“Un-American” Voter Suppression

Dear Friends,

I cannot in good conscience ignore the attack on voting rights happening at the Texas Legislature this week, and I ask you not to look away either. The proposed bills – SB7 in the state Senate and HB6 in the state House – are, in the words of President Biden, “un-American”.

The right to vote is the most sacred right in our democracy. This right was not automatically given to everyone in our country; it had to be fought for and won.

And now Black women, who have always been on the front lines in the fight for civil rights, are being silenced. Yesterday in Austin, state Rep. Nicole Collier, chair of the Texas Black Legislative Caucus, was prevented from speaking against these voter suppression bills in a Committee that includes no Black members. The same day in Georgia, state Rep. Park Cannon, also a Black woman, was arrested for protesting the Governor’s signing into law similar harsh voter suppression bills.

We must join these women in fighting back this attack on voting rights.

Last November, our community celebrated a remarkable milestone, as we shattered our voting record with over 1.6M ballots cast by residents wanting to make their voices heard. Harris County made national headlines for our participation in our democracy.

This was made more remarkable by the fact that not only were we in the middle of this ongoing pandemic, but Texas is consistently rated the most difficult state to vote in. We already have the strictest voting laws that stop many from participating. We should be striving to make voting even more accessible, not rolling back our progress by creating new barriers.

I urge you to contact your state representatives and tell them to let Harris County vote. The League of Women Voters has a helpful link where you can learn more and contact your state representatives.

Your voice is powerful, and it deserves to be heard. We can stop these un-American bills. We will not let the state legislature turn back the clock on voting rights.

Sincerely,