As U.S. census data was released Thursday that critics fear Republicans will exploit to gerrymander their way to a decade or more of minority rule, the family of former congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis was among those demanding President Joe Biden use his power to help end the filibuster to achieve passage of crucial voting rights legislation.
The release of population data at the local and congressional district level by the U.S. Census Bureau will inform the redistricting process, which is expected to begin in the coming weeks across the country.
"All these petition signatures represent voters across the political spectrum who want to see Congress pass the 'For the People Act.'"
—Karen Hobert Flynn, Common Cause
The court struck down the preclearance process which mandated federal oversight of election rule changes in states with histories of discriminatory voting laws.
With voting rights for millions of Americans hanging in the balance, the groups that gathered at the White House on Thursday called on the president to push for the elimination of the filibuster, which would allow the Senate to pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
The legislation would ban partisan gerrymandering and restore the former protections of the Voting Rights Act, respectively.
The Sunrise Movement compared the census redistricting data released on Thursday to a "ticking time bomb" illustrating the urgent need to ensure that bold voting rights legislation can be passed.
"If the For the People Act isn't passed, Republicans are guaranteed to redraw districts until it’s impossible for Democrats to hold power," said Ellen Sciales, communications director for the national climate action group. "They only need five seats... This must be treated as an existential threat to our democracy."
"If President Biden and Senator Schumer truly care about ending the war on voting rights they have to use their political will to abolish the filibuster and pass the For the People Act immediately," added Sciales.
Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) was succinct on social media about the urgency of the matter:
"Time is running out," said Eli Zupnick, a spokesperson for the group. "Attacks on our democracy can't be 'out-organized.' We need President Biden to jump into this fight and push Senate Democrats to pass voting rights legislation before it's too late."
This content originally appeared on Common Dreams - Breaking News & Views for the Progressive Community and was authored by Julia Conley.
Julia Conley | Radio Free (2021-08-12T19:03:23+00:00) Family of John Lewis Joins Demand That Biden Kill Filibuster to Defend Voting Rights. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2021/08/12/family-of-john-lewis-joins-demand-that-biden-kill-filibuster-to-defend-voting-rights/
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