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Selma leaders lament voting rights losses at congressional award ceremony Selma leaders lament voting rights losses at congressional award ceremony
(about 20 hours later)
Civil rights leaders who marched from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery in 1965 received the Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday, the highest civilian honor awarded by the US Congress.Civil rights leaders who marched from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery in 1965 received the Congressional Gold Medal on Wednesday, the highest civilian honor awarded by the US Congress.
The honor was accepted by Reverend Frederick D Reese, one of the march’s organizers. It was a triumphant, if frustrated, ceremony, as some of the same congressional leaders who awarded the medal had also failed to pass a renewed voting rights act, after the US supreme court’s recent dismantling of key legislation from 1965. The honor was accepted by the Rev Frederick D Reese, one of the march’s organizers. It was a triumphant, if frustrated, ceremony, as some of the same congressional leaders who awarded the medal had also failed to pass a renewed voting rights act, after the US supreme court’s recent dismantling of key legislation from 1965.
“I am certainly honored to be able to stand here and look into such beautiful faces and recall how good God has been, because he is a good God,” said Reese, when he took the podium. “He brought us from nowhere to somewhere, allowed us to receive the great blessing that this great nation has to offer, and to stand here today to say, ‘Thank you!’”“I am certainly honored to be able to stand here and look into such beautiful faces and recall how good God has been, because he is a good God,” said Reese, when he took the podium. “He brought us from nowhere to somewhere, allowed us to receive the great blessing that this great nation has to offer, and to stand here today to say, ‘Thank you!’”
But not at everyone was jubilant. The award was prefaced with a press conference, which called for the restoration of the Voting Rights Act. But not everyone was jubilant. The award was prefaced with a press conference, which called for the restoration of the Voting Rights Act.
“The Congress that wants to honor us won’t get its act together to restore what we’ve lost, what we worked so hard for,” said Reverend CT Vivian, who also marched in 1965, in a statement released by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “The Congress that wants to honor us won’t get its act together to restore what we’ve lost, what we worked so hard for,” said the Rev CT Vivian, who also marched in 1965, in a statement released by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.
“We won’t allow our legacy to be neutered and relegated to the museums. A medal will not mollify us. The way to truly honor our sacrifice is to fully restore the Voting Rights Act.”“We won’t allow our legacy to be neutered and relegated to the museums. A medal will not mollify us. The way to truly honor our sacrifice is to fully restore the Voting Rights Act.”
In March 1965, some of the civil rights movement’s most famed leaders, such as Dr Martin Luther King Jr, gathered hundreds in Selma in hopes of securing equal voting rights for all. At the time, widespread poll taxes and literacy tests pushed many black voters out of the electorate.In March 1965, some of the civil rights movement’s most famed leaders, such as Dr Martin Luther King Jr, gathered hundreds in Selma in hopes of securing equal voting rights for all. At the time, widespread poll taxes and literacy tests pushed many black voters out of the electorate.
As marchers crossed the Edmund Pettus bridge, they were attacked by Alabama state troopers, beaten and sprayed with teargas. Four protesters were eventually killed. Many credit the protest, and the actions of officers, with helping pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965.As marchers crossed the Edmund Pettus bridge, they were attacked by Alabama state troopers, beaten and sprayed with teargas. Four protesters were eventually killed. Many credit the protest, and the actions of officers, with helping pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
But a key provision of that law, which some considered the most important civil rights legislation of the century, was struck down in 2013 by the US supreme court. Congress’s efforts to pass a renewed Voting Rights Act have all but hit a brick wall since, stalling in committee this year in the Republican-led House.But a key provision of that law, which some considered the most important civil rights legislation of the century, was struck down in 2013 by the US supreme court. Congress’s efforts to pass a renewed Voting Rights Act have all but hit a brick wall since, stalling in committee this year in the Republican-led House.
“The men and women of Selma did not march for medals, you marched to demand action,” said House minority leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat. “If we really truly value the legacy of the foot soldiers, we must come together, Democrats and Republicans must come together, and pass a renewed and strengthened voting rights act without any further delay.” “The men and women of Selma did not march for medals, you marched to demand action,” said the House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat. “If we really, truly value the legacy of the foot soldiers, we must come together, Democrats and Republicans must come together, and pass a renewed and strengthened voting rights act without any further delay.”
Applause was light for Republican party leaders, such as House speaker Paul Ryan and Senator majority leader Mitch McConnell, whose party has actively worked to install voter identification laws in conservative states around the country. Applause was light for Republican party leaders, such as the House speaker, Paul Ryan, and Senator majority leader, Mitch McConnell, whose party has actively worked to install voter identification laws in conservative states around the country.
Just one day earlier, a federal judge refused to stop laws in Georgia, Kansas and Alabama that require proof of citizenship to vote. And in states such as Texas, where some of the staunchest voter ID laws are in force, lifelong residents reported sudden disenfranchisement when they lacked a driver’s license. Just one day earlier, a federal judge refused to stop laws in Georgia, Kansas and Alabama that require proof of citizenship to vote. And in states such as Texas, where some of the most rigorous voter ID laws are in force, lifelong residents reported sudden disenfranchisement when they lacked a driver’s license.
“The struggle for the right to vote without impediment continues in our own time,” said Father Patrick Conroy, the US House Chaplain during his convocation. “Exclusion from the voting rolls – not fraud – has been the greater scandal.” “The struggle for the right to vote without impediment continues in our own time,” said Father Patrick Conroy, the US House chaplain during his convocation. “Exclusion from the voting rolls – not fraud – has been the greater scandal.”