http://www.suntimes.com/output/jesse/cst-edt-jesse04.htmlTo defend our freedom, we must defend voting rights
July 4, 2006
BY JESSE JACKSON
"'Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." As we celebrate the 230th anniversary of America's independence, we must heed the warning of abolitionist and patriot Wendell Phillips. The liberties we celebrate are not written in stone. They must be renewed and defended by every generation. And they must be guarded vigilantly against those who would undermine them."
He goes on to describe what the DOJ did in Georgia and in Texas and what the Republicans are now attempting to do to the Voting Rights Act.
"After the horrors of the presidential elections in 2000 and 2004, one might think that George Bush would champion clean elections, modernizing our electoral system, and renewing the act. Instead, we witness the systemic effort to undermine voting rights: Partisan, off-year gerrymandering. Partisan voter suppression schemes. Partisan overruling of Justice Department career professionals. Partisan efforts to block renewal of the act itself.
"Over the nation's 230 years, citizens have mobilized to extend basic rights and liberties to working people, women, the young, African Americans and other minorities. Our liberties have been secured through struggle. Now, in the face of what appears to be a systematic effort to trample voting rights, citizens of conscience must rouse themselves once more. We cannot let the rights won at such a high price be stolen by powerful partisans. We must let those in power -- the politicians, the political appointees, the partisan justices -- know that there will be a terrible price to pay if the Voting Rights Act is not renewed and its provisions are not respected."