FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7th, 2024
The Declaration for American Democracy Coalition Thanks President Biden for Prioritizing Federal Democracy Reform
Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, March 7th, President Biden delivered his State of the Union address on the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when hundreds of civil rights activists marched to secure voting rights in Selma in spite of brutal attacks from state troopers.
Nearly 60 years later, many state legislatures are introducing and passing laws that restrict our freedom to vote, particularly targeting communities of color.
In his State of the Union address, President Biden stated, “Voter suppression. Election subversion. Unlimited dark money. Extreme gerrymandering. John Lewis was a great friend to many of us here. But if you truly want to honor him and all the heroes who marched with him, then it’s time for more than just talk. Pass and send me the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act!”
In response, the Declaration for American Democracy Coalition released the following statement:
“We thank President Biden for reaffirming the critical need to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
“Today — on the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday — states across the country are working to pass bills that attack our freedom to vote and put up discriminatory barriers to voting that have a disproportionate impact on voters of color. We must pass national standards for our elections to ensure that we all have equal access to the ballot.
“Together, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Freedom to Vote Act, and the Native American Voting Rights Act will dismantle barriers erected to keep Black, Indigenous, young and new Americans from voting, and increase representation to ensure every voice is heard.”
“As President Biden said himself in a previous address, ‘We are not powerless in the face of these threats. We are not bystanders in this ongoing attack on democracy.’
We appreciate the President’s commitment to prioritizing federal democracy reform. We will continue to work alongside champions in Congress to get the Freedom to Vote Act, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the Native American Voting Rights Act passed and signed into law.”
For more information on how the Freedom to Vote Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act can restore our democracy, please visit https://declarationforamericandemocracy.org/.
MEDIA CONTACT: For media inquiries, please email christine@dfadcoalition.org
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The Declaration for American Democracy is a diverse coalition of over 260 democracy, environmental, labor, faith-based, good government, women’s rights, civil rights, and other groups focused on advancing the structural changes necessary to ensure our democracy reflects, responds to, and represents voters.
