The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a fierce advocate for Civil Rights who believed in the power of voting and fought for the enfranchisement of all people, has never been more in jeopardy than now, with Donald Trump’s Big Lie, the lie that says the 2020 election was stolen from him through rampant voter fraud, inspiring new restrictive voting policies that will limit the rights of many Americans, and particularly black Americans, at the voting booth.
Power doesn’t come from a single election, or Senate negotiations. It comes from everyday people who demand justice and equality.
That's why on 8/28, we'll be marching by the thousands to demand that Congress pass federal voting rights legislation. https://t.co/75tQRJZoR9 pic.twitter.com/Du81O9vba4
— Martin Luther King III (@OfficialMLK3) August 10, 2021
In response, the son and namesake of the late Dr. King, Martin Luther King III, is organizing a march on Washington D.C. in protest of restrictive voter laws being implemented across the country and demanding that Congress enact legislation to support voters’ rights. He will join other well-known activists and their family members in these efforts, and thousands are expected to attend.
According to The Washington Post:
‘Martin Luther King III and other civil rights leaders behind “March On for Voting Rights,” including the Rev. Al Sharpton and Alejandro Chavez, the grandson of labor and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, are demanding that Congress pass legislation to protect and expand voting rights at a time when Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country have passed or introduced hundreds of new voting restrictions, which a Washington Post analysis found are likely to disproportionately affect Black voters.’
Ways we can expand voting rights instead of restricting them 👇🏾
1. Automatically registering eligible voters
2. Same-day voter registration
3. Access to mail-in voting
4. Access to drive-in votingWe must increase accessibility and protect the right to #vote!
— Martin Luther King III (@OfficialMLK3) August 6, 2021
Although the right still insists the measures being taken in states like Texas and Georgia to restrict voting will reduce fraud and that voter ID laws are entirely necessary (despite there being no significant fraud to point to in any state that would make these laws prescient), they have rejected a proposal by moderate Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) to strengthen voter ID laws in each state while still broadening access to the ballot. As some of the more onerous bills are implemented, the disenfranchisement efforts will affect black and brown Americans in ways that white America will not experience.
Arndrea Waters King, wife of Martin Luther King III, said in an interview that:
‘We are at a critical, critical juncture in our nation. If we don’t have victories, which I believe that we will have, the impact will be felt for generations. This is that critical of an issue and a time. If you have always, growing up, wondered if you would’ve marched with Martin Luther King Jr., my question now is: Are you marching now?’
I also ask that you consider pledging $1 a day to help us honor John Lewis and make the #VRAA and the #ForThePeopleAct law. #GoodTrouble #ForJohn 👇🏾 https://t.co/lcubmeduvd
— Martin Luther King III (@OfficialMLK3) August 6, 2021
Details for the march are updated regularly on King III’s Twitter account, and a recent post describes where the marchers will meet and what their plan is for protest. Congress is currently in an August recess.
‘Those attending the march in Washington will gather at McPherson Square at 8 a.m. before starting the march at 9:45 a.m., according to organizers. The group will march past Black Lives Matter Plaza, the White House and the Washington Monument before rallying from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. near the National Museum of African American History and Culture at 15th Street and Constitution Avenue NW.’
Featured image screenshot via YouTube
