For Immediate Release

Press Contact

June 22, 2021

Senate Republicans Use Jim Crow Filibuster to Kill Voting Rights Protections for Black and Brown Americans—And a Handful of Democrats Let Them

WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Senate Republicans used the Jim Crow filibuster to kill debate over the For The People Act (S.1), legislation that would have made major advancements toward equal voting rights for Black and Brown Americans. Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and his fellow Senate Republicans made clear today: They will do anything to stop equal voting rights legislation from even being debated on the Senate floor. 

Yesterday, twenty Arizona groups and Just Democracy announced a $1.5 million ad campaign targeting Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), one of the Senate Democrats who refused to support eliminating the filibuster to pass the For the People Act, for siding with anti-democratic actors and standing in the way of voting rights for Black and Brown Americans.

Rev. Dr. Stephany Spaulding, Just Democracy Spokesperson and Founder of Truth & Conciliation issued the following statement:

“Senate Republicans’ filibuster circus today was shameful, and a direct attack on the millions of Black and Brown Americans who this broken body denied equal voting rights. It is equally shameful that a handful of Senate Democrats turned their backs on the very people who elected them, and permitted Republicans to use the Jim Crow filibuster to inhibit progress on equal voting rights, instead of eliminating this procedure. 

When Senate Democrats chose perceived 'order' over justice today, as Dr. King warned white moderates will do, they chose to side with the Jim Crow filibuster and against Black and Brown Americans. Our voting rights and democracy remain under attack because of the Republicans who filibustered against them, and the handful of Democrats who allowed it.” 

About Just Democracy

Just Democracy is an intersectional coalition with racial justice at its core — uplifting voices from all walks of American life that are too often left out of the conversation. The coalition is made up of over 40 Black and Brown-led organizations working across issue areas. It mobilizes thousands who know that advancing social and racial justice issues first requires bold structural democracy reform.

To speak with a Just Democracy spokesperson, please email press@justdemocracy.us.

# # #

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *