The Leadership Conference Condemns President Trump’s Desperate Attempt to Silence Voters and Rewrite History

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2026
Contact: [email protected]

WASHINGTON — Maya Wiley, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement:

“Donald Trump fearmongers to justify trying to take away the constitutional role of states in deciding how voters vote. He is obsessively trying at every turn to throw up walls to voters of every race, creed, and color; women who change their names when they marry, the elderly, members of our military, working people, and people with disabilities who are more likely to use mail-in ballots. Meanwhile he bullies states to turn over our personal information for no good reason and for no good purpose.”

“The president’s speech was only the latest example of a leader desperate to block voters rather than focus on the real problems people face. Instead of ensuring working people can afford health care, pay their mortgage, or put food on the table, we heard the president’s persistent attack on the power of voters to cast ballots for candidates that have to compete based on solving problems. Too often, the threats, intimidation and other tactics make it harder for Black, Latino, Asian American, and Native American voters to cast their ballot. A majority of a deeply distrusted Supreme Court has basically given politicians a free pass to discriminate against voters of color simply by claiming they are being partisan, even when they admit they don’t want Black voters to vote. Or when they want to rig election maps to make it harder for Black and Latino voters to elect leaders who speak to and will be accountable to their problems and needs.”

“No politician has the power to block voters from lawfully voting. We at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights won’t stop fighting for voters’ right to vote, and for fact-driven problem-solving rather than protecting discrimination. We will not rest until this country embraces and protects a multi-racial, just, fair, and equally representative democracy where we all have a say so that our America can be as good as her ideals.”

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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