Milwaukee, WI – On July 26, the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression and Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee joined SEIU Wisconsin for an event to speak against voter suppression. Early voting for the partisan primary kicked off on Tuesday in Milwaukee, and while many speakers emphasized the need to vote, the Milwaukee Alliance and RJAM kept their messages focused on the fight for voting rights. This is important, as our voting rights, especially those of oppressed nationalities, are coming under deeper and more frequent attacks.

Lauren Forbush, chair of RJAM, drew connections between the attacks on reproductive rights and the attacks on voting rights, stating, “With the reinstatement of Wisconsin State Statute 940.04, abortion providers can face a Class H felony and a $10,000 fine. You know what people with felonies can’t do? Vote!”

Now, more than ever, it’s imperative to shed light on how these issues in order to build stronger alliances and fight back, and fighting back is exactly what Alan Chavoya, outreach chair of the Milwaukee Alliance, encouraged as he spoke at the event.

“We all know that the fight against voter suppression in this country is a struggle that spread across the entire history of the U.S. But, like during any other time in history, when working people’s right to vote is under attack, what do we do? We stand up and fight back.” Chavoya said.

Chavoya highlighted the need for organized labor and grassroots movements in Milwaukee to come together and build political power. Chavoya called attention to the impressive work being done in Chicago to foster unity between movements in the community and in labor to fight for greater democratic rights.

“The partnership between SEIU, other unions, and the Chicago chapter of the Alliance is what made it possible for them to pass the most progressive police reform in this country and are one step closer to getting community control of the police.”

The Milwaukee Alliance and RJAM are continuing to build the struggle in Milwaukee against racist, sexist, transphobic and political repression. Through these kinds of events, the alliance between these organizations and unions like SEIU grows stronger, setting the stage for future victories in Milwaukee.

#MilwaukeeWI #voterSuppression #Elections

Asheville, NC – 10,000 people gathered in front of the Buncombe County Courthouse, overflowing into the streets in Downtown Asheville for Mountain Moral Monday, Aug. 5.

Speakers addressed the egregious statewide attacks on women, immigrants, teachers, students and workers. Many protesters had signs addressing voter suppression, in particular HB 589, which is being called “the worst voter suppression bill in the country.”

Protesters blasted Senator Tom Apodaca, who represents several counties in western North Carolina, and who recently said that the Voters Rights Act is “a headache.”

The NAACP’s Reverend William Barber responded to these comments saying, “He used the same language that the white segregationists of 1877 used when the federal troops were pulled out of the south. They said now that the power and protections have been removed we can do what we want. So they passed a bill to eliminate early voting and same day registration – to suppress the right to vote, and to allow vigilante citizens to go into any precinct and challenge people’s right to vote. They passed a bill that allows more money to be put into elections, where people can buy those who are elected. You can tell Senator Apodaca he ain’t seen a headache until you’ve seen us fight to protect the right to vote. If you think we’re going to allow any group, you must be out of your dog-gone-mind!”

Reverend Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, director of the Asheville-based Campaign for Southern Equality spoke, “We have within us the courage and strength not just to stand up to unjust, unconstitutional and immoral laws like Amendment One and the recent voter ID bill, but also to change these laws. One things that history has made clear is that people change, laws change and our nation changes but it never ever happens on its own. It happens because people like us stand up and say ‘Forward together!’” The crowd enthusiastically replied, “Not one step back!”

Beginning in April the North Carolina NAACP organized thousands to protest every Monday at the state capitol in Raleigh to fight the Tea Party agenda being rammed through the state legislature.

Over 900 people were arrested during the protests before the North Carolina legislature ended their session on July 27. There are now plans to take these protests to all 13 North Carolina districts.

#AshevilleNC #RepublicanAgenda #voterSuppression #AmendmentOne #MoralMonday

Winston-Salem, NC – On July 27, more than a dozen people, including political officials and members of several organizations, gathered here to call for unity in the low-income communities of East Winston-Salem and to join forces against racist injustice. The event was organized by Delinzia Upson, who’s a foreclosure prevention coordinator and writer for BE Winston Salem, and Marva Reid, president of the East/Northeast Winston Neighborhood Association.

Even as the rain poured down, people came and spoke of the continuing line of injustice occurring in Winston-Salem. “There’s a lot of stuff happening to our community today,” says Derwin L. Montgomery, city council member and representative of East Winston-Salem , “so we’re here to ensure we’re out and engaged in the process. I just want people to know that this here makes a difference, no matter how small it seems. It does make a difference, as we see here – we’re all in this together.”

Evelyn Terry, who is a candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives district 71, spoke a fiery speech against HB 589, a voter suppression bill, saying “There are some people who want to turn back the hands of time. Are we going to let them do that? Hell no! I find it unbelievable in the things happening in our state, in particular that dreadful, draconian bill that will take us far beyond reconstruction – the voter suppression bill.”

Terry continued, “It was because of all of the people who marched and died, who were beaten and maimed, that allowed us to exercise our right to vote. I believe, from this day forward, we need to go to the streets, to the churches, to the synagogues, to the mosques and show the people how critical it is for them to exercise their right to vote, no matter what barrier there is in front of them by this mean-spirited, un-Christian-like, unjust General Assembly.”

Chants erupted from the crowd, “Forward together now, not one step back!” and “Fired up! Ready to go!” Poets spoke, food and beverages were provided and local DJ Annette D. Hayes played music throughout the event.

Several other people spoke of injustice in the state of North Carolina and our current fight against HB 589, including Earline Parmon, a General Assembly member and candidate for the North Carolina Senate, Jemmise Brown, who is running for membership of the Northeast Ward City Council, and Larry Little, former Black Panther and city councilmember.

“We can make a difference,” said Little. “Your involvement can make a difference. Today we are at a critical junction in this state. Are we going to go forward, or are we going to go backwards?”

“I would’ve never thought,” Little continued, “that we’d be fighting over women’s reproductive rights. I never thought we’d get to the day where we see the inability of students to use their school IDs to vote. So quite frankly, if we are serious, we owe it to our children and grandchildren to show them that not only did we fought a good fight, but that the fight continues and we will march forward unto victory!”

#WinstonSalemNC #AntiRacism #voterSuppression #InjusticeSystem #HB589

Winston-Salem, NC – On July 25, people gathered here at the First Calvary Baptist Church to discuss the formation of a Young People Coalition for Justice. The meeting was organized to first bring people of the community together and talk on the issues currently going on and how they, as a community, should begin addressing them.

The main topic covered was the North Carolina voter suppression bill, HB 589. This bill, which is being pushed by the right wing, would bar people from voting who don’t have a approved photo ID; would eliminate same-day voter registration; eliminate an entire week in early voting; only permit citizens to vote in their specific precinct, etc. This bill is being labeled as the worst voter suppression bill in the nation.

Nicole Little, local organizer and Wake Forest University grad, stated, “Officially, according to this new bill, parents will be prosecuted if they were to allow their child to vote outside of their district. They can face criminal charges just for allowing their child to vote in another district. It’s insane.” She added, “This will affect the poor, low-income communities as well, especially those who are handicapped or with disabilities who can’t get up in the morning and go out to vote as early as the bill demands.”

Talks of the next Justice for Trayvon Martin rally were held. Local organizers dubbed it as the NEXT Rally.

Delinzia Upson, a foreclosure prevention coordinator and writer for BE Winston Salem news blog, talked about the upcoming rally, “This event right here is about connecting people with individual sets and come up with a general solution. We’ve got in contact with the NAACP and Occupy Winston-Salem. We’ve been in touch with the political people running for office this year, including organizations who’ve worked with women, children and men to come along as well.”

Upson continued, “The idea is that, in having these political groups present, they can all tell the people what they’re fighting for, so that those people can connect with them and begin joining in with that fight.”

The NEXT Rally will be Saturday, July 27, at 11 a.m. on 1415 East 14th Street in Winston-Salem. The next meeting for the Young People Coalition for Justice will be held July 30, at 6 p.m. at First Calvary Baptist Church on 401 Woodland Avenue.

#WinstonSalemNC #voterSuppression #TrayvonMartin #InjusticeSystem #YoungPeopleCoalitionForJustice

The day of action was called by Awake the State, an activist network formed after Florida Governor Rick Scott began attacking trade unions and public education in 2011. The rallies coincided with the first day of the Florida legislative session. Activists hope to repeal the Republican-sponsored voter suppression laws.

In downtown Pensacola, 30 union workers, bus riders and community members gathered at Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza to protest. The Northwest Florida Federation of Labor organized the event.

Protesters listened to a speech by a representative from the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections office. She spoke out against laws designed to restrict the voting rights of people. As she spoke, the audience held signs reading “Our Right, Our Vote” and “Protect the 15th like you do the 2nd,” a reference to the Fifteenth Amendment legally guaranteeing the right to vote.

Meanwhile, 80 protesters assembled outside of the Historic Capitol building in Tallahassee to send the same message to the Florida legislature. Members of Dream Defenders, a black and Latino student organization, joined activists from Progress Florida, several trade unions and other groups in speaking out against voter suppression.

In Jacksonville, 30 people gathered at the Duval County Supervisor of Elections. Members of the North Florida Central Labor Council, Florida New Majority, the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition and other groups heard from a short stack of speakers and talked directly with Jerry Holland, Supervisor of Elections for Duval County.

Richard Blake, member of Teamsters Local 512 and organizer with the Jacksonville Progressive Coalition, said, “People were excited to fight back against Governor Scott’s policies during this session, especially against the voter suppression laws. Most of the people seem to think the laws will be repealed early in the legislative session.” Blake added, “A lot of the speeches focused on getting ex-felons the right to vote after they serve their time. Florida’s laws are the worst in the country. This is one of the biggest ways that Governor Scott is taking away the voting rights of poor people.”

In Tampa Bay, 70 people from the community marched to Lykes Gaslight Park and spoke out against Governor Scott’s reduction in early vote days. Cutting early voting causes long lines and disenfranchises voters. Protesters held signs reading, “Free the vote” and “Florida elections are a national punch line… Let’s change that,” which referenced the continued irregularities with Florida elections since the infamous 2000 Presidential recount going to George Bush.

Other rallies took place in Gainesville, Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and 15 other cities across Florida.

#PensacolaFL #OppressedNationalities #GovernorRickScott #voterSuppression #AwakeTheState

At the root of these long lines is the voter suppression laws passed by Florida Governor Rick Scott and the Republican legislature earlier in the year. In 2008, Florida voters had 14 days to cast an early ballot, but Scott’s voter suppression laws reduced early voting to only eight days. This substantial six-day reduction was not accompanied by an increase in poll staff or resources to meet the increased demand.

Eric Brown, a sophomore at University of Florida and a member of Students for a Democratic Society, traveled home to Fort Lauderdale to cast his ballot on Nov. 3 with his father. Brown reported that there were nearly 200 people waiting in line to vote early when he arrived at 4:00 p.m. “They [Supervisor of Elections Office] had to move us into an auditorium and give us numbers for our place in line,” said Brown. “It took us about an hour and 40 minutes to actually vote.”

When asked about the effects of long lines, Brown said, “I think it discourages people from voting, who see a long line and think, ‘I’ll wait until election day.’”

Discouraging voters was an intentional component of Gov. Scott’s voter suppression laws, which were designed to disenfranchise African-Americans, Latinos, students and working people in Florida. Among the early voting days cut was the Sunday before Election Day, which has historically seen high turnout by African-American churches as a part of their Souls to the Polls drive.

“Cutting Sunday from early voting was designed to target churches that end their services around noon and go to the polls together,” said Brown. “It was designed to keep African-American churchgoers from voting.”

Early voting has also allowed workers, who may have difficulty getting enough time off of work to vote on a Tuesday, to cast their ballots at their convenience. Jose Soto, Co-president of the Graduate Assistants United at University of Florida, said, “The Republican voter suppression laws were deliberately designed to disenfranchise workers. We’re seeing how discouraging these long lines are for people who work nine to five and might not be able to take off work on Election Day.”

Besides reducing the number of days that voters could cast their ballots early, the Republicans also passed the ‘Voter ID’ law. These new requirements demand that voters produce a photo identification card before receiving their ballot. Scott’s law was designed to disenfranchise working class voters who may not have a photo ID and further incite racist suspicion towards African Americans, Latinos and other oppressed nationalities.

Activists across Florida have worked tirelessly to expose and defeat these racist laws, which blatantly attack the democratic rights of oppressed people. Dream Defenders, an African-American and Latino youth organization, led rallies and held discussion panels on the effects of voter suppression and how youth can defend their democratic rights from attacks.

Michael Sampson, an organizer with Dream Defenders, said, “Voter suppression is a tactic by radical right wing to suppress the rise of Black and brown people. It’s designed to take away the most fundamental democratic right born through the struggle.”

Voter suppression laws were not the only anti-democratic attacks experienced by Floridians last week. In Pensacola, voters reported more than a dozen cars and trucks with Texas license plates and conservative bumper stickers parked all day at the Lucia M. Tryon Branch Library, the main early voting location in Pensacola.

James Lingley, the Vice-president of the District 3 Florida State Council of Machinists, said that these out-of-state vehicles made it more difficult for voters to find parking and cast their ballots.

“Any political party bringing up people from out of state to take up space is trying to suppress the vote,” said Lingley. “It will go on all day tomorrow, and it’s not just here. It’s in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, too.”

The right-wing state lawmakers understand that working people overwhelmingly oppose their racist, anti-women, homophobic and anti-union agenda. They also understand that without Florida’s 29 electoral votes, Romney has no chance of winning the presidency. In order to grab onto power and deliver an electoral victory for republican candidate Mitt Romney, they have resorted to legal and extra-legal methods of suppressing voters.

After the U.S. Supreme Court disenfranchised hundreds of Florida voters in order to ensure victory for George W. Bush in the 2000 election, all eyes are on Florida for Election Day.

Speaking about the role of activist groups like Dream Defenders in the struggle against voter suppression, Michael Sampson said that activists need to broaden and deepen the struggle long past Election Day: “Our obligation is to organize, to fight back against these attacks and to win freedom for our communities.”

#TallahasseeFL #voterSuppression #2012Election #Florida

Minneapolis, MN – More than 50 people, mostly Latino, marched through the Latino community today to encourage people to vote no on the Voter ID amendment and the anti-gay marriage amendment. The two proposed amendments to the state constitution will be on the Minnesota ballot Nov. 6. They are proposed and promoted by the right wing. Polls are very close for both amendments, so mobilizing people to turn out to vote against them is at a fevered pitch.

The march, themed “My Community, My Voice, My Future” started at the corner of Bloomington Avenue and Lake Street, then marched north through Phillips neighborhood to the Waite House Community Center. The festive march was mostly in Spanish and featured speakers, chanting and music that kept the group animated and led many curious people to look out of their apartments and houses to see what it was about. Many neighbors signaled their agreement.

The purpose of the march was to educate and mobilize the Latino community about why it’s important to vote no on both the anti-gay marriage amendment and the Voter ID, or voter suppression, amendment. People participated from the Latino gay community, Latino religious groups that support equality, Latino women’s groups and many who are active in the immigrant rights movement.

Along the way the march stopped at Little Earth, a Native American housing complex, where Native organizers there welcomed the group and said they’re also working to mobilize Native people against the Voter ID amendment because if it passes it’s possible that Native Tribal IDs won’t be recognized as legitimate identification for voting anymore.

Community activist Francisco Segovia helped organize the march. He said, “Members of the Latino community were able to come out and express their opinions about these amendments, in the heart of the Latino barrio. There were a lot of people, including a lot of young people who expressed themselves. It was a success in bringing forward people to involve themselves in this campaign and it brought together many groups. The number of new Latino community leaders keeps growing.”

#MinneapolisMN #LGBTQ #ChicanoLatino #voterSuppression #antigayMarriageAmendment

On Nov. 6 Minnesotans will join with the rest of the country to vote on Election Day. But in Minnesota there won’t just be politicians on the ballot – there will also be two proposed constitutional amendments to vote on. If the majority of voters vote ‘yes’ on these amendments they will become part of the state constitution. These two referendums are very dangerous.

We urge all Minnesotans to vote “no” on both proposed amendments: the so-called ‘Voter ID’ (voter suppression) amendment and the anti-gay marriage amendment.

They are two birds of the same feather and they should be shot down together. They were purposely put forward together this year by the most conservative forces in the state as a one-two punch to cement anti-gay discrimination into the state constitution and to take votes and power away from African Americans, students, elderly people, homeless people and others without easy access photo identification. The right wing wants to rig the rules of the game so they can’t lose. Both amendments are part of a backlash against gains made in the struggle for democratic rights since the 1960s. Everyone who supports democratic rights and equality should vote “no” on both amendments and should mobilize others to do so too.

Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment

We stand for full equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer people. With the anti-gay marriage amendment, there is a basic principle of equality at stake. As long as heterosexual marriage carries with it rights and concrete benefits recognized by the government (health insurance coverage, hospital visitation, inheritance, etc.), we must fight for gay marriage to be legally recognized too.

To decide which side you’re on, all you really have to do is look at Michele Bachmann at the head of the rogues gallery of reactionary politicians and institutions pushing this amendment to know that “no” is the way to vote.

This is how the ballot will read:

“Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?”

Although same-sex marriage is already illegal in Minnesota, these reactionaries aren’t content with that. Why? If the anti-gay amendment passes, future legislatures won’t be able to vote to make gay marriage legal in the state, even if the large majority of legislators wanted to. It would cement discrimination into the constitution, setting the bar ridiculously high to change it.

Marriage equality advocates are doing a great job organizing to defeat this amendment. The bright orange “Vote No” yard signs and stickers are everywhere and the Vote No campaign has a sophisticated presence on social media. While it’s not a given by any stretch, according to polls it’s possible that Minnesota could be the first state to defeat such an anti-gay marriage amendment. All progressive people should help make that happen by getting yard signs, stickers and buttons, talking to your neighbors, co-workers, friends and families, and doing phone banking. There are also some public protests coming up that we must mobilize for in a big way. If we can stop this in Minnesota, it will make reactionary forces think twice before bringing up such undemocratic and discriminatory anti-gay proposals in other states. We can turn the tide nationally to stop anti-gay bigotry.

Voter Suppression Amendment

The ‘Voter ID’ amendment should really be called the voter suppression amendment. Here’s how it reads:

“Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to require all voters to present valid photo identification to vote and to require the state to provide free identification to eligible voters, effective July 1, 2013?”

It sounds so innocent and reasonable – why shouldn’t voters be required to present a photo ID to vote? Especially if they can get one for free? But when you read between the lines and look at the motivations of the people pushing this amendment, in fact it’s a sinister right wing attack.

Minnesota consistently has the highest voter turnout in the nation, due to same-day voter registration and a variety of ways a voter can identify themselves at the polls. And ‘voter fraud’ is non-existent. But the right wing is treating Minnesota’s high voter turnout as something suspicious and sinister, as a problem they intend to fix – by suppressing the vote.

If it passes, hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans who currently vote will not be able to vote anymore because they won’t have the officially-approved ID. Same-day registration will be essentially gutted. According to studies, the people pushed out of the voting booth will be disproportionately African Americans, Latinos, students, elderly people and homeless people – people who are less likely to have a government issued photo ID and who will tend to have more barriers to getting one. And not-so-coincidentally they are all groups of people that tend to be more progressive.

The Minnesota Voter ID amendment is part of a national campaign of similar voter suppression measures that Republicans are pushing in many states this year. They claim to be clamping down on voter fraud, but it’s a lie. Getting struck by lightning is more common than voter fraud. The voter suppression efforts are particularly an affront to Black people’s long struggle for full equality, since Black people’s right to vote will be hardest hit by this new voter suppression act. It’s no coincidence that Republicans want to suppress Black votes – polls for the presidential election show Black people voting 94% for Obama and 0% (yes, zero percent!) for Republican Mitt Romney. The Republicans are unabashedly continuing this country’s ugly history of racist oppression and disenfranchisement of Black people. The racist attack on Black people’s voting rights must be stopped.

When they first rolled out the voter suppression amendment, it didn’t take long for the racist character of it to become clear. In February, Minnesota Majority, the group campaigning for the amendment, put out an ad with explicitly racist imagery: a Black man in a prison uniform and a Latino wearing a huge sombrero lining up to vote. See the ad here: http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2012/02/minnesota_majority_blasted_for_using_race-baiting_imagery.php. Though they quickly pulled the ad when controversy erupted, the ad was not a mistake – it accurately exposed what their real agenda is.

We don’t oppose the Voter ID amendment out of support for the Democrats. We oppose the Voter ID amendment because it's a naked power grab in which the right wing is trying to change the rules of the game so the most reactionary forces win every time. Its effect will be to make any progressive electoral effort more difficult, including progressive referendums and progressive third party efforts. The racist character of it particularly needs to be exposed and rebuffed.

As with the anti-gay marriage amendment, we urge all progressive people to get a yard sign, stickers and buttons urging a NO vote on the voter suppression amendment. Talk to your neighbors, co-workers, family and friends about it, do some phone banking, and help turn the tide.

It’s a very positive sign that the unions in Minnesota and several independent efforts are calling for people to vote against both reactionary constitutional amendments. These efforts should be supported. Fighting back against these amendments together strengthens both movements.

In November, we can make history in Minnesota. The two referendums on the ballot are part of a national reactionary wave that conservatives are pushing in many states. We have an ability to stop that wave in Minnesota.

Organize people to commit to vote “no” on both referendums in November. Talk about them both together as a choreographed one-two punch by the right wing. Through organizing and struggle, we can stop them both and advance the fight for full equality, stopping the bigots in their tracks.

#Minnesota #MN #OppressedNationalities #LGBTQ #Editorials #AfricanAmerican #RepublicanAgenda #voterSuppression #antigayMarriageAmendment

Tallahassee, FL – Students at Florida colleges are making the issue of voter suppression a top priority this fall. On Sept. 4, a student civil rights group, Dream Defenders, protested Florida’s racist voter suppression laws. Students from Florida State University (FSU) and FAMU (Florida A&M University) organized a campus rally with dozens of student activists chanting, “Hey hey, ho, ho, the new Jim Crow has got to go!”

The protesters planned to confront reactionary Republican Governor Rick Scott, slated to speak at FSU’s campus. According to the FSU College Republicans, Scott canceled 45 minutes before the speaking engagement due to “scheduling conflicts.”

“We showed our dissent and discontent and made our voices heard against this racist piece of legislation,” said Dream Defender organizer Kristen Bonner. “The bill is discriminatory and seeks to oppress the Black and Latino vote of Florida and silence the voices of people of color, who are holding on to one of the last few rights we have as a community.”

The Dream Defenders are a growing movement, with campus chapters forming across Florida. The students demand that Governor Rick Scott suspend the voter suppression law while reinstating civil rights for non-violent ex-offenders. Scott extended to five years the time that non-violent ex-offenders had to wait before full restoration of their civil rights. The Republican governor’s move targets African-American and Latino communities in terms of their participation in elections.

“Decades ago, great men and women risked their lives for basic freedoms that weren't being extended to African-Americans and other people of color. Some paid the ultimate price fighting for them,” said Michael Sampson, Dream Defender organizer. “These new laws and continued policies being pushed by the reactionary right wing of this country represents a new Jim Crow and a new Juan Crow, and we must continue to organize and fight back against these oppressive measures to truly win freedom and power for our communities.”

Dream Defenders is an organization founded as a response to the murder of Trayvon Martin by the racist vigilante George Zimmerman on Feb. 26. Dream Defenders demands equality and protests injustices perpetrated against African-American and Latino peoples. The group is responsible for the three-day march from Daytona Beach to Sanford, Florida, where Trayvon was murdered. In an act of civil disobedience, the Dream Defenders shut down the Sanford Police Headquarters on April 9. George Zimmerman was finally arrested a few days later.

For their next step, Dream Defenders are planning a teach-in on how to organize against voter suppression, Sept. 27, at Florida State University.

#TallahasseeFL #Racism #GovernorRickScott #FloridaStateUniversity #voterSuppression #DreamDefenders #NewJimCrow

Organizers called this year’s march to protest Alabama’s new anti-immigrant law and a wave of voter suppression laws being passed around the country. The Reverend Al Sharpton and the National Action Network spearheaded the march, which was supported by civil and immigrant rights groups, along with major labor unions.

Alabama’s anti-immigrant law requires police to question people they suspect of being undocumented, prohibits undocumented workers from receiving any state or local public benefits and prevents landlords from renting to undocumented immigrants. Alabama also joins Kansas and Tennessee in targeting immigrant communities by requiring proof of citizenship at the polls in order to vote.

According to a report by the New York University Brennan Center for Justice, 14 states have passed laws and issued executive actions that could suppress the vote of up to 5 million people in the 2012 elections.

The Republicans are trying to reduce voter participation in an attempt to influence the 2012 elections and win back the White House and Senate from Democrats. The states that already cut back on voting rights will provide 171 electoral votes (or 63% of the electoral vote needed to win the presidency) in the 2012 election.

###Oppressed nationalities targeted

On closer inspection another trend becomes apparent. These actions represent a coordinated assault on the rights of African-Americans, Chicanos and other oppressed nationalities to participate in U.S. elections.

South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin are among states that now require a state-issued photo ID to vote. It is estimated that 25% of African-American voters do not possess a valid form of government-issued photo ID, compared to 11% of all voters.

Ohio eliminated in-person early voting on Sundays and Florida has eliminated it on the last Sunday before Election Day. It is common for African-American churches to organize “Souls to the Polls” voting drives on Sundays and bus Black voters to election stations in large groups on those days. In Florida, Black and Latino voters made up 57% of those who voted early on the last Sunday before Election Day in 2008. Florida and Texas have also practically outlawed voter registration drives that often work to increase participation in oppressed communities.

Florida and Iowa have made it much more difficult for people with past felony convictions to get their voting rights restored. According to a Brennan Center for Justice report, disenfranchisement after criminal conviction remains the single most significant barrier to voting rights in the United States and targets African-American men in particular. 13% of African-American men have lost the right to vote nationwide, seven times the national average.

It is estimated that in addition to the impact on oppressed nationalities, the voter suppression laws will also have a disproportionate and negative impact on the ability of low-income workers, students and the disabled to vote.

###2008 Election Results Prompt Right-wing Assault

These steps taken mostly by Republican legislatures and governors expose the inherent contradiction between capitalism and democracy.

The 2008 election of the country’s first African-American president did not alter the fundamental character of U.S. elections. One of the two main ruling class parties won. With Democrats in total control of the White House and Congress, they advanced an agenda that continued the ruling class policy of war abroad and huge bailouts for Wall Street at home. They implemented some relatively mild reforms that do not pose any real challenge to the profit system’s status quo in sectors of the economy like finance.

President Obama is certainly not a movement politician like the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Jackson came directly out of the Civil Rights Movement when he made his serious runs in the Democratic presidential primaries of 1984 and 1988.

However, the coalition that came together to elect Obama looked and felt a lot like a movement at times during the 2008 election. African-American, Chicano, Latino and other oppressed nationalities joined hands with union workers, students and the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] community and projected their hopes and aspirations for equality and justice onto Obama in a way that helped propel Democrats to a landslide electoral victory.

The rich and powerful who are most served by capitalist elections asked each other what else a movement of workers, students and the oppressed could win in the electoral arena if they were capable of overcoming centuries of deep-seeded racism to elect an African-American president. Rather than simply wait and find out, they financed and organized a faux movement of Tea Partiers and used not-so-subtle racism, sexism and homophobia to ride that faux movement all the way to electoral victories in state legislatures and governorships around the country in 2010.

From that position they quickly unrolled a coordinated state-based strategy to destroy any semblance of a progressive electoral movement. The union-busting bills in Wisconsin and Ohio were the right wing’s opening salvo in this battle. The ongoing wave of voter suppression, which has already been implemented in 14 states, is the logical continuation of this war on the people.

The recall election of Governor Walker in Wisconsin and the success of the popular referendum in Ohio to overturn that state’s union busting bill illustrate the determination of the people to use whatever electoral means are at their disposal to fight back against this assault on their democratic rights.

The recent Selma-to-Montgomery march attempts to turn this focus to the struggle against national oppression and voter suppression as well. With the 2012 elections just months away and the hard-won right to vote for African Americans and other oppressed nationalities under attack, the timing for this march could not have been better.

#SelmaAL #voterSuppression