Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr, former National Executive Director and CEO of the NAACP and a 50-year veteran of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States today expressed tremendous concern about Amendments 5 and 6 and the negative impact they would have on minority representation.
“I am categorically opposed to Constitutional Amendments 5 and 6 on the ballot in the upcoming elections in the state of Florida because these proposed amendments fundamentally violate the voting rights of all Floridians, especially minority voters,” said Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. Dr. Chavis in the 1960s was the N.C. State Youth Coordinator for the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and in the 1970s and 1980s he became the Executive Director and CEO of the 1.6 million-member United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice.
Additionally, Dr. Chavis challenged backers of Amendments 5 and 6 to draw Florida’s political boundaries using their own requirements without reducing the number of minorities elected to office.
“Supporters of Amendments 5 and 6 cannot guarantee their guidelines will not reduce minority representation in Florida, which is why they have yet to produce a map,” said Chavis. “The Protect Your Vote campaign challenges Amendment 5 and 6 supporters to prove their requirements will not silence minorities across Florida.”
Dr. Chavis commended other African-American leaders for standing against Amendments 5 and 6.
“No one knows the value of voting rights more than Congressman John Lewis (D-GA). Today I stand with John Lewis, Corrine Brown, T.Willard. Fair, Rodney Hurst and other civil rights leaders throughout America and across Florida who are opposed to Amendments 5 and 6,” Dr. Chavis said. “The so-called Fair Districts Amendments are unfair to Florida’s minority voters. We marched, bled, and went to jail to get the Voting Rights Act. We need to move forward in Florida and not backward to dismantle the progress that we have made to ensure the equal voting rights for all. The proposed Amendments are deceptive and will set the stage for the dis-empowerment of minority voters.”
Congresswoman Corrine Brown (D-FL) continues to be a leader for full voting rights in Florida and throughout the United States. Joining Dr. Chavis, Congresswoman Brown today said, “One goal of the Voting Rights Act was remediation of past discrimination and the legal rights of many, many residents of majority-minority districts or minority access districts that were required or inspired by the Voting Rights Act to elect a person of their choice would be violated if this intent were ignored in favor of districts that look better on a map.”
To date, the ideas have never been tried in any state in the nation and no one supporting the amendments has drawn a map that meets the rigorous requirements in the language. Additionally, Amendments similar to 5 and 6 have been consistently rejected by voters in other states.
Dr. Chavis is the latest prominent African-American leader to express concern over Amendments 5 and 6. Recently, a top staffer of House Majority Whip James Clyburn expressed his concerns over the amendments. Additionally, a recent report from the Southern Coalition for Social Justice points out, among other things, “Contrary to claims by proponents, the Amendments do not provide greater protections for minority voters and specifically do not incorporate the Section 5 non-retrogression standard under the VRA into the Florida Constitution.” To read the report, please visit http://bit.ly/cg4Y2w.
Currently, Dr. Chavis is President of Education Online Services Corporation based in Coral Springs, Florida. Dr. Chavis concluded, “As a Florida resident, I am concerned that there are some who are planting seeds of confusion about these discriminatory Amendments. That is why I am speaking out. I will not be silent when the political interests and quality of life of African Americans, Hispanic Americans and others are all at stake. Vote no on Amendments 5 and 6.”
To learn more about the Protect Your Vote campaign, please visit our website at http://www.protectyourvote.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
