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OP-ED: How one decision set voting rights back 50 years

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Ray Curry, Secretary-Treasurer, UAW — “What a lot of people don’t realize is that many aspects of the VRA are not permanent law. Many of the provisions are temporary and must be renewed by Congress. So, we must continually fight to protect this critical piece of civil rights legislation. We must fight challenges in the courts, fight to ensure the temporary provisions are renewed and fight to maintain the watchdog provisions of the Act at the state and local levels where we see voter suppression.”

Published

4 years ago

August 27, 2019

Oakland Post

President Lyndon B. Johnson meets with Martin Luther King, Jr. at the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. Image Serial Number: A1030-17a. http://www.lbjlibrary.net/collections/photo-archive/photolab-detail.html?id=222 / Wikimedia Commons)

The Mountain Standing Right Behind the Mountain Top

A longtime grassroots activist, Ray Curry is a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Nashville, a Silver Life member of the NAACP, and member of the NAACP National Board of Directors. He is also an active member of numerous community and social organizations including but not limited to the Michigan State Democratic Party, American Legion Post 177 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Unique Masonic Lodge #85, Charlotte Consistory #35, and Rameses Temple #51 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and various others. He resides in Detroit.

By Ray Curry, Secretary-Treasurer, UAW

This month marks the 54th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), one of the most sweeping pieces of civil rights legislation in U.S. history. This ground-breaking measure, fought over and marched over and bleed over on the streets of Selma, Alabama, was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 6, 1965. It was designed to knock down legal barriers at state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote.

That essential democratic right to have a say in who can best make government work for its people, had been guaranteed by the 15th Amendment to the Constitution, passed in 1870. The amendment stated that the right to vote could not be denied based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

And even though that sounds clear as a bell, the road to the polls was made instead an arduous and at times even perilous one with Jim Crow smack in the way, installing roadblocks and tripwire at as many turns as he could get away with. As originally written, the Voting Rights Act took an axe to those barriers.

But in 2013, the Supreme Court delivered a decision that, in effect, gutted VRA protections. Since then, we’ve seen numerous court challenges and legal maneuvering designed to further weaken the VRA. Designed to obfuscate that mountain top view of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s promised land, that momentous decision put another mountain of dehumanizing anti-voting measures in place.

The 2013 decision did its dirty work by seizing on one of the most critical temporary provisions, known as Section 4.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that many aspects of the VRA are not permanent law. Many of the provisions are temporary and must be renewed by Congress. So, we must continually fight to protect this critical piece of civil rights legislation. We must fight challenges in the courts, fight to ensure the temporary provisions are renewed and fight to maintain the watchdog provisions of the Act at the state and local levels where we see voter suppression.

A dagger in the heart of the VRA

The devastating 2013 decision rendered moot, Sections 4 and 5, two of the most critical aspects of the law. Section 4, which was struck down, provided a formula for the federal government to identify locations with documented histories of racial discrimination. The locations identified under the provision were: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia; three counties in California; five counties in Florida; three counties in New York; 40 counties in North Carolina; two counties in South Dakota; and two Michigan townships.

Section 5 called for locations identified under Section 4 to submit any changes in voting laws to the Department of Justice for pre-approval. Until 2013, Section 5 proved very effective in blocking discriminatory measures. Between 1998 and 2013, 86 proposed election changes were blocked and hundreds more withdrawn.

The effect of scuttling these critically important checks have turned a fire hose on the people the VRA was meant to protect.

Perhaps John Lewis, Georgia U.S. House representative and well known Freedom Rider in the civil rights movement summed up the decision best: “What the Supreme Court did was to put a dagger in the heart of the Voting Rights Act.”

And we felt the pain across the nation.

‘No, you can’t vote’

Here are but a few examples of the rampant assault on voting rights and voting access since 2013.

At least 17 million voters were purged nationwide between 2016 and 2018, according to a Brennan Center for Justice Report. A similar number was purged between 2014 and 2016, leading up to the 2016 presidential election, the first presidential election in 50 years conducted without the full protection of the VRA.

Of note is the fact that those numbers are much bigger than the purge rates in 2006 and 2008. Moreover, purge rates were significantly higher, reaching up to 40%, in those areas identified under Section 4 as having a history of voter suppression along racial lines.

Georgia, (one of the identified states under Section 4), for example, purged twice as many voters between 2012 and 2016 than it did between 2008 and 2012.

Moreover, at least 17 states have enacted new voting restrictions that make it more difficult to register to vote, that curb voter registration drives and decrease opportunities for early voting, and establish requirements for government-issued IDs (a document that millions of Americans don’t have).

That last provision alone has the potential to suppress millions of voters, and it’s clear that strict voter ID laws disproportionately affect African-American, Latino, Asian-American, young, elderly and poor voters.

A Florida measure barred ex-felons from being eligible to vote after serving their sentences, preventing 1.7 million Floridians from voting in 2016, including 1 in 5 black voting-age citizens.

Fighting back

The assault the Supreme Court enabled on voting rights now threatens our democracy and the principles on which this nation was founded. Enter voting rights champion, Stacy Abrams and her group, Fair Fight Action, which is taking on voter suppression in Georgia in the courts. The Georgia suit doesn’t address Sections 4 and 5 directly, but instead challenges the legitimacy of a system that would allow egregious voting disparities.

A May 2019 Vox article on Abrams noted: “Obstacles to voting have created a two-tiered voting system that disproportionately affects voters of color and limits the power of their votes.”

Heading into the 2020 presidential election, we must work harder than ever to protect our democracy — and the right of every U.S. citizen’s voice to be heard at the ballot box, even if it takes moving mountains to do it.

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14th Annual Minnesota Cuban Film Festival with Franklin Curbelo

The 14th. Minnesota Cuban Film Festival is organized by the Minnesota Cuba Committee, with the collaboration of the MSP Film Society, and ICAIC (Cuban Film Institute)
The post 14th Annual Minnesota Cuban Film Festival with Franklin Curbelo first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

6 days ago

March 14, 2023

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Feb. 21, 2023 – Al McFarlane will sit with Franklin Curbelo, organizer of the 14th Annual Minnesota Cuban Film Festival. In this exciting interview, Franklin will discuss the festival’s commitment to bringing diverse films from Cuba and this year’s line-up.

The 14th. Minnesota Cuban Film Festival is organized by the Minnesota Cuba Committee, with the collaboration of the MSP Film Society, and ICAIC (Cuban Film Institute)

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We hope you will join us at 1 pm CST / 2 pm EST / 11 am PST as we continue our ongoing conversations about how we can all make a difference in our community.

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Photo by: Juan Luis Ozaez

Photo by: CineDirektor FILMS

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2023 Mazda CX-50 2.5L Turbo w/Premium Plus Package AWD

2023 Mazda CX-50 2.5L Turbo w/Premium Plus Package AWD In-depth walkaround and POV Test Drive. The 2023 Mazda CX-50 is a luxurious and powerful compact SUV that boasts several high-end features and technologies. Equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, 227 HP @ 310 lb-ft Torque, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the C-50 delivers a […]
The post 2023 Mazda CX-50 2.5L Turbo w/Premium Plus Package AWD first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

6 days ago

March 14, 2023

Oakland Post

2023 Mazda CX-50 2.5L Turbo w/Premium Plus Package AWD In-depth walkaround and POV Test Drive.
The 2023 Mazda CX-50 is a luxurious and powerful compact SUV that boasts several high-end features and technologies. Equipped with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, 227 HP @ 310 lb-ft Torque, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the C-50 delivers a robust performance and is available with the Premium Plus package, which offers various advanced features. This review will delve into the details of the car’s features and overall performance.

The CX-50 comes in a beautiful Ingot Blue Metallic exterior color, which complements its elegant and sleek design. It features black 20-inch alloy wheels with P245/45 R20 all-season tires, which provide excellent grip and stability on the road. The rain-sensing windshield wipers and wiper de-icer are a thoughtful addition, making driving in inclement weather more manageable. Additionally, the auto power-folding side mirrors are convenient for parking in tight spaces.

The CX-50’s interior is equally impressive, with a Black interior color and Brown leather-trimmed seats. The 5-passenger seating is spacious, and the power driver’s seat with memory and power passenger seats offer ample adjustability for comfortable driving positions. The ventilated front seats are a welcome feature, especially in hotter climates. The leather-wrapped steering wheel is a premium touch and feels good in the hands. The heated steering wheel is perfect for chilly weather, and the paddle shifters add to the car’s sporty feel. The Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry and rear power liftgate are convenient features that make accessing the vehicle a breeze.

The CX-50 has several safety and security features, including 24-hour roadside assistance, 5-passenger 3-point safety belts, LATCH child safety seat anchors, and an anti-theft engine immobilizer. It also has a lane departure warning system, lane keep assist, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The I-ACTIV all-wheel drive, hill launch assist, and MI-Drive – sport/off-road/towing make it an excellent option for various driving conditions. The CX-50 also boasts a 3500 lb towing capacity, which makes it ideal for those who need to haul extra gear.

The CX-50 comes equipped with several high-tech features, including a power panoramic moonroof, adaptive front lighting system, LED headlights with auto on/off, and roof rails. The 10.25″ color center display and active driving HeadUp display provide easy access to all necessary information. The dual-zone auto climate control ensures that everyone in the car stays comfortable, and the rearview camera makes parking a breeze. The car has an AM/FM/HD Radio® with four USB inputs, BOSE® 12-speakers audio system, and a SiriusXM® 3 mos. trial. The Mazda Connected Services, wireless Android Auto, and wireless Apple CarPlay are convenient for connecting smartphones and accessing music and apps on the go.

The CX-50 has several pros, including multiple driving modes, off-road modes, and a comfortable interior. The car has quick off-the-line acceleration and handles well, making it a fun car to drive.

One downside to the CX-50 is that the ride quality is mediocre. It may not be the best option for those who prefer a very smooth ride.

The CX-50’s MSRP is $43,525, and the Turbo Premium Plus Package adds extra features, such as heated rear seats, 360-degree view monitor, traffic jam assist, front and rear parking sensors, rear smart brake support, blind spot prevention, Mazda Navigation System, wireless phone charger, traffic sign recognition, and a frameless auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink®.

The 2023 Mazda CX-50 is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a luxurious and powerful compact SUV with advanced features and technologies. The car’s impressive performance, various driving modes, and comfortable interior make it a joy to drive. Additionally, the car’s safety and security features, along with the advanced technology, make it a safe and convenient car to own. Overall, the Mazda CX-50 is a strong contender in the compact SUV market and is definitely worth considering for those who want a car that delivers both performance and luxury.

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Why Attend Chicago Auto Show or Show In Your Market – AutoNetwork Reports 394

Published

6 days ago

March 14, 2023

Oakland Post

Our Take on The Chicago Auto Show, Recalls, Autel Energy, CrossTrex, Volvo Subscription Service, Customer Loyalty Dwindling, and more – AutoNetwork Reports 394
Coffee and Cars – AutoNetwork Reports 394.
Get your coffee and join us for a new morning show. Warren was a great storyteller, friend, and all-around good guy in our industry and reviewed cars for The Washington Post newspaper.
Reviews of Cars Driven – AutoNetwork Reports 394
Car Reviews of what we are driving this week. We help you better understand and appreciate your dream car. Find out why we would buy the new car or not. Join our panel of influencers as we review new cars and discuss the latest auto news.

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