#TalkRadio – January 16: The 2024 March to the Ballot Box: Overcoming Voting Obstacles!

SPEAKERS:

Cynthia Robbins, Esq.: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Culture of Health Leadership Institute for Racial Healing and Racial Justice Fellow; Consultant GR; Head of Protect Our Vote Communications Committee

Denise Leiberman, Esq.: 12:00 PM – 12:13 PM ET
Director & General Counsel at Missouri Voter Protection Coalition; Civil rights attorney and nationally recognized voting rights expert and movement lawyer who has worked closely with non-profit and grass roots advocacy organizations in Missouri and around the country for the last 25 years

Ashley Shannon, Esq.: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Honors Attorney; Transformative Justice Coalition Fellow, Class of September 2022, after establishing a track record for political activism in the Chicagoland area, being recognized for her election protection work in Cook County Jail and leading a nationally recognized student protest at her law school; 2018 graduate of Illinois State University, and she earned her Master of Studies in Law from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Law in 2019; 2023 graduate of University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, where she graduated with honors and earned her J.D. with a focus in criminal law, civil rights and government; Passed the IL Bar Exam; Honors Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice in the Federal Bureau of Prisons; Published author in the Midwest BLSA Law & Policy Journal; former Law Clerk for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and the Center for Law and Social Justice

Dominique Calhoun, Esq.: 12:45 PM – 12:57 PM ET (Possible Guest)
President, National Bar Association

INTRODUCTION:

The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, January 16th, 2024, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled,”The 2024 March to the Ballot Box: Overcoming Voting Obstacles!”, will be live with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. and guests Cynthia Robbins, Esq., Ashley Shannon, Esq., and Denise Leiberman, Esq.. During the final segment, Igniting Change may be joined by special guest Dominique Calhoun, Esq. as well. Today’s show will reprise last night’s National Martin Luther King, Jr. MLK Day Facebook Live TeleTown Hall entitled “The 2024 March to the Ballot Box: Overcoming Voting Obstacles!” All of Igniting Change’s esteemed guests were on the panel.

Today’s show will focus on the Transformative Justice Coalition’s Day of Action yesterday, January 15th. The Day of Action was consistent with the theme of the 95th Anniversary of the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The King Center’s theme for 2024 is  “Shifting the Cultural Climate through the Study and Practice of Kingian Nonviolence”. Since November 20th, 2023, TJC has been covering the disastrous ruling of the 8th Circuit in Arkansas NAACP vs. Arkansas Board of Apportionment, which bars private citizens and organizations the ability to file racial discrimination cases in voting under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Prior to the Holiday Break, TJC and its partners formed an organizing convening group to help create national awareness about this threat to our voting rights and to pursue a strategy to win this battle. Based on this work, TJC and its Partners issued a Call To Action for 2024’s MLK Day. 

Yesterday, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2024, TJC’s Day of Action included a fast from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET and a National Martin Luther King, Jr. MLK Day Facebook Live TeleTown Hall at 7:00 PM ET. The fast called on participants to choose something to fast from from 5:00 AM to 5:00 PM ET and to use that fasting time to focus on the voting rights work that lies ahead. Barbara Arnwine fasted from food and spent that time immersing herself in all things Dr. King, including reading from his books and quotes; looking at social media reflections by various persons; and, watching videos such as the over 2 hour special service led by the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II from the Pulpit of the Historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. 

The National Martin Luther King, Jr. MLK Day Facebook Live TeleTown Hall, entitled “The 2024 March to the Ballot Box: Overcoming Voting Obstacles!”, was held on January 15, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET and moderated by Barbra Arnwine, Esq. President & Founder, Transformative Justice Coalition, and Daryl D. Jones, Esq. Board Chair, Transformative Justice Coalition. Panelists included Denise Leiberman, Esq., Missouri Voter Protection Coalition; Dominique Calhoun, Esq., President, National Bar Association; Keith Ellison, Esq., Attorney General, Eighth Circuit; Cynthia Robbins, Esq., Head, Protect Our Vote Communications Committee; Christian Nunes, President, National Organization for Women; Ashley Shannon, Esq., TJC Fellow Class of 2022 Honors Attorney; Andres Cubillos, TJC Fellow Class of 2023 and Campus Organizer; Virginia Case Solomon, CEOm League of Women Voters; and, Cliff Albrightm Co-Founder, Black Voters Matte. The Closing Prayer was done by Lynn Whitfield, Esq., Senior Attorney & Dir. of Election Protection, TJC. The program had among its sponsors the Black Voters Matter, Lift Our Vote, National Organization for Women; EXPO; Missouri Voter Protection Coalition; African-American Christian Clergy Coalition; and, the National Bar Association. You can watch the Facebook Livestream here at the following link https://www.facebook.com/TJC.DC/videos/925107011955633 or you can watch it on YouTube at the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MJpBinAiQc.

Discussions during the panel were focused on how Today’s March to the Ballot Box is no longer about simply registering and voting. Today’s March to vote is about voter trickery, removing people from the voting polls, demanding proof of identity, exact name match, and other efforts to frustrate, confuse, and discourage young voters and voters of color from voting. Arkansas is front and center in the most recent evil efforts by courts to suppress Black and Brown voters from voting. Gen Z voters are specifically targeted by conservative legislators to dissuade, complicate, and discourage their participation. Specifically, movements have been initiated to remove polling places from college campuses, complicate absentee ballot access, restrict dropbox access, and there has been talk of raising the voting age or imposing tests in order to permit young voters to vote. There is much conversation regarding Gen Z, specifically Gen Z of Color voters, not being engaged or being uninterested/discouraged in the 2024 General Election. The Gen Z and Millennial voting bloc is the largest potential voting bloc in America. Young voters have been targeted by anti-voter forces with a “no vote/don’t vote” campaign to dissuade them from voting in the 2024 election cycle. It is anticipated that this “no vote/don’t vote” campaign will continue to be hyped up through social media leading up to the 2024 election. Data indicates that young voters have a strong pro-democracy motivation for voting. Florida is the hotbed of unconstitutional government attacks on American freedoms. In Florida, Texas, and Tennessee, voter registration groups criminalized, or attempted to criminalize, voting rights groups like the League of Women’s Voters from registering people to vote. 2023 has shown the impact of reproductive rights voters throughout America. There has been a concerted effort to confuse voters that have been disenfranchised from criminal courts from voting. Florida has confused, criminalized, and intimidated returning citizens who are confused about whether they can register and vote. Recently, Vice President Harris has been speaking and encouraging the passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. Black attorneys have historically led the fight to gain access to the ballot box for Black voters. The media coverage of the community of color, or lack of coverage, has led to incorrect polling or no polling of POC’s positions on various issues. 2024 is going to be a contentious election. We have seen guns at polling places, police intimidation of voters at polling places, and threats of challengers placed at polls to target Black and Brown voters. These issues and solutions to these issues were discussed during the panel, as well as questions from the audience. 

Thank you to all who fasted and watched the TeleTown Hall live and those who will watch! Don’t forget to like and share the video and Sign the MLK Day of Service Pledge for Voting Rights and view the shareable image at VotingRightsAlliance.org, You can also apply for the next Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Training on this website as well- the deadline is January 26th! Lastly, be sure to stay up-to-date on the latest by listening to Igniting Change every week, signing up for our newsletter, or following the Transformative Justice Coalition on social media.

As Dr. King so eloquently stated, “So long as I do not firmly and irrevocably possess the right to vote, I do not possess myself.” 

QUESTIONS:

• [Barbara and Daryl will remind the audience of the upcoming JANUARY 26TH DEADLINE to apply for the next Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training, April 3 – April 8, 2024. People may can find the application link to apply at tjcoalition.org]
• What, for you, were the highlights of last night’s National Martin Luther King, Jr. MLK Day Facebook Live TeleTown Hall?
•  For you, what do you think was the most surprising item you learned from your fellow panelists that you learned during the TeleTown Hall?
• The theme of the TeleTown Hall was “Today’s March to the Ballot Box”. As was observed, Today’s March to the Ballot Box is no longer about simply registering and voting.  Today’s March to vote is about voter trickery, removing people from the voting polls, demanding proof of identity, exact name match and other efforts to frustrate, confuse and discourage young voters and voters of color from voting.  What can be done to counter the voter suppression tactics being employed against these voters?
• Denise, Arkansas is front and center in the most recent evil efforts by courts to suppress Black and Brown voters from voting.  Please explain why, if Black and Brown voters experience hanging  noose with a black effigy along with a note saying “don’t vote” that they are powerless to file an action with courts in Arkansas, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Oklahoma?
• How do people get involved in the effort to stop the evisceration of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act?
• Ashley, as of this year, the GenZ/YM voting bloc is the largest potential voting bloc in America. Young voters have been targeted by anti-voter forces with a “no vote/don’t vote” campaign to dissuade them from voting in the 2024 election cycle.  It is anticipated that this  “no vote/don’t vote” campaign will be hyped up through social media leading up to the 2024 election,  what can be done to counter this anti-voter campaign?
• There has been a concerted effort to confuse voters that have been disenfranchised from criminal courts from voting.  Florida has confused, criminalized and intimidated returning citizens who are confused about whether they can register and vote. What special efforts should be made to reach voters that were previously disenfranchised to learn of their voting rights?
• Cynthia, You are working on national hearings regarding voter suppression issues that have occurred in various states.  What have you learned and what impact do you believe the national field hearings will have on voter suppression efforts?
• What are some of the important steps to be certain that the media covers the occurrence and impact of decisions such as the Arkansas limitation on bringing violations of the 1965 Voting Rights Act?
• Recently Vice President Harris has been speaking and encouraging the passage of John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act (FTVA). Please tell our audience about the FTVA and John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.  What is the difference?  Why are both needed?  Is there Congressional support for both acts?  Why or why not?
• Dominique, Black attorneys have historically lead the fight to gain access to the ballot box for Black voters.  What role should the National Bar Association play in protecting voting rights?
• Cynthia, what is the MLK Day of Service Pledge for Voting Rights and how do people sign it? (VotingRightsAlliance.org)
• How can people rewatch the TeleTown Hall? (Facebook.com/TJC.DC, on the Transformative Justice Coalition’s YouTube page, or on VotingRightsAlliance.org)
• As Dr. King so eloquently stated, “So long as I do not firmly and irrevocably possess the right to vote, I do not possess myself.” 
• What is the major work that you’re pursuing right now?
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2024?
• What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?