Voting to Bring In Justice

This month we celebrated the birthday of Fannie Lou Hamer– civil rights champion, food justice advocate and founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Hamer’s words speak powerfully about 2020 and the choice we face on Election Day. We have seen so much injustice the last few years and our charge is to do what’s right to bring in justice so that Black people can be safe, healthy and free.

“To support whatever is right, and to bring in justice where we’ve had so much injustice.”
– Fannie Lou Hamer

COVID-19 health inequities have hit Black communities hard, with Black workers making up a significant proportion of the essential workforce that is keeping the economy going at a time when those of us who enjoy social and economic advantages are able to stay home to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19. Racism hasn’t stopped during the pandemic and recent police murders like those of Breonna Taylor have brought thousands out on the streets again to call for an end to state sanctioned and vigilante violence against Black people. Out of the protests we’re seeing the movement for Black lives reflected in racial equity trainings and organizational change processes launching in workplaces, organizations and institutions. In response to federal agencies recognizing the need to dismantle racism within their own ranks, President Trump issued The Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping, a order that prohibits using federal funds to administer racial equity training at federal agencies and in public schools. With this order, the administration seeks to undermine the important anti-racist work that this moment calls on each of us do.

Our vote is one of many critical ways we can work to bend the arc of history toward justice. With voter suppression activities increasing as November 3rd approaches, we are sharing a few voter resources to share and help get out the vote. A list of voter registration deadlines from Vote.org can be found  here. For voter protection information, go to 866ourvote.org or call 866-OUR-VOTE.

For more information on voting registration, voter protection, and general election information, please visit these sites below: 

Lawyers Committee For Civil Rights Under Law: www.lawyerscommittee.org
Common Cause: www.commoncause.org
NAACP: www.naacp.org/vote
National Conference of State Legislatures: www.ncsl.org
Color of Change: www.coc.turbovote.org
M4BL: www.m4bl.org/policy-platforms/free-the-vote
Black Lives Matter: www.blacklivesmatter.com/what-matters-2020