The rally at Morehouse College in Atlanta protested Georgia’s controversial 2021 voting law, SB 202, which includes measures that activists say suppress Black and brown voters. One of the provisions of the law makes it illegal to give water to people waiting in line to vote, which protestors see as dehumanizing. The law also limits the use of drop boxes, purges voter rolls, and restricts giving out food or water near polling places. Republicans argue that the law protects the integrity of elections and prevents attempts to influence voters near polling places. The rally highlighted the impact of the law on long lines, particularly in Democratic precincts, and on disabled voters.
Organized by groups including Get Free, the Atlanta NAACP, and Faith in Public Life Action, the rally aimed to draw attention to the discriminatory nature of the law and the need for federal action to repeal similar laws nationwide. While changes for the upcoming election may be too late, activists are organizing to fight against what they see as modern-day voter suppression. Speakers at the rally emphasized the importance of voting rights and the need to prevent the erosion of these hard-won rights. The event highlighted the intersection of racial and disability rights in the fight against voter suppression, with an emphasis on the need for accessible polling places for all voters. By coming together and raising awareness, the activists hope to build a movement that will protect voting rights for all Americans.
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