March for Voting Rights

Changes to Florida’s voting laws will be the focus of a March for Voting Rights — set for midday Saturday at Seville Square in downtown Pensacola. The event is an offshoot of the national March for Voting Rights in Washington, D.C. Besides Florida and the nation’s capital, the marches will take place in Georgia, Arizona, and Texas, where voter suppression efforts have been passed into law. Besides Florida and the nation’s capital, the marches will take place in Georgia, Arizo-na, and Texas, where voter suppression efforts have been passed into law. Jeff Nall is an organizer of the local march and says the Aug. 28 date is no accident. 

“Aug 28 is the 58th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic march on Washington,” Nall said. “A group in Pensacola decided that we wanted to have a local march; and if you go to marchonforvotingrights.org, you can see all the places around the country, and you can see how widespread the concern, and the sup-port, for this movement is.” 

The march kicks off at 11:30 a.m. outside the Escambia County Supervisor of Elections Office on Palafox Place and will proceed to Se-ville Square for the rally at 11:45. Among those scheduled to speak is Civil rights icon Rev. H.K. Matthews. 

“It’s been 58 years ago [since the march], but still my memory is pretty vivid of that day; so I don’t have to do a lot of prepping for [his speech],” Matthews said. “When I’m talking about days and dates I’m familiar with, I normally just ad-lib — just go to wherever I’m led.” 

In 2021, Matthews can see parallels between the new, restrictive voting laws, with the attempts to curb minority voting rights in the run-up to the 1965 Voting Rights Act. 

“They made us count the number of jelly beans in a jar, which was impossible; and of course the poll tax that was imposed upon some of the older people,” he said. “What some of the states are doing, this is just a revisit of Jim Crow.” 

Two of the biggest culprits, contends Matthews, are two governors – Greg Abbott in Texas, and Ron DeSantis in Florida. The tactics are different from the mid-60s, he says, but the goals are the same: preventing certain groups from casting a ballot. 

“We expected it back then; but Lord knows in 2021, after all that we have gone through, and all that we have accomplished, I never dreamed that we would be back to a day that they’re trying to take us back to a time that never should have been.” 

Some advice from Matthews to those targeted by the new laws: get off what he calls their “stools of do nothing,” and not depend on others to do the work. 

“I hope that this is the beginning of a movement that will sweep throughout this nation; and that it will have the same effect on those in high places — that they won’t have any choice but to acquiesce,” Matthews said. “And come down off of their racist horses.” 

Just moments after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s restrictive voting bill into law, voting rights groups filed a couple of lawsuits against it. Voter registration and vote-by-mail applications will also be available, as well as application forms for qualifying those interested in restoring their right to vote. Going to the polls, says Rev. H.K. Matthews, is the ultimate weapon against voter suppression. 

“We must turn out and vote, not because of, but in spite of, we have got to be in ‘show business,’” Matthews said. “And show those who are trying to deter us and set us back that, as we used to say and sing in the movement, ‘Ain’t gonna let nobody turn us around.’” 

(Excerpted from this article, Aug 24, 2021, by Dave Dunwoody) 

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The 2022 Legislative Session convenes January 11, preceded by six weeks of committee meetings beginning the week of Sept. 20 and ending the week of Nov. 29.

If you are meeting with your legislators in their offices, virtually or in County Delegation meetings, you may find the items on the Legislative Advocacy page helpful in framing your discussion.

Watch for targeted Action Alerts to express your support or opposition when key bills are placed on committee agendas for your Legislators to vote on.

Please drop a note to info@uujusticefl.org if you would like help in forming teams, in creating agen-das or talking points or to offer suggestions on improving Legislative Advocacy efforts.

REDISTRICTING PROCESS STARTS IN SEPTEMBER 2021

Months overdue, key U.S. Census numbers were released Thursday, August 19, 2021, that will allow Florida lawmakers to begin the process of redrawing congressional and legislative districts for the state’s 21.5 million residents.

“I would like to be optimistic about this current redistricting cycle,” said Ellen Freidin, leader of the FairDistricts Florida Movement and CEO of FairDistricts Now, Inc. “So far, the Legislature has not given us any reason to be optimistic that the Fair Districts amendments will be adhered to. But we always remain hopeful and are looking forward, as I’m sure you are, to watching this process unfold.”

The House and Senate plan to have a joint website to provide detailed information to the public. Al-so, input will be gathered during committee meetings held in advance of the 2022 legislative session. Lawmakers are expected to approve final maps during the session, which will start in January.

House Speaker Sprowls (R-Palm Harbor) advised members to “stand by” as the website, which will provide interactive maps and a place for constituents to submit input, will be rolled out before the Sept. 20 start of committee weeks. WUSF Published Aug. 13, 2021

No action yet. But stay aware and be ready to advocate for fair districting by contacting your elected representatives.