Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums102-Year-Old's Voter's Letter to Scalia on 'Racial Entitlement'
http://www.theroot.com/buzz/102-year-olds-voters-letter-scalia-racial-entitlement102-Year-Old's Voter's Letter to Scalia on 'Racial Entitlement'
By: Jenée Desmond-Harris | Posted: March 18, 2013 at 5:32 PM
Desiline Victor (MSNBCTV)
Desiline Victor -- the 102-year-old whose determination to vote in the most recent presidential election despite hourslong lines at her Miami polling place earned her an invitation to the State of the Union address -- hasn't retired from the national stage just yet.
This week, the Huffington Post reports, she penned a letter to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, letting him know that she was "shocked" about his labeling the Voting Rights Act a "racial entitlement" during the Supreme Court's oral arguments on a key provision of the law last month.
"I would like to tell you about the struggles I faced in the last election," Victor writes. And she's quick to point out that the delays she faced had everything to do with the very types of cuts to early voting that Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act is designed to block when they disadvantage minority voters. Here's an excerpt:
When I heard what you said about the Voting Rights Act being a racial entitlement, I was shocked. I thought you must not know whats happening in this country. After learning more this year from the civil rights group, Advancement Project, I know that just as there were for me, there are barriers to voting for many people especially people who are black or brown. I also know that the Voting Rights Act is a way to protect the votes of communities that still face these problems. I would like to tell you about the struggles I faced in the last election.
During the early voting period in Florida last October, I went to my polling place early in the morning. The line was already very long, and wait times were as high as six hours. I stood for three hours before I started to get shaky on my feet, but no one could assist me unless I made it to the front of the line. In addition, there were no poll workers available who could help me in my native Kreyòl language, despite North Miamis large Haitian community. I was told to come back later. I left. But I was determined to vote, so I tried again. On my second visit that night, I was happy when I finally cast my ballot. But I was also upset. In this great nation why should anybody have to stand in line for hours, and make two trips, to vote?
Not everybody persevered as I did. I learned later that hundreds of thousands of voters in Florida gave up and went home without voting, and that Black and Latino voters were more likely to face those shamefully long lines and wait times. One reason was a new law that cut the early voting period. Around the country, other new laws were passed that made voting harder in 2012 -- but Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act blocked many of them before the election. Section 5 also helps voters in other ways. In the five counties in Florida that are covered, voting help in Spanish and Kreyòl is required because of their large Latino and Haitian populations.
During the early voting period in Florida last October, I went to my polling place early in the morning. The line was already very long, and wait times were as high as six hours. I stood for three hours before I started to get shaky on my feet, but no one could assist me unless I made it to the front of the line. In addition, there were no poll workers available who could help me in my native Kreyòl language, despite North Miamis large Haitian community. I was told to come back later. I left. But I was determined to vote, so I tried again. On my second visit that night, I was happy when I finally cast my ballot. But I was also upset. In this great nation why should anybody have to stand in line for hours, and make two trips, to vote?
Not everybody persevered as I did. I learned later that hundreds of thousands of voters in Florida gave up and went home without voting, and that Black and Latino voters were more likely to face those shamefully long lines and wait times. One reason was a new law that cut the early voting period. Around the country, other new laws were passed that made voting harder in 2012 -- but Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act blocked many of them before the election. Section 5 also helps voters in other ways. In the five counties in Florida that are covered, voting help in Spanish and Kreyòl is required because of their large Latino and Haitian populations.
more here...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/18/desiline-victor-obamas-10_n_2901246.html?ir=Black%20Voices&utm_hp_ref=black-voices
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
5 replies, 892 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (8)
ReplyReply to this post
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
102-Year-Old's Voter's Letter to Scalia on 'Racial Entitlement' (Original Post)
babylonsister
Mar 2013
OP
elleng
(130,895 posts)1. A fine letter, and a fine person.
Unfortunately scalia won't be able to read it while the matter is pending.
LeftInTX
(25,304 posts)2. darn.......
I was wondering about that.......
elleng
(130,895 posts)3. The record in the case closed months ago,
with last filings from the parties. Oral Argument 'ices the cake,' but she's not a formal party (probably,) and all sides have right to respond to eachother's submissions before record closes.
David Zephyr
(22,785 posts)4. K&R!
Wish I could hug Desiline Victor! Wow! K&R.
freshwest
(53,661 posts)5. At least the public will know the truth. I hope something makes the characters on the USSC do right.