to protect every citizen’s voting franchise,” Campbell stated.

The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation is a national non-profit, non-partisan civic coalition of over 80 member organizations dedicated to enhancing the full participation of the Black community in all levels of civil society. Over its 30- year history, NCBCP has served as an effective convener and facilitator at the local, state and national levels of efforts to address the disenfranchisement of African Americans and other marginalized communities. For more information please visit our website at: www.ncbcp.org