WASHINGTON, D.C.— As we mark today’s anniversary of the Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court ruling that gutted the Voting Rights Act, PFAW President Ben Jealous and Senior Director of Outreach and Public Engagement Diallo Brooks released the following statements:

“Voting rights are more at risk today than at any time since the disastrous Shelby ruling. Not only do we have a pandemic, we have a president and attorney general who are threatening to disenfranchise millions of Americans who need to vote by mail. This is a crisis. We need emergency measures right now to ensure everyone who has a right to vote can do so safely. The Senate needs to pass the House-passed HEROES Act now, so states will have the resources they need to adapt their voting processes and protect citizens’ constitutional right to vote this fall,” said Jealous.

“The Shelby ruling created a voting rights crisis for communities of color in this country. The long-term solution is to restore the Voting Rights Act, but the meltdowns we saw in some primary states this year prove we can’t afford to wait. The Senate has to pass the HEROES Act to provide funding to states to update voting processes for the pandemic. And we all need to make a commitment and a plan to vote,” said Brooks. 

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.