(EVENT Recap- August 8, 2011)
Ebenezer Baptist Church was filled with over 150 people attendees interested in speaking and asking questions about current and proposed Congressional District lines at a panel discussion hosted by Congressman John Lewis on Monday night. By the time the floor was opened for questions at 7:30pm, the line stretched down the center aisle and almost to the door. The event was proposed from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
Questions from the audience centered around “Voter ID” laws that have passed throughout the nation, the Voting Rights Act, and the current “bi partisan” redistricting exercise happening in Georgia. Some even questioned their current district lines and their current Congressional representation and took “microphone time” to express these concerns.
How can the community get involved? How can voter id laws be stopped and/or challenged? What does the Voting Rights Act mean in 2011?
Questions from the audience centered around “Voter ID” laws that have passed throughout the nation, the Voting Rights Act, and the current “bi partisan” redistricting exercise happening in Georgia. Some even questioned their current district lines and their current Congressional representation and took “microphone time” to express these concerns.
How can the community get involved? How can voter id laws be stopped and/or challenged? What does the Voting Rights Act mean in 2011?
There to answer questions was a panel of experts from all sides of the issue including:
• GA Congressman John Lewis: Georgia’s Fifth District Representative
• GA Representative Stacey Abrams: Democratic House Minority Leader
• Julie Fernandes: United States Deputy Assistant Attorney General Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice
• Jerry Gonzalez: Director, Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials
• Elisabeth MacNamara: President, League of Women Voters of the United States
• Fred McBride, Ph.D: Redistricting Coordinator I Research Analyst, American Civil Liberties Union, Voting Rights Project
• Bill Nigut: Southeast Regional Director of the AntiDefamation League
• Judy Yi: Programs Director, Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc.
• Sally Yates – United States Attorney Northern District of Georgia, Department of Justice (moderator)
Though each had something poignant to say, Representative Stacey Abrams was the most informative on actions in Georgia. She stated that re-districting decisions were not just about what her district will look like, they were more about each Georgian in the room and who would represent them. Congressman John Lewis also spoke about the importance of the Voting Rights Act and access to the ballot box. He alluded that redistricting, or “misdistricting” as I call it, in Georgia is new age discrimination and as informed voters, we must all be aware.
After the event came to a close, many attendees stormed the panel to ask personal questions and to voice concerns.
Proving to be timely, the event was held just before the Georgia General Assembly reports back to work for a Special Session on Redistricting. The special session begins on August 15th.
• GA Congressman John Lewis: Georgia’s Fifth District Representative
• GA Representative Stacey Abrams: Democratic House Minority Leader
• Julie Fernandes: United States Deputy Assistant Attorney General Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice
• Jerry Gonzalez: Director, Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials
• Elisabeth MacNamara: President, League of Women Voters of the United States
• Fred McBride, Ph.D: Redistricting Coordinator I Research Analyst, American Civil Liberties Union, Voting Rights Project
• Bill Nigut: Southeast Regional Director of the AntiDefamation League
• Judy Yi: Programs Director, Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc.
• Sally Yates – United States Attorney Northern District of Georgia, Department of Justice (moderator)
Though each had something poignant to say, Representative Stacey Abrams was the most informative on actions in Georgia. She stated that re-districting decisions were not just about what her district will look like, they were more about each Georgian in the room and who would represent them. Congressman John Lewis also spoke about the importance of the Voting Rights Act and access to the ballot box. He alluded that redistricting, or “misdistricting” as I call it, in Georgia is new age discrimination and as informed voters, we must all be aware.
After the event came to a close, many attendees stormed the panel to ask personal questions and to voice concerns.
Proving to be timely, the event was held just before the Georgia General Assembly reports back to work for a Special Session on Redistricting. The special session begins on August 15th.
0 comments:
Post a Comment