By Texas Metro News Team
As hundreds gathered at Dallas City Hall to kick off the John Lewis Voter Advancement Day of Action Votercade, Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III of Friendship-West Baptist Church decried voter suppression efforts by legislators and urged citizens to become engaged to fight against those attempting to continue a long history of disenfranchising voters.
Joined by UNT Dallas College of Law Professor Cheryl Wattley, who spoke of the legacy of Congressman Lewis, and law student Ideisha Shanklin, ralliers carried signs and stood in solidarity as speakers provided a history lesson on the voting rights of America’s Voters of Color and Youth Voters. Organizers of the event collaborated with about 100 like events across the nation addressing how voting rights are under attack nationally by state legislators introducing and passing laws to suppress their participation in elections. They also called for passage of the For the People Act (H.R. 1), the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (H.R. 4), D.C. Statehood and address the filibuster to do so.
Dr. Haynes also called attention to big business involvement in funding efforts to suppress the vote and said money should not be spent with those businesses that support and fund legislators and legislation that suppresses the vote.
The press conference at City Hall was the beginning of the efforts which was followed by the “Votercade” to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center, for the Empowerment Celebration.
