Beloved Civil Rights leader Rev. Dr. CT Vivian passed away at his home in Atlanta Friday, July 17, just a few hours before his friend and fellow civil rights leader, John Lewis, passed on. Rev. Vivian, 95, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and was arrested and suffered brutal beatings by police in his […]
Amendment 4 Leader, Desmond Meade, Expresses Disappointment with the Supreme Court’s Decision to Temporarily Block Florida Returning Citizens from Voting
“At the heart of this debate are hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life, and all parts of the state,” said Desmond Meade, Executive Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. “People who a federal judge said should vote in this election, but that our own government is now blocking.” “We are […]
Regina Belle, Cassi Davis, Roland Martin Honor Rev. Joseph Lowery at 98th Birthday Celebration
ATLANTA – As actress, Cassi Davis, and journalist, Roland S. Martin, kept the program moving, civil rights pioneers Christine King Farris and Rev. C. T. Vivian, joined new-school leaders like Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, nearly 100 student Change Agents, and over 500 attendees to celebrate Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery’s 98th birthday. Presented recently […]
Mzuri Moyo Aimbaye’s One-Woman Play: The Fannie Lou Hamer Story Visits Atlanta
The 58th Annual Session of The Progressive National Baptist Convention will feature the award-winning musical theatrical tribute to voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer Award-winning singer, actress, and playwright, Mzuri Moyo Aimbaye will return to Atlanta for a performance of her acclaimed stage play about civil rights activist, Fannie Lou Hamer, during the 58th Annual […]
Award-Winning New Film “Let My People Vote” Being Used as Rallying Call for Youth to Participate in Midterm Elections
Poignant film becoming rallying call for youth to participate in the midterm elections LOS ANGELES – While media pundits and other experts debate the impact Russia had on the 2016 election, a riveting short documentary exposing the harsh voter suppression laws that prohibit 6.1 million Americans from voting, “Let My People Vote,” is fast becoming […]
Defending Democracy in the Fight Against Voter Suppression
By Marc Morial (To Be Equal #14) New York, NY – In 2013, the Supreme Court stripped the Voting Rights Act of its power to stop states from creating and enforcing laws that would prevent eligible voters from exercising their constitutional right to vote. Under the dark shadow of the newly crippled law, our nation […]
Democracy Initiative Endorsing Organizations Celebrate Passage of Voting Rights Restoration in Maryland
Washington, DC – Today, the Maryland state Senate successfully overrode Gov. Larry Hogan’s 2015 veto of legislation (SB340 and HB 980) restoring voting rights to more than 40,000 Marylanders with significant majorities in the House of Delegates and Senate. Under the new law, Marylanders with felony convictions will be allowed to vote upon their release. Democracy […]
Have Blacks lost their spirit for social activism?
by Jessica Williams-Gibson – Some are concerned that the kind of activism advocated by leaders such as Rev. Derek King (left) and Rev. Al Sharpton is not as strong in the Black community today as in the past. During the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s, African-Americans mobilized and marched for issues such […]
New Report Documents Restrictions Designed to Suppress Voting Among Communities of Color
A new report reveals direct connections between the trend of increasing, unprecedented African American and Latino voter turnout and an onslaught of restrictive measures across the country designed to stem electoral strength among communities of color, especially in regions where full political participation can reverse the tide of policies that undermine rights of racial and […]