Illinois Leaders Call on Senator Mark Kirk to Support Efforts to Restore the Voting Rights Act Before 3rd Anniversary of the Shelby Decision

CHICAGO – On June 21, 2016, at 3:00 PM CST, Illinois African-American, women’s, civic, and faith leaders will join with the President of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Wade Henderson, in hosting a press conference urging Senator Mark Kirk to support a restoration of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) so every citizen can exercise their right to vote without discrimination in this November’s general election.

This week, on June 25, marks three years since the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted the Voting Rights Act. Since then, states and localities across the country have enacted discriminatory voting restrictions that are denying the right to vote to millions of Americans. But Senator Kirk has not yet declared his support for a VRA restoration. Unless Congress acts quickly, voters in 2016 will face the first presidential election in 50 years where they will lack the full protections of the VRA. Local leaders will urge Senator Kirk to co-sponsor of the Voting Rights Advancement Act and push for legislative action on the bill.

WHO: A coalition of Illinois based civil rights, faith based and civic leaders including the League of Women Voters, the NAACP, the ACLU, the Chicago Urban League, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Common Cause and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

 WHAT: Pres Conference – Illinois Leaders Call on Senator Mark Kirk to Support Efforts to Restore the Voting Rights Act Before 3rd Anniversary of the Shelby Decision

WHEN: Tuesday, June 21, 2016, 3:00 PM CST

WHERE:  ACLU of Illinois, 180 N Michigan STE 2300, Chicago IL 60601