DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and DNC Black Caucus Chair Virgie Rollins released the following statement to recognize the 59th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act:

“59 years ago, America took a monumental step towards fulfilling the promise of democracy when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law. After years of relentless activism in the face of violent oppression, the VRA protected and extended access to the ballot to all Americans by removing long-standing barriers used to silence Black voters. Today, as we honor the sacrifices of those who helped bring about this historic change, we also recommit ourselves to safeguarding the foundational right to vote and to continue fighting until all Americans have equal access to the ballot box. 

“In recent years, Republicans have systematically rolled back voting rights. Under Donald Trump’s watch, his extreme Supreme Court led the charge to gut the Voting Rights Act, empowering Republican elected officials to purge voter rolls and pass laws that make voting far more difficult — particularly for Black voters. We witnessed MAGA Republican attacks on election officials and infrastructure, their spread of disinformation, and the endless pursuit of countless failed lawsuits to overturn secure elections. Republicans cemented their commitment to disenfranchising voters by nominating Donald Trump — who refuses to accept the 2020 election results, incited the January 6th insurrection, and has repeatedly claimed that after November, we will ‘not have to vote again.’ This follows years of Republican efforts to create unnecessarily harsher voting restrictions, attack and restrict mail-in-voting, and drive multiple lawsuits to dramatically weaken voting protections for Americans of color. 

“Democrats will not stand idly by as Republicans restrict our most fundamental right. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have worked tirelessly to advance voting rights, signing a historic executive order to promote and expand access to the ballot box and continuing their fight for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. Vice President Harris has also worked directly with voting rights leaders nationwide to raise voter engagement and combat disinformation. This election, voters have a choice between protecting their right to vote or gambling it away. A choice between an administration that will ensure all Americans’ voices are heard or an administration that will silence them. A choice between a candidate that has consistently fought to protect freedom or a disastrous former president whose only goal is to undermine democracy. This November, only one candidate will ensure there can be future candidates: Vice President Kamala Harris.”