If voting is at the heart of the democratic process, the way in which each person has a voice in shaping the policies of our government, we face a time of serious challenge. In 2016, voters will face a pivotal presidential election year without the protections of the hard-fought 1965 Voting Rights Act, the largest rollback to voting rights in 50 years. Threats to voting rights and voter participation on multiple fronts are drowning out the voices of the many for the benefit of the few. This workshop will take a look at the history and context of the voting rights struggle in light of current obstacles to voting rights and voter participation, and consider why and how people of faith can respond.
Speakers:
- Ellen Buchman, Executive Vice President for Field and Communications, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
- Arielle Gingold (invited), Associate Director, Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice
- Marcia Johnson-Blanco (invited), Co-Director, Voting Rights Project, Lawyers’ Committee on Civil Rights