Sixty Years Later, the Fight for Our Freedom to Vote Continues

WASHINGTON — The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights released the following statement on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965:

“As we mark the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, we are reminded that the promise of our democracy is at stake. Sixty years ago, the courage of everyday Americans — led by Black activists and joined by a multiracial coalition who marched and organized for civil rights — forced our nation to confront injustice at its most foundational level. Their efforts culminated in the enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which sought to transform our democracy by enfranchising millions of Black Americans who were excluded from the political process and denied a voice in the decision-making affecting their lives.

“We cannot commemorate the Voting Rights Act without defending its purpose. Congress must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore and strengthen the protections the Supreme Court and lower courts have weakened and to ensure our elections remain free, fair, and accessible to all. The best way to honor the legacy of the civil rights activists who made the Voting Rights Act a reality is to carry their struggle forward — protecting and expanding the rights they fought so hard to win.”

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 240 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 and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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