Three Little Words
National Call To Action - July 2, 2020
By Daryl D. Jones, Esq., Board Chair, Transformative Justice Coalition (Inspired by CNN Commentator Laura Coates)
Just Three Words. “Give me Liberty”
Just Three Words. “We the People”
Just Three Words. “In The Beginning.”
Sometimes three little words can carry a meaning so heavy that the National Guard must be called out to try to quiet them. Sometimes three little words can produce a change in societal thought and philosophy. Sometimes three little words can spark a consciousness that forces statues that have stood for generations to tumble down. Today, three little words have awoken a consciousness in America that will forever change the direction of our country...Black Lives Matter! Black Voters Matter!
Black Voters Matter in Kentucky, where Kentucky only had one (1) in-person voting poll for all of their 600,000 voters of Louisville and one (1) in-person voting poll for Kentucky’s second largest city, Lexington. Not to mention that the many financially challenged Black communities in Lexington without transportation would require nearly three (3) hours of travel time and several hours to withstand a long winding waiting line at the one polling place in a severe rain storm to exercise their franchise. By the way, Louisville tried to close and lock the door to the voting booths at 6:00 p.m. with people trying to enter the building to vote. People banging on doors demanding to be let in to vote because the one polling place fiasco caused a traffic log jam of people trying to get into the parking lot and find a parking space to vote...Black Voters Matter!
Black Voters Matter in Georgia. Georgia who single handedly displayed the most outrageously poorly organized in-person voting polls in America. Many who requested mail-in ballots never got them. Polling places reduced and moved. Voting lines snaking for extended distances. Georgia, what was on your mind?...Black Voters Matter!
Black Voters Matter in Texas. The Longhorn state has succeeded in spearing voters by demanding that anyone under sixty-five (65) years of age not be able to use Coronavirus Pandemic as a reason to be able to cast a vote by mail. Texas officials took their efforts to the United States Supreme Court, who heard and voted virtually, to disallow Texans under 65 years of age to safely cast a vote by mail. Texas, the state with one of the highest numbers of new Coronavirus infections in America, wants its voters under the age of 65 to stand in line to vote. This is a thinly veiled attempt to stop and suppress voters from coming to the polls...Black Voters Matter.
Black Voters Matter in Pennsylvania. Some members of the legislature in Pennsylvania recognized the ease of access for voting in communities of color when the Secretary of State permitted drop boxes, as advocated by the Transformative Justice Coalition, as an option to in-person voting and the result was a better than predicted performance by the Black Community. Some members of the Pennsylvania legislature have now filed a lawsuit to disallow drop boxes in the general election...Black Voters Matter.
Despite these attempts to silence Black Voters, Black voters have shown up significantly nationally to vote, by mail, in-person, curbside, in whatever manner that has been permitted to vote. While many Black voters succumbed to the long lines, extended travel and shuttered voting polling places, many Black voters withstood the suppressive tactics demanding to exercise their franchise. The Black community has shown up in great numbers in Georgia; in great numbers in Kentucky; and in great numbers in every state that has held primaries in America. The Black voters have shown up because they recognize that when “We The People” stand up, racist voting tactics meant to destroy progress, end up building progressive unity. Black voters recognize that when they are focused and determined to correct the bend of the moral universe of voting that “We Shall Overcome!”
The current national movement for societal justice following the death of George Floyd has brought down long standing racist statues; Renamed the street in front of the White House; and will Stop Voter Suppression in November! The imperative is now for us to strategize, collaborate and jointly respond during these oppressive times. Come join us as we continue to build the momentum to help America tear down the wall that attempts to suppress America’s vote and end forever the devastating three little words, “I Can't Breathe!"
About the Transformative Justice Coalition
Founded by Barbara Arnwine the former President and CEO of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, the Transformative Justice Coalition seeks to be a catalyst for transformative institutional changes that bring about justice and equality in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.tjcoalition.org.