News

Bill to Advance ‘Voting Rights for All’ Introduced to State Assembly

Published

7 years ago

February 22, 2017

Assemblymember Rob Bonta (D-Oakland) introduced AB 918, the ‘California Voting for All Act,’ which would be the first of its kind in the country to provide language assistance to limited-English proficient voters.

According to Bonta, the bill would increase voter participation among Asian Americans, Latinos and other minority communities across California by implementing reasonable steps to improve access.

Assemblymember Rob Bonta

The bill is joint authored by Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles) and sponsored by Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ) – California and numerous voting rights organizations.

AB 918 would ensure that translated copies of ballots be more available and more usable for voters. The bill would also provide training for poll workers on proper handling of these translated ballots.

Although California has voting laws which are stronger than the federal government requires, compliance with these state regulations by counties is not consistent.

Research conducted during the November 2016 General Election by AAAJ found that translated ballots were missing from some polling locations. And those locations that had translated ballots did not post them in a conspicuous location, as required by law.

AAAJ also reported that elections offices do not adequately educate voters and poll workers are not well trained as to their availability.

“This bill will make California a nationwide leader in ensuring access to voting for immigrant voters,” said Jonathan Stein, Voting Rights Program Manager at AAAJ – Asian Law Caucus.

“As the state with the most immigrant voters and the most limited-English voters, California has an obligation to be on the leading edge of providing language assistance in elections.”

Bonta’s bill would require counties to file a public report with the Secretary of State after every statewide general election documenting their performance in recruiting bilingual poll workers.

“Less than 20 percent of Asians who are eligible to vote actually turn out,” said Bonta.

“No American should be denied the privilege and duty of voting because of a language barrier,” he said. “Our diverse voices and viewpoints must be heard.”

Oakland Post

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Related Topics:Assemblyman Rob Bonta CA State Assembly Oakland Rob Bonta voting rights

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Activism

S.F. Black Leaders Rally to Protest, Discuss ‘Epidemic’ of Racial Slurs Against Black Students in SF Public School System

Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.

Published

4 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church. Photo courtesy Third Baptist Church.

By Carla Thomas

San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church hosted a rally and meeting Sunday to discuss hatred toward African American students of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church, along with leadership from local civil rights groups, the city’s faith-based community and Black community leadership convened at the church.

“There has been an epidemic of racial slurs and mistreatment of Black children in our public schools in the city,” said Brown. “This will not be tolerated.”

According to civil rights advocate Mattie Scott, students from elementary to high school have reported an extraordinary amount of racial slurs directed at them.

“There is a surge of overt racism in the schools, and our children should not be subjected to this,” said Scott. “Students are in school to learn, develop, and grow, not be hated on,” said Scott. “The parents of the children feel they have not received the support necessary to protect their children.”

Attendees were briefed last Friday in a meeting with SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne.

SFUSD states that their policies protect children and they are not at liberty to publicly discuss the issues to protect the children’s privacy.

Some parents said they have removed their students from school while other parents and community leaders called on the removal of the SFUSD superintendent, the firing of certain school principals and the need for more supportive school board members.

Community advocates discussed boycotting the schools and creating Freedom Schools led by Black leaders and educators, reassuring parents that their child’s wellbeing and education are the highest priority and youth are not to be disrupted by racism or policies that don’t support them.

Virginia Marshall, chair of the San Francisco NAACP’s education committee, offered encouragement to the parents and students in attendance while also announcing an upcoming May 14 school board meeting to demand accountability over their mistreatment.

“I’m urging anyone that cares about our students to pack the May 14 school board meeting,” said Marshall.

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.