Civil Rights News: Voting Rights, Save Pell Grant, Nat’l Labor Relations Board

Voter ID Laws Hurt Our Democracy
Opinion by Wade Henderson and Mark Perriello
The Progressive – 07/18/11

Politicians are using voter identification as a euphemism for voter suppression to disenfranchise certain communities, including seniors, people of color, people with disabilities, the poor and students. Instead of narrowing the scope of voting rights, policymakers should be removing “the barriers to participation for all citizens.”

College Presidents, Students Lobby to Keep Pell Grant Funding
By Jenna Johnson; The Washington Post – 07/21/11

As policymakers try to cut a budget deal, education advocates and students tell their representatives to not forget about the Pell Grant. Today is “Save Pell Day,” and students are employing their knowledge of social media to spread the word and continue crucial Pell Grant funding.

NLRB Rule Changes Will Help Economy, Promote Democracy
By James Parks; AFL-CIO NOW Blog – 07/19/11

Various witnesses testified that adoption of the National Labor Relations Board’s proposed rule on union forming will improve the economy and promote democracy. Leadership Conference counsel Lexer Quamie highlighted the civil rights aspect of this issue in her testimony last week.

Compiled by Jenna Chai, a summer intern