National Call to Action: t (CTA#1072 March 9, 2021)
***NATIONAL CALL TO ACTION***
Stop GOP Voter Suppression!
Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act!
Like all presidential elections, 2020 was a competition of ideas. Voters chose decency and competency over cruelty and corruption. The Biden/Harris victory was powered by an enormous turnout of Black Americans who gave him 87% of their votes.
So it’s no surprise that Republicans are retaliating in state legislatures with hundreds of voter suppression bills. Republicans are able to do this because of a 2013 Supreme Court decision that gutted the discrimination protections of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, now before Congress, will reinstate those protections.
The bill provides the legal tools to block official acts of racial discrimination in elections by again requiring preclearance for:
- Changing documents required to vote
- Reducing polling locations
- Changing election practices such as early voting
Without it, Republican racism will be locked into politics for a generation. That’s because, for the first time since 1965, legislative districts will be drawn without the Voting Rights Act’s key protections. Moreover, SCOTUS is now deciding two Arizona cases that could shred what’s left of the Act. Our urgent fight to save democracy now turns to strengthening voter rights.
Call Your Members of Congress!
Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act!
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY AND WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Please thank the Senator for supporting S1. Now we need to address the hundreds of voter suppression bills working through state legislatures. To do that, we need him to champion the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, too. The Act helps mend the damage done by the Supreme Court’s shredding of protections against racial discrimination. Without the Act, we will suffer another generation of (minority) Republican control.
Thank you.”
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
SENATOR RON WYDEN
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION TWO: CALL EXTREMIST CLIFF BENTZ**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR BENTZ:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
If Cliff Bentz believes in democracy, he will work to allow the opportunity for everyone to vote. He must stop undermining our democracy. If Republicans don’t have a vision for the future that voters want, they should not be in power. So, democracy or power at any cost?
Cliff Bentz WILL BE held accountable; I’ll be watching for his ‘yea’ vote.
Thank you.”
ORD2 Extremist Cliff Bentz
Medford: 541-776-4646
DC : 202-225-6730
Twitter: @cliffbentz
Email: Apparently, Bentz refuses direct emails.
**ACTION THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**
**Please visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. We also encourage you to submit events to be added to the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar and help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/
Sources
Biden presses Congress to restore Voting Rights Act | TheHill
This SCOTUS doesn’t care about your voting rights MSNBC March 2, 2021
Why Congress must pass HR 1 and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act – Roll Call
How to Restore and Strengthen the Voting Rights Act | Brennan Center for Justice
Supreme Court: Two cases could destroy the Voting Rights Act – Vox 2021
Fact Sheet: President Biden to Sign Executive Order to Promote Voting Access | The White House
Supreme Court Invalidates Key Part of Voting Rights Act – The New York Times 2013
