Almost 152 years since Black voting rights were established by the 15th Amendment, federal intervention to protect voting rights remains essential.
"This is a fundamental question of whether or not we are going to have a just, inclusive multiracial democracy as America continues to grow," Butler said.
White House Senior Advisor Cedric Richmond said Senators straddling the fence need to remember that voting rights are the bedrock of democracy. Â
Biden's challenge Tuesday wasn't just to Senate holdouts, but for those who are waiting for some return to civility that has never existed for Black and other communities of color.
The longest filibuster by an individual senator, Strom Thurmond's opposition to the 1957 Civil Rights Act, paved the way for current anti-voting rights obstruction. Picking up the mantle from the ancestors, modern-day voting rights advocates continue to push for Congressional action.
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would restore and expand provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act gutted by two Supreme Court decisions.
Celebrated last November for saving Democracy, Black organizers and the voters they mobilized will not rest until federal voting rights legislation is passed.
Biden and Harris met with civil rights leaders Thursday at the urging of movement leaders and congressional Democrats who are concerned about the recent attempts to disenfranchise Black voters and marginalized groups, especially in light of the upcoming 2022 midterms elections.
Some Congressional Black Caucus members believe that voting rights should be prioritized alongside broader election reform legislation.
The anniversary of the 15th Amendment is a good time to recommit to protecting democracy and ensuring ballot access for all.
