CAPAC Members Mark Fourth Anniversary of Shelby County v. Holder
WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 25, 2017 will mark the fourth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder decision, which gutted key provisions of the Voting Rights Act. Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) released the following statements:
Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), CAPAC Chair:
“It is appalling that four years after the Supreme Court gutted key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, millions of Americans still lack critical voting rights protections to ensure that they can fully participate in our democracy. As a result of the Shelby decision, we have seen an increase in efforts to disenfranchise people of color, limited English proficient individuals, students, the disabled, and the elderly from exercising their right to vote.
“Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders depend on the full protections of the Voting Rights Act to ensure they can fully participate in the democratic process. That is why I am proud to be one of the lead sponsors of the Voting Rights Advancement Act, which will restore the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and protect vulnerable communities from discriminatory voter suppression efforts. As Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure that all Americans can exercise their fundamental right to vote.”
Senator Mazie K. Hirono (HI):
“In Shelby County, a narrow conservative majority of the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act. Four years after that disastrous decision, we now know just how wrong the Supreme Court was. Immediately following the Court’s decision, numerous states passed onerous voter ID laws and other barriers that affected the right to vote of millions of people. For the first time in two generations, we risk unraveling the progress my friend John Lewis fought for alongside so many other heroes of the Civil Rights movement. We can’t let the Court’s decision stand, and I’ll continue to fight to advance legislation to restore protections for the fundamental right of all Americans to vote and have their vote counted.”
Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06):
“The Supreme Court’s Shelby v. Holder decision four years ago dealt a major blow to voting rights in America. The decision destroyed key protections for voters and gutted one of our nation’s landmark civil rights laws. Congress must protect voters from discrimination by immediately passing legislation to restore the VRA. The right to vote is one of the hallmarks of our democracy. Equal access to the ballot box is essential for all Americans!”
Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (FL-07):
“Our right to vote is sacred, and we must do everything we can to protect Americans’ access to the ballot box. I stand with my CAPAC colleagues in empowering all voters – especially voters that have historically faced discrimination.”
Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03):
“Four years ago, the Supreme Court in Shelby County v. Holder struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, dismantling fundamental voter protections that had been in place for nearly 50 years. This striking blow crippled the critical coverage established to require states with a long history of discrimination and voter intimidation to pre-clear any changes to their voting and election laws with the federal government. In the wake of this decision, many states, including my state of Virginia, passed more restrictive voting laws, creating barriers that disproportionality affect lower-income and minority Americans. As we mark this anniversary, I look forward to working with my colleagues in congress to restore the core provisions of the Voting Rights Act that were impacted by this decision.”
Congresswoman Roybal-Allard (CA-40):
“Sunday marks the four-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder decision, which struck down the heart of the Voting Rights Act. As a result of the Court’s decision, many Americans are without crucial voting rights protections in states and counties with severe records of voter discrimination. That is utterly wrong. In America, the right to vote is fundamental, and must be protected from any and all attempts to weaken it. It defines our nation’s values and allows for the proper representation of all communities. We must act now to pass the Voting Rights Advancement Act, so that we can strengthen protections for Americans at the ballot box and restore the right of eligible voters to participate in our democracy.”
Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09):
“The Voting Rights Act (VRA) was signed into law during our country’s Civil Rights Movement to prohibit racial discrimination in our electoral process. In the 2013 Shelby v. Holder case, the U.S. Supreme Court gutted key provisions of the VRA, setting our country back decades in the fight to guarantee open and fair elections. In recent years, we have seen a rise in deeply disturbing instances of voter suppression across our country. We must restore the full protections of the VRA to ensure that all citizens have access to the ballot, and no voter experiences discrimination.”
