Responding to Voter Suppression The Third Reconstruction
Educate, organize and mobilize — For more than a year I’ve tried to keep our readers informed on the nationwide efforts to disenfranchise Blacks and other voters. Many leading thinkers in the Black community have declared that the latest attack on Black voting rights signals the beginning of the Third Era of Reconstruction. Our reconstruction goal is to help build a network of individuals and organizations committed to a non-racial, equal opportunity America characterized by political, economic, and social justice.
The concept of a Third Reconstruction is being well received and individuals and organizations that are committed to democracy and equal opportunity are joining efforts to create the reality. It is important for all like minded people to join us as we continue to fight for the “American Dream”.
I’m involved with numerous efforts and discussions to address the massive threat that voter ID requirements represent to Blacks and other citizens. Although our efforts to convene the Voter Empowerment Summit this past January had to be postponed, we have a task team that is working on details to convene a gathering to address the needed community response to the unconscionable efforts by Republican lawmakers to destroy the dream of Martin Luther King of our full un-fettered right to vote.
Weekly we post our articles on several Facebook pages and recently one of our readers responded to our post on http://www.facebook.com/thirdreconstruction as follows: “Voting for African Americans is not a choice, but is imperative. Too many of our ancestors could not and did not vote, so we have a duty and an obligation to vote despite all the obstacles that are put forth to decease this important right. Voting is an equal opportunity to exercise our voice.” I believe that this sentiment is the sentiment of the vast majority of those that are fighting voter suppression.
Another of our readers commented: “They (Republicans) are coming up with excuses as to the reason you can’t VOTE in 2016. Make SURE your address on your identification and your address on your voters card MATCH. You will not be allowed to vote, if both addresses don’t match. Get it done now, while you have plenty of time before the major elections in 2016. Pass the word.”
Yet another of our readers commented: “Selma was a film made for the entertainment of its viewing audience. It did not capture the depth or magnitude of the atrocities and brutality African Americans endured in order to establish that they were entitled to the same rights as other citizens living in America. However, what is more offensive for me is how those rights are taken for granted, the plight for educational and financial parity and other assumed rights and advantages have been so devalued and unappreciated by folks under fifty and particularly our youth.”
Join the growing numbers of people that are committing themselves to fighting efforts to suppress our right to vote by getting involved individually or through your community based organizations. If you’re not involved you and yours are more threatened.
Lastly, several of us continue to work as a leadership team that is developing a strategy to get community participation in efforts to prepare for our voting challenges in November, 2016 and our standing efforts to bring about social and economic justice. I’m pleased to report that our efforts are growing stronger every day. On Friday past, February 6, 2015, we had another major entity joining our struggle in a more dynamic way. Once additional details are finalized, I’ll be able to share more details of these developments with our readers.
GDN covers news that is vital to unrepresented and underserved communities. We need your financial support to help us remain viable.
Peter Grear, Esq. writes for Greater Diversity News and www.thethirdreconstruction.com with a primary focus on political and economic justice. To support our efforts, to unite our politics and economics, please “Like” and follow us athttp://www.facebook.com/thirdreconstruction. Please “Share” our articles and post your ideas and comments on Facebook or at our websites www.GreaterDiversity.com and www.thethirdreconstruction.com. Comments can also be sent to [email protected]. Finally, please ask all of your Facebook “Friends” to follow our above-referenced recommendations. •
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Responding to Voter Suppression The Third Reconstruction
Educate, organize and mobilize — For more than a year I’ve tried to keep our readers informed on the nationwide efforts to disenfranchise Blacks and other voters. Many leading thinkers in the Black community have declared that the latest attack on Black voting rights signals the beginning of the Third Era of Reconstruction. Our reconstruction goal is to help build a network of individuals and organizations committed to a non-racial, equal opportunity America characterized by political, economic, and social justice.
The concept of a Third Reconstruction is being well received and individuals and organizations that are committed to democracy and equal opportunity are joining efforts to create the reality. It is important for all like minded people to join us as we continue to fight for the “American Dream”.
I’m involved with numerous efforts and discussions to address the massive threat that voter ID requirements represent to Blacks and other citizens. Although our efforts to convene the Voter Empowerment Summit this past January had to be postponed, we have a task team that is working on details to convene a gathering to address the needed community response to the unconscionable efforts by Republican lawmakers to destroy the dream of Martin Luther King of our full un-fettered right to vote.
Weekly we post our articles on several Facebook pages and recently one of our readers responded to our post on http://www.facebook.com/thirdreconstruction as follows: “Voting for African Americans is not a choice, but is imperative. Too many of our ancestors could not and did not vote, so we have a duty and an obligation to vote despite all the obstacles that are put forth to decease this important right. Voting is an equal opportunity to exercise our voice.” I believe that this sentiment is the sentiment of the vast majority of those that are fighting voter suppression.
Another of our readers commented: “They (Republicans) are coming up with excuses as to the reason you can’t VOTE in 2016. Make SURE your address on your identification and your address on your voters card MATCH. You will not be allowed to vote, if both addresses don’t match. Get it done now, while you have plenty of time before the major elections in 2016. Pass the word.”
Yet another of our readers commented: “Selma was a film made for the entertainment of its viewing audience. It did not capture the depth or magnitude of the atrocities and brutality African Americans endured in order to establish that they were entitled to the same rights as other citizens living in America. However, what is more offensive for me is how those rights are taken for granted, the plight for educational and financial parity and other assumed rights and advantages have been so devalued and unappreciated by folks under fifty and particularly our youth.”
Join the growing numbers of people that are committing themselves to fighting efforts to suppress our right to vote by getting involved individually or through your community based organizations. If you’re not involved you and yours are more threatened.
Lastly, several of us continue to work as a leadership team that is developing a strategy to get community participation in efforts to prepare for our voting challenges in November, 2016 and our standing efforts to bring about social and economic justice. I’m pleased to report that our efforts are growing stronger every day. On Friday past, February 6, 2015, we had another major entity joining our struggle in a more dynamic way. Once additional details are finalized, I’ll be able to share more details of these developments with our readers.
GDN covers news that is vital to unrepresented and underserved communities. We need your financial support to help us remain viable.
Peter Grear, Esq. writes for Greater Diversity News and www.thethirdreconstruction.com with a primary focus on political and economic justice. To support our efforts, to unite our politics and economics, please “Like” and follow us athttp://www.facebook.com/thirdreconstruction. Please “Share” our articles and post your ideas and comments on Facebook or at our websites www.GreaterDiversity.com and www.thethirdreconstruction.com. Comments can also be sent to [email protected]. Finally, please ask all of your Facebook “Friends” to follow our above-referenced recommendations. •