To the editor:
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s family has requested that there be “no celebration” on the upcoming weekend in his honor until the federal voting rights legislation is enacted.
A group of concerned citizens, in an effort to honor Dr. King’s memory, met to discuss what to do. We represent a number of organizations across Berkshire County.
As a collective, we are sincerely concerned about the recent attack on the rights of citizens to vote. Voting rights are the cornerstone of Dr. King’s legacy. To truly honor that legacy, we agreed that it is time to rise up to “make some good noise” to protect and strengthen our democracy by doing all we can to support and protect free and fair elections in both parties, for all people.
As reported by the Brennan Center, 19 states passed more than 33 discriminatory laws in 2021 that will make it harder for Americans, especially Americans of color, to vote. Moreover, more than 440 state legislative bills in 49 states offered provisions to restrict voting access. It is up to Congress and President Biden to reverse this ominous trend.
The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, currently before the Senate, is a comprehensive package of voting, redistricting, and campaign finance reforms that would strengthen our democracy and promote racial equity and voting accessibility for all. It would also largely prevent the implementation of changes to voting rules that discriminate on the basis of race or language minority status, and it would restore voters’ robust ability to challenge discriminatory laws as established by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 but gutted in the Supreme Court decision Shelby County v. Holder. Critically, the right to have one’s vote counted and certified in the fight against election suppression and subversion is guaranteed.
We ask that citizens across the county join us by taking at least ONE SPECIFIC ACTION in support of voting rights to honor the memory of Rev. Dr. King this month, and continue your support throughout this critical election year.
What to do? Telephone, text, and email your legislative representatives, encouraging them to work enthusiastically at their level of government for open, fair, and accessible elections. Additionally, please reach out with care to friends and family in other states to enlist their help. We have compiled resources at www.tinyurl.com/votingrightsresources. We have also compiled a statement of support for election workers, to ask local leaders to adopt in action at https://tinyurl.com/electionworkers.
We also encourage everyone to attend Berkshire Community College’s virtual Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service, which will focus on voting rights in accordance with the wishes of the King family, on Monday, Jan. 17, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
In this way, we envision a surge of public support for these national initiatives to maintain integrity in the voting process and the enriched support and awareness of all elections in all the United States.
With urgency and on behalf of democracy,
NAACP, Berkshire County Branch, Dennis Powell, Pittsfield
Berkshire Democratic Brigades, Michael Wise, Great Barrington
First Congregational Church, North Adams, Lynn Rhoads
First Congregational Church, Williamstown, Lynn Chick, Moderator
Four Freedoms Coalition and Rural Freedom Network, Sherwood Guernsey, Williamstown
Great Barrington Democratic Committee, Michael Wise, Great Barrington
Greylock Together, Alexander Davis, Jessica Dils, Wendy Penner, Williamstown
League of Women Voters Central Berkshire, Ramelle Pulitzer, Stockbridge
Left Field, Alyson Slutzky, Great Barrington
Williamstown Democratic Town Committee, Arlene Kirsch, Hugh L Guilderson
Williamstown League of Women Voters, Anne Skinner
Concerned citizens:
Paula Consolini, Williamstown
Jim Mahon, Williamstown
