The Detroit NAACP chapter held a press conference at its headquarters today in honor of the 50th anniversary of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965.
“Today marks the 50th anniversary since signing of the voter rights act by President Lyndon Baines Johnson in 1965,” said NAACP President Rev. Wendell Anthony. “This right came after a long arduous struggle by every segment within America.”
The struggle still exists today.
While NAACP supports the need for appropriate identification of American citizens at the polls, restrictions requiring certain types of identification to discourage minority voters is the primary issue that concerns the organization.
“There are no longer barking dogs or police beating elders or people crossing bridges to bring attention to this matter,” said Mary Carmen Munoz, operations manager of Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development. “But it is still very important today, the right to vote was very hard to achieve and even today so many in our communities don’t have a voice.”
Since 2011, nine states have passed detrimental ID laws: Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
“It is more important to be here to celebrate the continued work that the NAACP have done to ensure the rights of those to vote,” said Congressman John Conyers who respectfully declined an invitation to the White House to be in Detroit today.
Voters in 33 states now face tougher rules and regulations in regards to the right to vote. Strict voter ID laws and the elimination of early voting periods have created a new crisis for many registered voters.
“There are still those fighting just as hard as 50 years ago to make it difficult for us to vote. We must fight to make sure voting is accessible and easier not just for those in Michigan, but across the United States,” he said.
About Post Author
