This is an interesting interview. Rev. Barber led the “Moral Mondays” in North Carolina, years before folks started paying attention to the way that the legislature was disenfranchising its citizens.
Source: Rev. William Barber On DNC Speech, Morality, And The Future Of Civil Rights In America | WGBH News
Police And Black Lives Matter Hold A Cookout, And Praise Rolls In : The Two-Way : NPR
This decision allows more than 600,000 citizens, who were shut out, the opportunity to cast a ballot in 2016. #restoreVRA #voterid #Texas
A majority of the full U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that the heavily litigated and controversial Texas voter ID law does have the effect of discriminating against minority voters, and ordered the state to devise a remedy to that problem before the November elections. “We conclude that the district court did not clearly err in determining that SB 14 has a discriminatory effect on minorities’ voting rights in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act,” the court majority wrote.The unexpected ruling against the Republican-backed voter ID law by the conservative appeals court came as it faced a Supreme-Court-imposed deadline of Wednesday to rule in the case.
Source: Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Texas Voter ID Law
Here’s a good piece that addresses the frustration over the lack of convictions in the Freddie Gray case. Even if they don’t lead to prosecutions, hopefully, we can have real talk and real change. #policereform #civilrights #FreddieGray
On Monday, Police Lt. Brian Rice became the third officer acquitted in the death of Freddie Gray. Rice, 42, was the highest-ranking officer of six officers charged in Gray’s death. He was cha…
Source: Prosecution’s Case in Freddie Gray’s Death Continues to Have an Uphill Battle
When I served at the DOJ, federal observers were an important part of maintaining order in some jurisdictions. DOJ believes that the Shelby decision eliminates most election day coverage. #RestoretheVRA
WASHINGTON – Federal election observers can only be sent to five states in this years US presidential election, among the smallest deployments since the Voting
Ahead of November, a number of important voting law cases are still up in the air nationwide. Here’s a breakdown of where some of the big cases stand.
Source: A Guide To The Big Photo ID, Early Voting And Other Voting Law Cases : NPR
Judith Browne-Dianis provides poignant notes on the state of our democracy. The Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act three years ago. Now vestiges of Jim Crow are back.
Here’s a nice graphic with the breakdown of USSC decisions.
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe defended his decision to restore the voting rights to more than 200,000 persons. Criticism from those who believe that the punishment should continue long after citizens have completed their sentences, including probation and parole, has been relentless. In the first month of the governor’s order, approximately 6,000 persons registered to vote; compared with less than 2,000 the previous year. You can read more here:
Civil Rights Today 