State senator recalls the words of John Lewis on vitality of the vote

This country has a storied history that harkens back to a dark period of racial discrimination, where members of the African American community were excluded from participating in our democratic process, and their right to vote was impinged upon in direct violation of the United States Constitution.

Today, we see that once again voting rights is under siege. The 2013 decision by the Supreme Court to roll back certain protections afforded by the 1965 Voting Rights Act is a direct threat to our democracy, and erodes the public trust in our promise to provide and deliver a free and fair election, free from voter disenfranchisement and intimidation.

My colleagues and I dedicated ourselves to protecting voters rights in Connecticut. We passed a bill designed to protect democracy in this state and voting rights for all Connecticut citizens.

Senate Bill 1226, “An Act Concerning State Voting Rights In Recognition of John R. Lewis,” a bill named in honor of the late Georgia Congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis who died in 2020 at age 80, codifies into Connecticut state law several aspects of the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, which bans discrimination in voting and prohibits any city or town from engaging in intimidating, deceptive or obstructive acts that affect a person’s right to vote.

I was fortunate enough to know Congressman Lewis. I had the opportunity to intern for him. He often talked to me about when he walked across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, he was met with evil forces from police officers, resulting in a cracked skull after being brutally beaten with a billy club. He talked about how he was determined to fight for people who looked like him. He wanted people to have an opportunity to engage and to vote and to make a difference in our society and world. It would be lost on me if I did not continue his legacy in fighting to secure voter rights.

Today we recognize and are making sure history does not repeat the act of discrimination and voter suppression. The John Lewis Voting Rights Act passed in the state Senate ensures everyone has a right to vote, and to be extended safeguards and protections that will make voting easier for historically disenfranchised groups. This legislation specifically makes resolving Voting Rights Act complaints easier and faster by fast-tracking the complaint process at the local level. It leads to more collaborative resolutions and less lengthy federal litigation. It empowers voters to fight against intimidation, deception and obstruction. And it enables Connecticut judges to order appropriate, tailored remedies to address harm. 

One of the last things Congressman Lewis said to me: “Herron, every community needs an angelic troublemaker.” I intend to be just that. I am invested in the fight to make good trouble continuing to advocate for justice in his legacy. When you see something wrong, we have a moral obligation speak up. Every day we are learning. Every day we are evolving. I will not stop. Nor should you. A basic human right should be protected.