Civil and Human Rights Coalition Applauds Introduction of Voting Rights Advancement Act

WASHINGTON – Wade Henderson, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement in advance of tomorrow’s expected introduction of the Voting Rights Advancement Act by Senators Patrick Leahy, Dick Durbin, and Chris Coons and Representatives John Lewis, Terri Sewell, Linda Sanchez, and Judy Chu:

“The introduction of the Voting Rights Advancement Act marks a renewal in our two-year campaign to fix the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision in Shelby County v. Holder.  We applaud the sponsors of the Advancement Act and offer our full-throated support for this strong response to the discrimination that has run rampant since Shelby.  

Despite widespread evidence of voting discrimination, Congress has failed to restore the crucial protections of the Voting Rights Act. Congress now has before it two bills that would restore these vital protections, but some Members want to ignore the reality and protect discriminators. If Congress doesn’t act soon, the American people will experience the first presidential election in more than 50 years without the crucial protections of the Voting Rights Act. 

On Thursday—the second anniversary of the Shelby decision—our coalition will travel to Roanoke, Virginia, to join hundreds of concerned Americans in a rally for voting rights and democracy. We will let Congress and House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte know that they can’t continue to shirk their responsibilities to protect voters from discrimination.

In this 50th anniversary year, Congress can’t let the few who dispute the reality of voting discrimination stop the majority from doing what it knows is right. This year, Congress must work together to pass historic voting rights legislation.”

Wade Henderson is president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference, visit www.civilrights.org.