By Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State
I started my career in Montgomery Alabama. I moved there to dig deep into the unfinished work of the civil rights movement, see first-hand the multi-generational impact of slavery, Jim Crow, and structural racism, and learn from those who worked and organized for a more just and equal world. I lived among those who were threatened, beaten and murdered for participating in a march for voting rights in Selma, Alabama. I came to Michigan, clerking for Judge Damon Keith and then running for Secretary of State, to do what I could to help ensure the one person one vote promise in our constitution is a reality for everyone. Last week a majority of justices on the United States Supreme Court eviscerated that constitutional promise.
In Louisiana v. Callais the Court overturned the primary provision of the national Voting Rights Act that protected voters from voting policies and redistricting plans that result in racial voter suppression. In a horrific decision that joins the ranks of Dred Scott and Plessy in its legal injustice, the Justices delivered a slap in the face and a punch in the gut to all those who sacrificed their lives to protect the votes of all American citizens.
But let’s be clear: this ruling is the culmination of a multi-decade long, well-coordinated effort to chip away at the crowning achievement of the civil rights movement. And with the loss of the federal protections of that the Voting Rights Act, states are now free to discriminate against American voters.
Almost immediately some politicians jumped at the chance to strip power from Black and Brown voters. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry immediately cancelled the state’s congressional elections so that the legislature could redraw congressional districts that would dilute Black voters’ political power. Tennessee quickly changed their congressional map to basically do the same, while Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina rushed to follow suit. But here in Michigan, we are doing things differently. This week I partnered with State Senators Darrin Camilleri, Erica Geiss, Jeremy Moss and Stephanie Chang and State Legislators Stephanie Young, Veronica Paiz, Jason Hoskins and Tonya Phillips to re-introduce a Michigan Voting Rights Act to re-stablish the protections of the national VRA in our state. And we are building a coalition with clerks, faith leaders, and civil rights organizations across Michigan to get this passed.
As Michigan’s Secretary of State and chief election officer, I will continue to stand up to anyone, anytime, anywhere who tries to stop your voice from being heard and your vote from being counted. That means calling out the President of the United States when he lies about our elections, defeating his attempts to illegally block the counting of Detroiters’ votes, and protecting your private voting information from his attempts to seize it. And if Trump tries to pressure local clerks into turning over our ballots or voting machines, or threatens to send federal troops into our state, we will fight him in court. And we will win.
Because even when it meant sheltering in my home in Detroit, protecting my son from people with guns who showed up on my front lawn because of lies they’d been fed about our elections – I am committed continuing the work of all those who came before us to fight for your freedom to vote.
But none of us can do this work alone. We must all refuse to be bystanders in this moment.
Not just because this decision from a few Supreme Court Justices will accelerate redistricting wars and trample the voices of American voters in the years ahead. But because the eyes of all those who came before us are on us now. And the eyes of the young boys and girls who will inherit what we leave behind – they are looking to us as well to fix what is broken and fight for them.
The fight for democracy is ours to continue, our baton to carry, our battle to wage. And history teaches us that when we refuse to be intimidated, and choose to stand strong, we can end injustice everywhere. So let’s lock arms, Michigan, and pass a Voting Rights Act in our state. Let’s show the nation who we are and what we believe in – a democracy for all.
