(Washington, D.C.) – The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act was introduced in the Senate on Tuesday. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will revive the preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 invalidated by the disastrous Shelby v. Holder Supreme Court decision in 2013, restoring the Department of Justice’s ability to oversee changes to voting rights. The law will provide the Justice Department with renewed authority to block discriminatory voting changes and protect the rights of Black and Brown voters in the United States.
The following is a statement from Damon Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law:
“All rights in our democracy flow from the right to vote, which is tied to the promise of justice, freedom, and equality for all. After the Supreme Court gutted the preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the promises of democracy for communities of color, the elderly, and the young began to slip away. But with the introduction of the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, protecting the right to vote is front and center. The bill is designed to ensure that communities of color secure their voice in our democracy and achieve equal representation in our government. We look forward to working with Congress to ensure that this becomes truly transformative legislation that will keep our nation committed to realizing its ideal of a fully inclusive democracy for years to come.”
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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.
