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Heard It First: Voting Rights Act Turns 51; Butterfield Leads Fight to Release Wildin Acosta, Pitt-Greenville Airport Receives $791,000 Grant
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Dear Friend,
On August 6, 1965, the Voting Rights Act (VRA) was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, empowering millions of African Americans to vote for the first time. Then, in June 2013, a divided Supreme Court gutted the VRA, which allowed states including North Carolina to almost immediately pass strict and regressive voting laws that disenfranchised thousands.
Last month, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit struck down parts of North Carolina’s 2013 voter ID law, after unanimously finding that it was enacted to “target African Americans with almost surgical precision.” This determination marked the third ruling in voter ID cases in less than a month, following decisions in Texas and Wisconsin. The common determination in all three instances: discriminatory intent.
The court’s ruling was a victory for North Carolinians and for voting rights! I applaud the court’s determination and it is my hope that this will be a critical first step toward ensuring a fair electoral system in our state and country.
As we mark the 51st anniversary of the VRA, the work that began so long ago continues. I continue to demand Congressional action so that the VRA is restored and the right to vote for every eligible American is protected.
Thank you very much.
Very truly yours, |
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Inside This Issue
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On August 6, we marked the 51st anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA), one of the most important pieces of legislation in our nation’s history. The Act empowered millions of minorities to register to vote. However, in 2013, the Supreme Court invalidated key provisions of the VRA that worked to prevent discrimination before it occurred. Click here to read Congressman Butterfield’s statement reflecting on the 51 anniversary of the Voting Rights Act.
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Last week, Congressman Butterfield joined the Durham community in celebrating Wildin Acosta’s release from Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. Acosta, a 19-year old migrant from Honduras who fled threats and violence, has been fighting deportation since late-January. Read Congressman Butterfield’s full statement on Wildin’s return to Durham here.
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 BRINGING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO NORTH CAROLINA |
Mark your calendar! Congressman Butterfield will join the North Carolina Congressional delegation to host the 20th Annual North Carolina Business & Economic Development Summit. The Summit will be held on Monday, September 12 and Tuesday, September 13 in Washington, DC. Attendees will have an opportunity to meet federal government officials and discuss policies that affect our local economies.
The event is free and open to the public. To attend, please visit our website and RSVP at https://butterfield.house.gov.
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| BUILDING STRONGER TRANSPORTATION IN GREENVILLE |
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HOW CAN WE HELP
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