Rep. John Lewis: SCOTUS Decision 'A dagger in the very heart of the Voting Rights Act'

[deminks]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/06/courts-decision-puts-dagger-in-heart-of-voting-rights-act/


WASHINGTON — Rep. John Lewis, who witnessed the signing of the Voting Rights Act into law in 1965 after he helped wage a bloody fight for civil rights in America, said today he was “shocked, dismayed and disappointed” the Supreme Court effectively struck down the heart of the landmark law.

“What the Supreme Court did was to put a dagger in the heart of the Voting Rights Act of 1965,” Lewis told ABC News. “This act helped liberate not just a people but a nation.”

Lewis, 73, who is among the last living leaders of the civil rights movement, called the decision “a very sad moment” for the nation. He stood in his congressional office, surrounded by black-and-white photographs from a bygone era and watched with ABC News as the Supreme Court released its ruling.

“I’m in disbelief that members of the Supreme Court would take this position,” Lewis said. “We’ve come a distance. We’ve made progress, but there is still progress to be made.”


(end snip)

That this man has to fight again for his right to vote is unimaginable.

[JustAnotherGen]

1. One

I'm glad he agrees with me.

Two - That's what he have to look forward to now (the pic).

[still_one]

2. Yes, and the Supreme Court does matter. I wonder how proud Clarence Thomas feels that all the doors

That were opened for him, he is insuring that they will be closed to others who follow

[rhett o rick]

6. You mean "Clarence Uncle Thomas"? nm

[MotherPetrie]

3. K&R

[wordpix]

4. On MSNBC he said, "They should walk in our shoes," & should have added, "Help in the public schools"

These asshat Supremes are just around the corner from a number of DC public schools that are in distress b/c poor families are in distress. SCOTUS should come volunteer as tutors and mentors to "walk in our shoes." Maybe then they would get it.

[flamingdem]

5. K&R

[Erose999]

7. You can count on GA making obstructions to minority voting too. They'll probably require at least 3

forms of ID, among other things.

I recently got my license renewed. Bringing in my old license and my Social Security card was not enough, they also wanted utility bills with my current address on them, and my birth certificate. Had to go get my birther from the county clerk in my hometown, 100 miles away. Had to show up in person with cash.

And the county clerk had doubled the fees for copies of birth certificates. Just having them xerox the thing was $25.