Black Voters Matter fighting back

Tallahassee residents peacefully protesting against proposed voting laws. Photo courtesy: tallahassee.com

The Black vote continues to gain value as several suppressive voting bills are being introduced to state legislatures. Young Black voters are being targeted through initiatives striving to educate and enforce the importance of voting. As lawmakers continue to add new legislation that affects Black rights and creates obstacles for potential voters, Black Voters Matter is fighting back against this attack on democracy.

Black Voters Matter is a 501(c)(4) voting rights and community empowerment organization. It believes that effective voting allows a community to determine its own destiny and the organization works to increase power in marginalized, predominantly Black communities by promoting Black voters’ rights.

Co-founder and executive director of Black Voters Matter, Cliff Albright, expounds upon BVM’s commitment to increasing student voter engagement.

“As our attention this year turns from national politics back to state and local politics, BVM is closely monitoring the censorship that we see happening in our public schools and the voter suppression tactics that continue to impact states around the country. We are committed to protecting the voting rights of Black and Brown communities, and seek to mobilize students across the country to engage on these issues in meaningful and impactful ways,” Albright said in a news release.

Several proposals under review in local legislatures in states such as Texas, Missouri, Ohio, and Arkansas, follow the lead of the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis. Through his administration, bills have been passed that criminalize election laws by increasing the list of election-related crimes and issuing punishments for technical violations.

BVM is combatting laws such as those and advocates for legislation that expands voting rights and works to build infrastructure where it is lacking to support a movement that will keep Black voters and their concerns at the forefront of the electoral process.

Lawrencia Palmer, a Florida A&M student and intern for State Representative Dianna Hart, emphasizes the importance of the Black vote.

“It’s important to me for Black students to see the value in voting. We have to understand that the power lies in us. Each day I’m educated on new bills being introduced that take away many rights for people of color and reverse many of the progressive changes that have been made within legislation right here in Florida,” Palmer said.

President of the FAMU chapter of NAACP, Sydney Aitcheson, believes that electing individuals who advocate for Black rights is the key to helping this issue.

“Right now, Black votes are more important than ever since the politicians in charge are attempting to strip us of our rights as well as our intellectual liberty. Voting is how we elect people to serve as our representatives and to get the things we need done,” Aitcheson said.

For more information, visit https://www.blackvotersmatterfund.org/