TJC Updates

Justice for Ahmaud Arbery
Make Good Trouble Rally - Aug 27-29, 2021
Make Good Trouble Rally - Aug 27-29, 2021
Make Good Trouble Rally - Aug 27-29, 2021

On September 12th, 2018, Congressman Veasey and Senator Wyden are introducing a bicameral resolution to designate September as “National Voting Rights Month”

The purpose of this resolution is to end voter suppression by bringing awareness to the present voter suppression laws, educate Americans on their rights as voters, and encourage all Americans to get out and vote! Currently, there are over 110 Members of Congress and over 20 voting rights and civil rights organizations supporting this resolution.
More specifically, the resolution would:

  • Make September “National Voting Rights Month.”
  • Encourage public schools and universities to develop academic curriculums that educate the student on the importance of voting, registration, voting history, and voting suppression laws.
  • Push Congress to pass legislation that allows all citizens, upon reaching the age of 18, to be automatically enrolled to vote in Federal elections.
  • Recommend that Congress allocate funds for public service announcements on various media channels to encourage Americans to vote.
  • Request that the Department of the Treasury issue a special Fannie Lou Hamer stamp during the month of September to recognize Americans who fought for voting rights.

On September 12 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Eastern Time, Congressman Marc Veasey will have a #VOTE twitter storm to amplify the resolution.

Click on the link below for social posts and graphics for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. The #VOTE signs are attached. Also, if you have expressed interest in releasing a statement of support for the resolution, please feel free to tag us on our social media handles:
  • Rep. Veasey’s office: Twitter: @RepVeasey; Facebook: Rep. Veasey
  • Transformative Justice Coalition: Twitter: @TJC_DC; Facebook: @TJC.DC
  • Voting Rights Alliance: Twitter: @VRAmatters; Facebook: @VRAmatters
  • National Commission for Voter Justice: Twitter: @NationalCVJ; Facebook: @NationalCVJ

JOIN our Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Caucus Events

On September 12th, from 2:30-4:30 PM, at the Washington Convention Center, Room 147A, Honorary Host, Congressman Bobby Rush will present a special program on “Advancing Voter Justice and #VoterVigilance: A Special Presentation on the fight for the Vote and Speak Out”, co-sponsored by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and the National Commission for Justice Justice.

Also, on September 12th, Honorary Host, Congressman Bobby Scott, will present “National Black Law Students Association Voter Protection Forum,” 5:00-6:30 PM, at the Washington Convention Center, Room 144A.

Take action for those who can’t vote on primary day:

The unfinished work of the Civil Rights Moment: Second Chances Florida

The very powerful Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Second Chances Convening was just held. Nearly 500 people —including many returning citizens with past felony convictions and many student leaders — participated in this powerful 3 day event as they prepare to make history in less than 90 days by restoring the eligibility to vote to 1.4 million people. This week, Florida voters head to the polls, but 1.4 million Floridians with past convictions won’t be able to vote because they are permanently barred from voting, even after serving their time and paying their debts. But you can help us change this broken system.
Here’s what you can do:

1. Adopt A Day. Help boost Second Chances’ phone banking program by adopting a day once a month (or more often) to be your organization’s day for remote phone banking to Florida voters to let them know why it’s so important to vote YES on Amendment 4 this November. You’ll be responsible for filling up the phones one day M-Th, 5:30-8:30pm ET – with the goal of recruiting at least 20 callers for your shift (which means getting 40 to sign-up, so 20 show-up). You can do this virtually with your membership or host a call party with your staff. If each partner takes one day we can keep the calls rolling out. Fill out this form to adopt days in the coming months.

2. Make the August 25 call parties big! Saturday, August 25, from 1pm-4pm Eastern Time will be the next day of national call parties to talk to Florida voters. We need your help recruiting hosts and attendees (in person and virtual participants) – again, you can send this to your membership or encourage staff and supporters to host. These call parties come at a perfect moment: just days before August 28, which is both primary day in Florida – where more than 1.4 million people cannot vote – and the 55th anniversary of the March on Washington. Here’s a sample recruitment email.

  • For this month’s Day of Action, we ask all of you with a voice to use it by joining our call parties across the state and country this Saturday, August 25th, 1-4pm ET, as we make phone calls to thousands of Florida voters to vote YES on Amendment 4. Find a Call Party near you – check out our map and RSVP today!
  • Over 1.4 million Floridians are permanently barred from voting, even after completing their full sentence. Florida is 1 of only 4 states in the country with this broken system, and now is the time to fix it, bypassing Amendment 4 to restore the eligibility to vote to people who have served their time and paid their debts. There are only 75 days left to Election Day – Don’t be late to the party, RSVP today!
  • Over 1.4 million Floridians are permanently barred from voting, even after completing their full sentence. Florida is 1 of only 4 states in the country with this broken system, and now is the time to fix it, bypassing Amendment 4 to restore the eligibility to vote to people who have served their time and paid their debts. When a debt is paid, it’s paid. Most Floridians believe this to be true. Together, we can make it a reality by making sure Amendment 4 passes in November. Take action today — RSVP to a Call Party near you!

There are only 75 days left to Election Day – Don’t be late to the party, RSVP today!

P.S. No Call Party near you on our Day of Action, but still want to help? Make calls from the comfort of your own home – sign up for the August 25 remote phone banking shift today!

Event Reviews:

National Commission for Voter Justice July Hearings

NCVJSoCal #NCVJhearings #NCVJSouthernCalifornia

The National Commission for Voter Justice (NCVJ) conducted its Southern California Regional Hearing, online and in-person, on Saturday, July 14th from 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM PDT. This event was held in Los Angeles, California at the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College’s Aspen Hall (TE-101) located at 2215 S. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90007. There was no charge to attend the event! The event was livestreamed online via the National Commission for Voter Justice’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/NationalCVJ, where you can also view more pictures from the event.

This historic event consisted of panels covering issues such as: returning citizen population voting barriers; disability access; state and county elections administration; environmental justice; homeless peoples’ barriers to voting; language access; voting barriers for the LGBTQIA community; special voting barriers faced by women, Asian-American people, and African immigrants; youth/pre-registration; Automated Voter Registration (AVR); and, more! The hearing will focus on the entire region of Southern California, and Southern Californians’ specific issues concerning voting. The hearing included amazing witnesses from Southern California and an equally eye-opening open testimony for all in attendance. Anyone who wanted to testify could testify.

Share about the Southern California Regional Hearing on Social Media with our sample post:

Watch the livestream of @NationalCVJ’s Southern California Regional Hearing, which was held on July 14th, 2018 from 1:00-4:30 PM PDT. WATCH NOW:
https://www.facebook.com/NationalCVJ/videos/1048673525284673/ #NCVJSoCal #NCVJSouthernCalifornia #NCVJhearings

#NCVJwisconsin #NCVJhearings

The National Commission for Voter Justice (NCVJ) held its Wisconsin State Hearing, online and in-person, on Saturday, July 21st from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM CDT. This event was be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Milwaukee Bar Association located at 424 E Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53202, and was also livestreamed online via the National Commission for Voter Justice’s Facebook Page.