Posts Tagged voting rights act

By Syreeta McFadden • 11 years ago

“A respect for humanity says that you respect women”

On Sunday’s show, Melissa Harris-Perry perfectly contextualizes the climate where we are witnessing state by state assaults on women bodies, privacy, and reproductive freedom protected under the 14th Amendment in the year where Roe v Wade turns 40, the landmark decision that affirmed a woman’s right to privacy. Stay for the interview with Ohio State Senator Nina Turner. Again, the voting rights act is a feminist issue. To quote State Senator Turner, “Elections have consequences.”

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On Sunday’s show, Melissa Harris-Perry perfectly contextualizes the climate where we are witnessing state by state assaults on women bodies, privacy, and reproductive freedom protected under the 14th Amendment in the year where Roe v ...
By Katie Halper • 11 years ago

Daily Feminist Cheat Sheet

An infographic shows just how under appreciated teachers are

“I chose to be fat”

Paula Deen wanted black staffers to dress in Aunt Jemima outfits. Why am I not surprised?

Jailed Pussy Riot punk singer denied parole

What’s the deal with sex addiction?

Colombia legalizes its first same-sex union

*Trigger Warning* Rape Joke: A Poem By Patricia Lockwood.

AG Eric Holder announced plans to mandate voting pre-clearance for Texas through the federal court. Last week, Syreeta wrote about why the VRA is a feminist issue.

Rand Paul doesn’t “think there’s anyone in Congress who has a stronger belief in minority rights than I do.” Who knew Rand had such a great sense ...

An infographic shows just how under appreciated teachers are

“I chose to be fat”

Paula Deen wanted black staffers to dress in Aunt Jemima outfits. Why am I not surprised?

Jailed Pussy ...
By Syreeta McFadden • 11 years ago

Why the VRA matters

Today Texas Governor Rick Perry signed into law one of the most draconian pieces of legislation destroying reproductive health to Texas women as Congress continues its hearings on the reinstatement of the Voting Rights Act.

Last month, the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in an extreme act of hubris by a 5-4 vote. Roberts, in writing the majority ruling remains unclear as to which parts of the constitution were in violation of  the 40 year law that protected voting rights for African Americans, requiring several southern states (and some Northern districts) to be pre-cleared before implementing new voting rules. There’s no mention of the 15th Amendment in the majority decision for Shelby County v. Holder. The Court ...

Today Texas Governor Rick Perry signed into law one of the most draconian pieces of legislation destroying reproductive health to Texas women as Congress continues its hearings on the reinstatement of the Voting Rights Act.

Last month, ...
By Jos Truitt • 11 years ago

Supreme Court strikes down key section of the Voting Rights Act

The Supreme Court today struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, which determines which states must have their approach to voting cleared by the federal government. These states have a bad track record with with people of color and non-English speakers’ rights to vote. From Colorlines:

The currently covered areas are places that historically have disenfranchised people of color, or those for whom English is their second language. But Chief Justice John Roberts has ruled that the formula, which was last updated in the late 1960s-early 1970s, must be updated by Congress so that it covers areas that violate voting rights today. Chief Roberts, who’s had a beef with the Voting Rights Act since the early 1980s, wrote in ...

The Supreme Court today struck down Section 4 of the Voting Rights Act, which determines which states must have their approach to voting cleared by the federal government. These states have a bad track record with with ...
By zerlina • 11 years ago

Justice Scalia slams people of color for insisting upon equal access to voting booth

How dare people of color demand free and fair access to voting! Who are they want to exercise their fundamental right to vote without threat of disenfranchisement by partisans looking to suppress Democratic votes!?

That’s basically what Justice Scalia meant when he railed against Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act yesterday during oral arguments deciding the fate of one of the most important civil rights laws in American history.

Via ThinkProgress:

Well, maybe it was making that judgment, Mr. Verrilli. But that’s — that’s a problem that I have. This Court doesn’t like to get involved in — in racial questions such as this one. It’s something that can be left — left to Congress. 

How dare people of color demand free and fair access to voting! Who are they want to exercise their fundamental right to vote without threat of disenfranchisement by partisans looking to suppress Democratic votes!?

That’s basically what Justice ...