News

New Report Reviews Voting Rights Problems During 2016 Primary Election Season

Published

8 years ago

August 8, 2016

Election Protection, the nation’s largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition led by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee), this week released, “The 2016 Primaries In-Review” – a report that presents a broad review of the 2016 primary season and an overview of the problems voters faced across the United States electoral system, particularly in states formerly covered by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

The report shares several voter profiles and gives detailed accounts of their primary election experiences.

“The barriers faced by voters this primary election season makes clear that, 51 years later, we continue to need the important protections provided by the Voting Rights Act of 1965,” said Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.

“Throughout the primary election season, Election Protection’s 866-OUR-VOTE hotline received more than 22,000 calls and complaints from voters across the country, many of whom faced barriers at the polls,” said Clarke. “Election Protection will remain active between now and November to ensure that all voters are able to participate in our democracy.”

The report highlights voting problems and litigation updates in 10 states, as well as the personal stories of voters from Georgia, North Carolina and Texas. Voters like Rhondalynn T. of Georgia, who encouraged voters to stay in line with her when election workers told them to leave the polling place, shares her story in the report.

Likewise, 2016 Election Protection volunteer, Rev. Roger H. of North Carolina, shares the joy he felt when he helped a 93-year-old woman cast a ballot. In addition to these and other voter stories, the report includes Election Protection’s broad recommendations for working toward better electoral processes for voters and election officials.

With less than 100 days before the November 8 Election Day, the report urges Congress to restore the Voting Rights Act, following the Supreme Court’s 2013 ruling in Shelby County, Alabama v, Holder which gutted the Act.

The report also encourages officials to develop and implement election administration plans to ensure smooth elections, just as voters must make plans to vote.

“The stories extracted from the thousands of calls to 866-OUR-VOTE illustrate the American voter’s strong will to cast a ballot that counts and highlight the problems that characterize this nation’s electoral process,” said Jennifer L. Patin, writer and editor for the Voting Rights Project of the Lawyers’ Committee and author of the report.

“The voters who agreed to share their stories help to humanize the voter experience and illustrate Election Protection’s effectiveness during election seasons,” said Patin.

This report is part of Election Protection’s ongoing series of publications and interactive tools about Election 2016, available at https://lawyerscommittee.org/publication/ep2016_brief1/

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Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 17 – 23, 2024

Published

4 days ago

April 19, 2024

Oakland Post

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California Black Media

Yahushua’s Law: Senate Advances Bill to Protect Students from Extreme Weather

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3. The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Published

4 days ago

April 18, 2024

Oakland Post

Yahushua Nyerere Robinson (Courtesy Photo)

By California Black Media

In a significant move towards student safety, the California Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill (SB) 1248, also known as Yahushua’s Law, on April 3.

The bill is named in memory of Yahushua Robinson, a 12-year-old student from Lake Elsinore, who tragically died due to a heat-related illness during a physical education class in 2023. It is a pioneering effort to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Authored by Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) and co-authored by Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. (D-La Mesa), SB 1248 directs the California Department of Education to develop comprehensive guidelines for schools regarding student activity during all extreme weather conditions.

“No student should ever lose their life on campus to extreme weather when we can take steps to protect them by preparing statewide plans to minimize exposure to the most harmful elements of exposure,” Hurtado said after introducing SB 1248.

The bill stipulates that schools must implement safety measures which include monitoring weather forecasts, postponing or relocating outdoor activities during hazardous conditions, and ensuring students have proper hydration and access to shade. It also requires schools to establish clear communication plans to keep parents, teachers, and students informed about potential weather hazards.

Supporters of the bill include the Robinson family, advocate Christina Laster, Bold Enterprises LLC, California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, Familias Empoderadas del Valle Central National Action Network, The Black Student Advocate, and the Ventura County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Thanking Hurtado for introducing this crucial legislation, Weber said, “The story of Yahushua Robinson last year was heartbreaking. We have protections for farm workers and other industries in the case of extreme weather, now climate change is forcing us to also extend similar protections to students at school.”

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Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Volunteers in Gaza 

On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

Published

6 days ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

By California Black Media

“This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

The same day, it was confirmed by the organization that the humanitarian aid volunteers were killed in a strike carried out by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the incident, members of the team had been travelling in two armored vehicles marked with the WCF logo and they had been coordinating their movements with the IDF. The group had successfully delivered 10 tons of humanitarian food in a deconflicted zone when its convoy was struck.

“This is not only an attack against WCK. This is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said Erin Gore, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen.

The seven victims included a U.S. citizen as well as others from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Palestine.

Lee has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has supported actions by President Joe Biden to airdrop humanitarian aid in the area.

“Far too many civilians have lost their lives as a result of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reprehensible military offensive. The U.S. must join with our allies and demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire – it’s long overdue,” Lee said.