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(Washington, D.C.) Damon Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, will testify before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties at Thursday’s hearing  “Voter Suppression and Continuing Threats to Democracy,” on Jan. 20 at 10 am. Live Stream of the Hearing.

In his testimony, Hewitt observes: “The harm caused by Shelby County has been well-documented.  The full effects of Brnovich remain to be seen. It is time for Congress to act.  The full protections of the Voting Rights Act are desperately needed today, particularly given the steps already taken—or about to be taken—by legislatures in states such as Georgia, Florida, and Texas in the aftermath of the 2020 election to raise additional barriers to the vote that will impact voters of color more severely than white voters.

“…[A]s we celebrate the lives and legacies of Dr. King and Congressman John Lewis, let us heed their words. Dr. King powerfully observed, “Freedom is like life. It cannot be had in installments. Freedom is indivisible—we have it all, or we are not free.”  Voting is foundational to securing that freedom. As Congressman Lewis explained, “The vote is precious. It is almost sacred. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democracy.

“It is time for action.  We must protect the fundamental right to vote for all Americans now, or else none of us will be free.”

Damon Hewitt’s prepared testimony for Jan. 20 can be found here.

Ezra Rosenberg, co-director of the Voting Rights Project for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, will testify before the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, & Innovation at Thursday’s hearing “Securing Democracy: Protecting Against Threats to Election Infrastructure and Voter Confidence,” on Jan. 20 at 2pm. Live Stream of the Hearing.

In his testimony, Rosenberg observes: “The attack on voting rights is a key to the larger crisis of American democracy. The attack threatens to transform elections into an instrument for a faction seeking to monopolize power and exclude others, rather than a means for expressing “the consent of the governed” as a basis for building consensus to promote the good for everyone.

“First, Congress must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA) to restore the strength of the VRA to prevent racial discrimination. Second, Congress must enact the Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA) to establish uniform minimum standards across the states for early voting, same day registration, voting by mail, fair redistricting and other essential elements of elections.”

Ezra Rosenberg’s prepared testimony for Jan. 20 can be found here.

 

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About the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law – The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, was formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. The principal mission of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is to secure, through the rule of law, equal justice for all, particularly in the areas of voting rights, criminal justice, fair housing and community development, economic justice, educational opportunities, and hate crimes.  For more information, please visit https://lawyerscommittee.org.