Chants, cheers, and “Amens” were yelled from an eager host of people as Reverend Jesse Jackson gathered a crowd of hundreds at a local Orlando church to talk about Florida’s new election law.
The meeting, entitled the ‘Voter Empowerment Rally’, was geared toward educating Orlando’s minority community on the new law recently signed by Gov. Rick Scott, that aims to suppress their right to vote.
Florida’s new elections law has received nationwide attention for its sweeping changes. The new law cuts early voting days down to eight from 14, third party voter registration mechanisms will be fined $50 for every registration form not turned in within two days, and voters looking to change their address at the polls are forbidden to do so.
Reverend Randolph Bracy, Orlando City Commissioners Sam Ings and Daisy Lynum, Florida state Representative Scott Randolph, candidate for Florida Senate District 19 Victoria Siplin, and a host of political candidates and other elected officials were in attendance to hear Jackson’s words.
The new elections law is currently being reviewed by the United States Department of Justice on whether it violates the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Rev. Jackson spoke on the importance of the Department of Justice (DOJ) intervening and called on Attorney General Eric Holder to object to the new law.
“The Department of Justice must act now to protect all Americans. We will accept the outcome of elections but we must not toxify the process,” said Jackson.
Vicki Felder feels the same as Rev. Jackson on how the voting process in Florida is being poisoned but she’s ready to fight for her right to a fair and decent democracy.
“We have to come back to the church and inform the people on what’s going on,” said Felder. “Those people that died because they wanted the right to what was supposedly given to us as Americans, we are still fighting those same fights,” she continued.
Jackson was asked if there was a call to action regarding the new law and what specifically should the community do to fight back, but he offered no specific plan for the public.
“It may be letters, it may be marching…” continued Jackson.
This event did a wonderful job of educating the public on the provisions included in the new law, but failed to empower the community on how to fight back.
The black community was galvanized tonight by the great civil rights icon but there was a large hole created when Jackson failed to inform the community on how to fight the new law.
For any resident wanting to speak to their local representative on their disdain for the new elections law, please visit the following link (http://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find). Here residents are able to find the name, number, and e-mail address of their local state Representative or Senator.
Reverend Jackson’s tour of Florida continues tomorrow as he visits the city of Eatonville and Tampa tomorrow to rally against the new law.
