On November 3, voting rights activists escalated demands for the White House to act on voting rights in an action that resulted in the arrests of close to 60 participants, including leading youth activist Yolanda King, the 13-year-old granddaughter of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Following a blocked vote on the Freedom to Vote Act in the Senate last month, activists are mobilizing to protect our democracy and right to vote without fear of discrimination. This week’s demonstration highlighted the power of youth activists and was led by People For the American Way, the League of Women Voters of the United States, and the Declaration for American Democracy, alongside dozens of democracy coalition partners. Participants called on President Biden to use the influence of his office to get the Freedom to Vote Act, John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and DC statehood passed in the Senate.
We’re here in front of the people’s house, @POTUS! We need you to get off the sidelines and fight for our #votingrightsnow – and we’ll keep coming back until you do!#poweredbyyouth @lwv @DFADCoalition @BlackVotersMtr @Unite4Democracy @FutureCoalition pic.twitter.com/c6M8iAOwJ1
— People For the American Way (@peoplefor) November 3, 2021
Danton Whitley and members of the Baltimore Urban Inspiration Choir again performed at the event lifting up the crowd with chants, including: “When we’re walking in the footsteps of the ancestors, we gotta walk strong and walk in song!”
Shortly before the event, People For the American Way President Ben Jealous spoke about why he was proud to be risking arrest alongside young people, including his 15-year-old daughter Morgan.
This week, Martin Luther King, III, Arndrea Waters King, and 13-year-old Yolanda Renee King protested and risked arrest alongside us; they all spoke of their family’s legacy in the fight for voting rights and why they will continue on in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s footsteps.
“My generation can’t vote. But we can demand that our leaders do their jobs.”
Watch Yolanda King’s powerful speech as she calls for action on voting rights – and for action to make her grandfather’s dream a reality. #VotingRightsNow #PoweredByYouth pic.twitter.com/Tyqrcy6JNq
— People For the American Way (@peoplefor) November 3, 2021
Soleil Moon Frye’s father was a civil rights activist also present at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, and she was thrilled to accompany her two daughters, Poet and Jagger, to risk arrest for voting rights.
Today, @moonfrye and her daughters are risking arrest to call on @POTUS to protect our voting rights.
Listen to her speech. The time to act is now. #VotingRightsNow #PoweredByYouth pic.twitter.com/C76fv6zt0Z
— People For the American Way (@peoplefor) November 3, 2021
“We as young people are still fighting for the same thing that was fought for 58 years ago,” said Jamal Holtz from 51 for 51 during the event.
“We as young people are still fighting for the same thing that was fought for 58 years ago,” said @JamalHoltz from @51for51 at yesterday’s act of civil disobedience at the White House.
It’s past time to protect our right to vote. No more excuses. #VotingRightsNow pic.twitter.com/xSIqFQUlAb
— People For the American Way (@peoplefor) November 4, 2021
“The most important thing today is that the youth standing to the left of me are taking charge. We are demanding a better future for the ones coming behind us,” said DC Youth Mayor Addison Rose.
“The most important thing today is that the youth standing to the left of me are taking charge. We are demanding a better future for the ones coming behind us,” says DC Youth Mayor Addison Rose. #VotingRightsNow #PoweredByYouth pic.twitter.com/vu0Vf2fmyj
— People For the American Way (@peoplefor) November 3, 2021
“We’re not here to ask for justice. We’re not here to negotiate our voting rights. We’re here to demand voting rights be passed,” said Tylik McMillan from the National Action Network.
We’re not here to ask for justice. We’re not here to negotiate our voting rights. We’re here to demand voting rights be passed, says @TylikMcMillan from @NationalAction. #VotingRightsNow #PoweredByYouth pic.twitter.com/TX2aTdGDhN
— People For the American Way (@peoplefor) November 3, 2021
Eventually, six young people under the age of 18 were led away from the scene by police as part of the arrests, alongside another 14 people under the age of 25.
BREAKING: Young people under the age of 18 were just taken away by the police for demonstrating in front of the White House for #votingrightsnow. Our movement for the freedom to vote is #poweredbyyouth – and we’re not backing down. pic.twitter.com/Cvv7h5aMsO
— People For the American Way (@peoplefor) November 3, 2021
You can watch all of the testimonial videos here
You can watch the full event here:
On the Young Turks, Ohio State Senator Nina Turner was joined by People For President Ben Jealous and Martin Luther King Jr’s family, including son Martin Luther King III, his wife Arndrea Waters King, and their daughter Yolanda Renee King, to discuss the importance of activism in the fight for voting rights for all Americans.