WASHINGTON, DC — Following last night’s passage of Georgia’s #SB202 voter suppression bill and the arrest of a Black state legislator who was advocating for the voting rights of her constituents, People For the American Way President Ben Jealous released the following statement:

“The Republican party has surely lost whatever shred of credibility they had as being a party concerned about protecting democracy and the voting rights of Black and brown communities. Yesterday’s actions were a throwback to the Jim Crow era — a room full of white men signing laws to take away the rights of African Americans and using law enforcement to squash peaceful dissent. Georgia State Representative Park Cannon is a hero and her arrest sends a chilling message about how far the right wing will go to destroy democracy. Jim Crow is alive and well and it’s time for Congress and the Biden Administration to act. We need to immediately end the Jim Crow filibuster and pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For the People Act, S.1.”

About People For the American Way

People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy organization founded to fight right-wing extremism and build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. Learn more: https://www.pfaw.org.

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