We Must Fight Back Against Voter Suppression (video)

[cal04]

Sen. Bernie Sanders spoke today on the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act at a rally hosted by leading civil rights organizations.

3:15
Let me be very clear and say it in a non partisan way, anybody who is suppressing the vote, anybody who is intentionally trying to keep people from voting, because that candidate knows that those people will vote against him or her, that person is a political coward!

[sabrina 1]

1. Anyone trying to deny any Citizen the right to vote, should be arrested

and spend some time in jail, where for the duration of their sentence, they themselves will be denied that right. After they have completed their sentence, that right should be restored.


I was under the impression that it was a crime to try to take away a legal right from any citizen. To try to take it away from a particular group of citizens would seem to be an additional crime.

Thanks for the OP, Cal04

[Enthusiast]

4. PLUS ONE, a huge bunch!

[aspirant]

2. "Political coward"

I say bring it Bernie. Purging votes in the AA community and calling those responsible "cowards" has to energize people.

cal04, I hope you stay on this topic.

[n8dogg83]

3. unfortunately right now i dont think there is an affirmative right to vote in the US Constitution...

I think it would be difficult, but worth it to try to get a constitutional amendment passed affirming the right to vote for all Americans. That would then make it illegal to suppress the vote. I think O'Malley might have called for something like that, and its a good idea. I would happen in time for this election though...

[jwirr]

5. The country started out with the rich land owners being the only voters. It was not long after

that men without land got the vote. Women and AA also were granted the right to vote. If I am not mistaken all of this was granted through the Constitution.

You are correct that the Voters Rights Act has been changed by the SCOTUS but that did not take away the AA right to vote - they already have the right to vote per the Constitution. What the Voters Rights Act did was make it illegal to obstruct their voting with things like the poll tax or tests that were designed for failure and voter IDs. Today many states are trying to resurrect obstruction to voting once again.

It is in the constitution. What we are fighting today is those states that want to place unfair limits on certain people to vote.