1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: Native Lampard is a production of iHeartRadio in partnership with 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Reason Choice Media. 3 00:00:05,880 --> 00:00:08,280 Speaker 2: Nobody knows the troubles I've seen up. 4 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 3: Our second panel of the day is Democracy on the Line, 5 00:00:20,440 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 3: voting rights, redistricting, and the fight for fair representation. This 6 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 3: panel will be moderated by Bacari Sellers, host of the 7 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 3: Native Land Podcast. The panelists are Virginia Speaker of the 8 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 3: House Mister Don Lennon Scott Junior, and General Council of 9 00:00:39,440 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 3: the NAACP Mss Kristen Clark. 10 00:00:47,400 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, he's fitting on that asshole just right up here. 11 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:55,840 Speaker 4: How y'all doing, I guess, I said, on another side, how. 12 00:00:55,640 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: Are you all doing? Good morning, afternoon. So my name 13 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:04,320 Speaker 1: is Bacari Sellers. I am from the big city of Denmark, 14 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 1: South Carolina, where we got three. 15 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:08,680 Speaker 2: Hole stop lights and a blinking light. 16 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: And my mom and dad always say the two most 17 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 1: important words in the English language are the words thank you, 18 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 1: and they are not nearly said enough. And so what 19 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: I wanted to do is start by simply saying thank 20 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:24,560 Speaker 1: you to this young lady to my left, who was 21 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: most recently over the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. 22 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 2: And I think we. 23 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: Owe her a round of applause under President Joe Biden. 24 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: And then to my right is one of the most 25 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:42,319 Speaker 1: powerful men in the entire Union, in the state of Virginia. 26 00:01:42,360 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 2: Commonwealth. 27 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,640 Speaker 4: Y'all a state of common common you know, I don't. 28 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,559 Speaker 1: Know, Commonwealth of Virginia. Give it up a speaker Scott 29 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 1: as well, please thank you. So I have this philosophy 30 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: that if your vote wasn't so important, they wouldn't work 31 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: so damn hard to take it from you. And what 32 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: we're seeing right now is an understatement to say that 33 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,920 Speaker 1: our voting rights are under attack. But talk to me 34 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: about the fact that we're seeing these new battles now 35 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: are they new? It feels as if individuals to our 36 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 1: right or individuals who are attacking or sailing our voting rights, 37 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: have been thinking about this stuff for generations. 38 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 2: What have you seen out there? 39 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 5: Yeah, So we are at a crossroads and there is 40 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 5: no way that we could wrap up this convention without 41 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 5: this discussion today about where we are when it comes 42 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 5: to attacks on our right to vote. 43 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:38,799 Speaker 6: And right now we're. 44 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:44,080 Speaker 5: Seeing almost a coordinated campaign between this administration and the 45 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:49,000 Speaker 5: United States Supreme Court that are bent that are bent 46 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 5: on stripping away our votes and our voices, and every 47 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,559 Speaker 5: turn we see this administration putting out a new executive 48 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 5: order seeking to weaponize the postal Service to deny US 49 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 5: access to mail in ballots. 50 00:03:03,120 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 6: And we are fighting back. 51 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 5: By the way, the NAACPEE is involved in many of 52 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:11,480 Speaker 5: those suits, and the administration is zero for sixteen as 53 00:03:11,520 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 5: of today, zero for sixteen. But the United States Supreme 54 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 5: Court decision in Louisiana versus cala is a setback for democracy. 55 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 5: So this is a conversation that I think is urgent 56 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 5: and time sensitive and requires that we all go out 57 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 5: right now and do everything that we can to fight 58 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 5: back and to make sure that we have voice in 59 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:40,240 Speaker 5: our democracy. 60 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: One of the things that we've seen is Virginia has 61 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: been somewhat of a model for progress and our South. 62 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: That's true in the South, and I mean, as long 63 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: as you recognize that South Carolina is the best Southern state, 64 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: but Virginia politically has been moving in the right direction, 65 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: or the left direction, or the progressive direction, to say 66 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: the least, how have you been able to accomplish that. 67 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: In what is the old Confederates House. 68 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 4: I think we're moving in the correct direction, and I 69 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 4: think what's going on is and I think you're right 70 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 4: with your last question. This is a conspiracy. It's a 71 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 4: conspiracy to disenfranchise back voters. But this is an old conspiracy. 72 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 4: And I think what we've been able to do in 73 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,600 Speaker 4: Virginia is recognize what we're up to and what we're 74 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:24,360 Speaker 4: up against. And I think it's the peradive a months 75 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 4: for us that when we get in these positions of authority, 76 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 4: we get in these positions to make a difference, that 77 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 4: we don't just rest on our laurels and celebrate our titles, 78 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 4: but we actually use the power in the authority that 79 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 4: we have to continue to advance to our mission. And 80 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 4: I think these things have gone on for generation. We 81 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 4: are the inheritors of a generation of freedom fighters. I 82 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:48,599 Speaker 4: was born on March fifth, nineteen sixty five. March seventh, 83 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 4: nineteen sixty five, Bloody Sunday. Yeah, so this is a 84 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 4: continuation of that fight. So when you say this is 85 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,640 Speaker 4: something new, this is not new. We have been dealing 86 00:04:58,680 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 4: with this. 87 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:00,600 Speaker 2: My entire lifetime. 88 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 4: The day I was born, we were marching for voting 89 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 4: rights and we'll can continue to do that. And I 90 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 4: think what you're saying is is so important that we 91 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 4: have to do everything in our power to continue to 92 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:11,559 Speaker 4: fight back. 93 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:16,239 Speaker 1: Take these folks inside the battle, the redistricting battle, because 94 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: sometimes we see it on the outside. And although it 95 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: wasn't necessarily a victory in the court of justice, it 96 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: did show what happens when we fight back. Take us 97 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: inside that because I've also acknowledged the fact that whenever 98 00:05:32,960 --> 00:05:35,160 Speaker 1: we do something, it gets struck down really quick. 99 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 2: But when they do it in Texas, it's okay. 100 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 4: It gets validated well in Virginia because of the redistricting 101 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 4: that they had done in Texas and of attempting to 102 00:05:43,000 --> 00:05:46,040 Speaker 4: do in Florida and North Carolina, Virginia we made a 103 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 4: decision that we would do a mid decade redistricting as well, 104 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:51,200 Speaker 4: and we were. 105 00:05:51,040 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 2: Able to pull it off. You put it on a ballot. 106 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 4: We put it on at ballot, and we had the 107 00:05:55,640 --> 00:06:00,160 Speaker 4: voters in Virginia pass that measure to do redistricting. Now 108 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 4: you know, if y'all seeing Star Wars, that was Hans 109 00:06:05,200 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 4: Solo winning. But then the Empire struck back, all right, 110 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:12,479 Speaker 4: and the Virginia Supreme Court in a four to three 111 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:16,720 Speaker 4: vote overturned the will of the voters. So they will 112 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:19,960 Speaker 4: go to extremes to exercise the authority, but we did 113 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 4: the work to redraw the maps to get us in 114 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,279 Speaker 4: the right place. I don't view that as a victory. 115 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,080 Speaker 4: We have to continue to fight. These fights have always 116 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 4: been hard, They're never going to be easy. So we 117 00:06:30,000 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 4: need to continue to fight. Fighting is winning. Fighting is winning, 118 00:06:34,480 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 4: and so you have to continue to fight. You can't say, well, 119 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 4: we lost it, because we're going to continue to fight 120 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 4: in this world. And they know that we're going to 121 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 4: continue to come back. And so I'm proud of the 122 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:46,080 Speaker 4: work that we did and that we are doing. And Virginia. 123 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:50,080 Speaker 4: When I first got elected McCary, we were in the 124 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:53,640 Speaker 4: minority and Democrats. I know this is non political, but 125 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 4: this is political, and we had to win back the 126 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 4: majority in Virginia and for the first time in twenty years. 127 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 4: And so that's how I became the first black speaker 128 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 4: in the four hundred and five year history of the 129 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 4: Coming Withal of Virginia by us winning and fighting and 130 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 4: winning majorities and fighting everywhere all. 131 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 2: Over the Coming with Virginia. 132 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: The reason I wanted to highlight that is because sometimes 133 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: we rest on our laurels and we cannot hold others 134 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: accountable unless we hold our own accountable. And when we 135 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: saw Virginia put up a fight, I go around the 136 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 1: country and talk to folks right now that that is 137 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: what fighting looks like, and that's what we expect from 138 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: all of our elected officials. 139 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 2: It's quart. 140 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: One of the things that I tell folks is that 141 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,560 Speaker 1: the cruelest trick this country's ever pulled off on us 142 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: is replacing Thurgood Marshall with Clarence Thomas. Talk about y'all 143 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: can steal that, y'all can steal that. 144 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 2: That was painful. 145 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 1: That was painful, but it was it was, at least 146 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: in my lifetime. 147 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 2: It is one of the. 148 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: Cruelest tricks that that's ever happened to Black folk. But 149 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: talk about not just kalay go and go inside of that, 150 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: but talk about its real impact on eluding black representation. Yeah, 151 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: because sometimes people don't understand what the Supreme Court has 152 00:08:05,840 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 1: done and what what the Supreme Court has done, and 153 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: why we had to fight to keep Jim Claburn, or 154 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: why we are losing a seat in Louisiana or why 155 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: we are losing. 156 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 2: A seat in Alabama. Can you talk about that? 157 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: And when we wake up on November fourth, fifth, sixth, 158 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: Whenever the day that is, we'll probably have less Black 159 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: Caucus members than we have today. 160 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:25,680 Speaker 6: Yeah. 161 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 5: So look, this Supreme Court has issued a lot of 162 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:37,679 Speaker 5: bad rulings, but the most devastating decision was the Louisiana 163 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:41,840 Speaker 5: versus Cala decision from this term, which gutted the Voting 164 00:08:41,920 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 5: Right Sacked of nineteen sixty five. An awful decision, and 165 00:08:47,280 --> 00:08:50,319 Speaker 5: what the Court did essentially is it weakend the most 166 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 5: important tool that we have to fight back against racial 167 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 5: jerry mandering. 168 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,080 Speaker 6: It weakened section two of the. 169 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 5: Voting Right Sack that allows organisms like the NAACP to 170 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 5: file suit when officials take discriminatory action. After the Kalay decision, 171 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 5: we saw the floodgates of voter suppression open up across 172 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 5: the South. But just as we talked about with Virginia, 173 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:19,199 Speaker 5: you know, we're. 174 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:20,320 Speaker 6: Seeing folks fight back. 175 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 5: Right from Louisiana to Georgia, to Tennessee, to Mississippi to 176 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 5: South Carolina. We have seen and DOUBLEACP folks locked arms 177 00:09:32,559 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 5: with our colleagues fighting back. 178 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 6: And what does fighting back look like in this moment? 179 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:42,320 Speaker 5: It means convening the emergency town halls to sound and 180 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 5: alarm about what's at stake. 181 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 6: This is racist, very simple, It is racist. 182 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 5: They are convening emergency sessions six seven years into the 183 00:09:55,120 --> 00:09:59,679 Speaker 5: decade for one singular purpose, dismantling majority black districts. 184 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:01,600 Speaker 6: And we cannot stand for it. 185 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 5: We will not stand by idly while they strip us 186 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:07,080 Speaker 5: of our voice and our power. 187 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 6: That you know, they. 188 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 5: Succeeded in dismantling a majority black district in Memphis, and 189 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 5: the NAACP is in court fighting back. Thank you, President, 190 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 5: sweet Love and everyone across Tennessee who's standing up in 191 00:10:25,520 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 5: this moment. But we shut down efforts right We shut 192 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:34,200 Speaker 5: it down in Georgia, We shut it down in South Carolina. 193 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 6: So right now, fighting back means turning up. 194 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,079 Speaker 5: It means showing up at the capitol and using your 195 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 5: voice loudly and registering your voice of dissent. It means 196 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 5: showing up and offering testimony. It means turning out to 197 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,800 Speaker 5: vote this election cycle. We need to vote like how 198 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,920 Speaker 5: this election season, plain and simple. 199 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: What let me ask you a tangible question, what do 200 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,959 Speaker 1: my folk in Memphis do now? Memphis is in three 201 00:11:08,200 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: congressional districts. One district goes all the way across the Tennis, 202 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:15,080 Speaker 1: all the way across the top of Tennessee, from Memphis 203 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:16,000 Speaker 1: to Dashville. 204 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 2: How do we process this? 205 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: I mean, and sometimes and this is probably more of 206 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: an emotional, sensationalized answer I want from you than just 207 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: pure legal standing. And I know that's hard as the 208 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:35,560 Speaker 1: lawyer that you are, but changing the Supreme Court almost 209 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:37,719 Speaker 1: feels like parallel parking a submarine. 210 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:39,320 Speaker 2: So what can we do at home? 211 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 5: We have to talk about Supreme Court reform. That has 212 00:11:43,280 --> 00:11:45,960 Speaker 5: to be a part of the conversation you talked about Clarence. 213 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 5: We need we need Supreme Court reform now. 214 00:11:50,559 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 6: And what does that mean. We need to be talking. 215 00:11:52,840 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 5: About things like ethics reform, We need to be talking 216 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 5: about things like term limits. We need to be talk 217 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 5: me about how do we restore independence and fairness to 218 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 5: a broken United States Supreme Court? So that has to 219 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 5: be a part of the conversation Tennessee. What happened in 220 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 5: Tennessee is a travesty, but we are fighting back. We 221 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 5: are in federal court under the fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution, 222 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 5: and we are arguing that the dismantling of Congressional District 223 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:26,040 Speaker 5: nine was carried out for one reason only a racially 224 00:12:26,040 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 5: discriminatory reasons that violate the fourteenth Amendment. So that battle 225 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:35,319 Speaker 5: is ongoing, but we're up against headwinds. 226 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 2: That's a true statement. Mister speaker. 227 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:39,440 Speaker 1: Talk to me about some of the things you're doing 228 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:42,800 Speaker 1: organizing nationally, because one of the things that people may 229 00:12:42,840 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 1: not realize in a room such as this is that 230 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 1: not only are you someone who has a large, outsized 231 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: role in Virginia, but because you're Speaker of the House 232 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: by virtue, that you actually coordinate with other black legislators 233 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:58,360 Speaker 1: around the country, other speakers around the country. What are 234 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,200 Speaker 1: some of the conversations you're having around the Supreme Court, 235 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 1: the ethics of it, the rulings that have come down recently, 236 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: and some of the things we can do at home. 237 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 4: I think you know, Chris and got it right. There 238 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:15,400 Speaker 4: is a deep corruption that we all can see in 239 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 4: the United States Supreme Court. As my mama say, they 240 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 4: plan in our face, all right now, they're playing. 241 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 2: In our face. 242 00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:23,680 Speaker 4: They want us to believe that what they're doing is 243 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 4: legitimate and we're just supposed to be accepted because of 244 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 4: their titles. And I think across the country all of 245 00:13:29,240 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 4: us need to realize that a lot of the problems 246 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 4: that we're facing right now. They began in state houses. 247 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 4: We have conceded state houses to federal houses, and we're 248 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 4: missing the vote. When we organize and be activated and 249 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 4: participate in this democracy, we have to start at the 250 00:13:45,640 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 4: state level. Everything goes through the state. If you want 251 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:52,080 Speaker 4: to take back this democracy, you're going to have to 252 00:13:52,120 --> 00:13:55,360 Speaker 4: start state by state in all fifty states if we 253 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:57,440 Speaker 4: want to have the impact of fairness that we want. 254 00:13:57,559 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 4: And that is what I am doing talking across the 255 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 4: country trying to get us The Republicans, well, I'm not 256 00:14:02,160 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 4: gonna say that. The opposing parties they figured it out 257 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 4: a long time ago. They have all organizations like ALEC, 258 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,959 Speaker 4: They have think tanks that will be pa on making 259 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 4: sure that they take control of the state legislature. 260 00:14:14,840 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 2: The Heritage Foundation. 261 00:14:16,040 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 4: Came out of that history, out of that tradition to 262 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:20,760 Speaker 4: be able to build it. 263 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 2: It goes all the way back to William F. Buckley Junior. 264 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:25,480 Speaker 4: To make sure that they did everything they can do 265 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 4: take over the states we need to. I know it's 266 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 4: important about the President, I know it's important about Congress. 267 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:33,880 Speaker 4: But at the state level, it's where these maps are 268 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 4: being redrawn. 269 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 2: They didn't draw up. 270 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 4: They didn't redraw Tennessee's maps in Congress. They redraw Tennessee's 271 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 4: maps in Tennessee. 272 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 2: And so we need to. 273 00:14:42,360 --> 00:14:44,440 Speaker 4: Take care and get back them to the state level 274 00:14:44,600 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 4: to begin these fights again. 275 00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 2: They're doing it all over. 276 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,880 Speaker 4: I'm from Texas originally, I went to law school in Louisiana. 277 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 2: I serve in Virginia. 278 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:56,400 Speaker 4: People think that the Voting Rights Act fixed everything in 279 00:14:56,480 --> 00:14:57,320 Speaker 4: nineteen sixty five. 280 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:57,720 Speaker 2: It did not. 281 00:14:58,560 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 4: Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia still had pole taxes 282 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 4: and literary taxes in nineteen sixty six. It was because 283 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 4: we had to fight that next fight, to continue to 284 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 4: fight to be able to get rid of those and 285 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 4: we did it at. 286 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:14,080 Speaker 2: The state level. 287 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 4: It was a state case Harper versus Virginia's State Board 288 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:19,320 Speaker 4: of Elections that got us to where we are now. 289 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:21,280 Speaker 4: So we have to continue to know that it's going 290 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 4: to be at the state level that these changes are 291 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 4: going to be made. What I would say to the 292 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:27,720 Speaker 4: people in Memphis right now, this is not the time 293 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,200 Speaker 4: to despair. This is not the time to spare, this 294 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 4: is not the time to quit. It's in our DNA 295 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 4: to continue to fight. So this is not the time 296 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 4: to be having a pretty party. This is the time 297 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:42,360 Speaker 4: to stand your ground, organize, build, activate, and get organized 298 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:44,840 Speaker 4: and teach these people that they can't do what they 299 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 4: did without a fight. We're not going to let you 300 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 4: beat us up and not say ouch, We're going to 301 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:51,400 Speaker 4: fight back. And so I think if we do that, 302 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 4: and we do it state by state, and Memphis can 303 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 4: be that first example, well we will turn back what 304 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 4: they did because we flipped that stuff that they've done before, 305 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,080 Speaker 4: and we can do it again, thought state by state, 306 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 4: community by community. 307 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,920 Speaker 1: I just one of the things that mister speaker pointed 308 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 1: out that I wanted this audience to know for a 309 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: little context, is that during Barack Obama's eight years in office, 310 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: we lost one thousand state house seats across the country, 311 00:16:18,000 --> 00:16:22,240 Speaker 1: and we lost twelve governor's mansions across the country. And 312 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: so when you see the things that are happening right now, nothing. 313 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 2: Happens in a vacuum. 314 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: Those state legislator seats that sometimes were like I don't 315 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: really care about that, but I don't know that well, 316 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 1: whoever that is, those seats really matter. And we've seen 317 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 1: the dilution of our power and it's coming home to 318 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 1: roost right now. One of the things I wanted to 319 00:16:39,120 --> 00:16:41,800 Speaker 1: ask you about is what are you seeing on the horizon, 320 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: because sometimes it feels like whether or not it was 321 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: the overturning of Roe v. Wade, or whether or not 322 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 1: it was the Calais decision. We feel like these things 323 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: just kind of occur, but they don't. They're in the pipeline. 324 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:58,680 Speaker 1: So what's next? What should we be preparing for? Is 325 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 1: there anything else coming down the pipeline as it deals 326 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:02,080 Speaker 1: with voting rights? 327 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,600 Speaker 5: So we also have to talk about what's happening with 328 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 5: this administration. They have fully abandoned the task of protecting 329 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 5: the civil rights of all Americans. And right now, pending 330 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 5: before the Senate is the nomination of Todd Blanche. 331 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 6: We should all. 332 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:27,160 Speaker 5: Oppose the confirmation of Todd Blanche to serve as Attorney 333 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 5: General and expect that if he were confirmed that we 334 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:35,520 Speaker 5: would see more dismantling of our civil rights, more weaponized 335 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:39,399 Speaker 5: the weaponization of the Justice Department, more targeting of public 336 00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:44,800 Speaker 5: officials like Tish James, Attorney General Tiss James, and Representative 337 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:51,359 Speaker 5: la Monica mcdver. Yes, so we this is a moment 338 00:17:51,400 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 5: that demands visilance, but I think there is something that 339 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:58,560 Speaker 5: all of us can do as we go back to 340 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 5: our combs in our communities. 341 00:18:00,880 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 6: You are so right. All power is local. 342 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 5: We need to push for things like state voting rights 343 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 5: acts in this moment. Just in the last few months, 344 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 5: we saw a movement to put on the books a 345 00:18:18,119 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 5: state Voting Rights Act in New Jersey and in Maryland. 346 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:28,199 Speaker 5: We have a playbook where we can see vras on 347 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 5: the books in all fifty states across the country. We 348 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 5: need to push for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. 349 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 5: We need to make sure that we have a plan 350 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,360 Speaker 5: for voting this election cycle and that we vote up 351 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 5: and down that ballot because you're right, it is state 352 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 5: lawmakers that redraw congressional maps, right. 353 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 6: We need to make sure. 354 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:53,439 Speaker 5: That everyone in our community, everyone in our network, is 355 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:57,399 Speaker 5: registered and able to vote. And while there are lots 356 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,680 Speaker 5: of bad things happening, Bakari, I think all it does 357 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:05,399 Speaker 5: is really fortify us. Like this is a moment of 358 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:10,359 Speaker 5: great urgency this election cycle. There is so much at stake, 359 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:14,200 Speaker 5: and we have the potential to get our country back 360 00:19:14,240 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 5: on track if all of us really show up and 361 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 5: turn out this midterm election season. 362 00:19:21,160 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 2: Let me ask you this both. Let me start with you, because. 363 00:19:26,600 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: I'm sure people are probably talking about it out here. 364 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:31,359 Speaker 2: I know my mama talking about it. You're wearing me 365 00:19:31,400 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 2: out about it. But November elections are coming. 366 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 1: If we have them, that's the thing people are saying, 367 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,159 Speaker 1: if we have them. And then the president's talking about 368 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:46,919 Speaker 1: nationalizing and federalizing elections. What does that mean? What is 369 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 1: he attempting to do? What should we be vigilant about? 370 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:52,639 Speaker 1: And then how can we fight back with whatever that is? 371 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:56,160 Speaker 5: Yeah, I mean there is a lot of fear mongering 372 00:19:56,320 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 5: happening with this administration. Every day there is a new threat, 373 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:04,880 Speaker 5: a new target, a new claim, some false myth that 374 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:08,199 Speaker 5: they are promoting for the sole purpose of trying to 375 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:12,119 Speaker 5: keep us black folks and brown folks at home this 376 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 5: election cycle. And it's not going to happen. It is 377 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 5: not going to happen. We are busy in the courts. 378 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 5: We are busy in the courts fighting back against this 379 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 5: administrations on lawful and unconstitutional efforts to suppress our votes 380 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 5: and our voices. 381 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:33,400 Speaker 6: What would it mean? 382 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 5: You know, there's lots of talker, are we going to 383 00:20:35,119 --> 00:20:36,840 Speaker 5: see ice at the polls? 384 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 6: This election season? 385 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 5: We saw plans recently where the Justice Department announced that 386 00:20:43,320 --> 00:20:47,880 Speaker 5: they are going to deploy federal monitors to certain election sites. 387 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 6: We should resist this. Resist this. 388 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 5: If you live in a state where the Justice Department 389 00:20:54,119 --> 00:20:56,720 Speaker 5: has indicated that they want to come out and monitor 390 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:59,359 Speaker 5: the polls, know that they do so for nothing but 391 00:20:59,480 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 5: nefario purposes, and resist that. I know that there are 392 00:21:03,400 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 5: folks here in Michigan and Virginia that are pushing back. 393 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:10,439 Speaker 5: We're talking about monitoring their monitors. We just need to 394 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 5: roll up our sleeves and fight and understand that this 395 00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:19,200 Speaker 5: administration will not stop between now and November. But louder 396 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:23,160 Speaker 5: and more powerful than them is us. Right When we 397 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 5: come together and fight. 398 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:25,680 Speaker 6: We win. 399 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 4: You know, the theme of this place is today is 400 00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 4: we the people. They think that's a question mark, we 401 00:21:42,119 --> 00:21:45,120 Speaker 4: the people. I say, it's an exclamation point. 402 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:45,919 Speaker 2: We the people. 403 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 4: And so if we show up the way we should 404 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:53,200 Speaker 4: when they try to do the thing. Look, we are 405 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 4: not solve people. Okay, this is psychological warfare, all right. 406 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 4: They plan around what your mind, trying to make people 407 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 4: think they can do something to take their elections away. 408 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 4: They got we have a look. Todd Blinch is an attorney. 409 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 4: We got just as bad as the attorney as they 410 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:11,439 Speaker 4: have once you say ozer for sixteen they all they 411 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:13,760 Speaker 4: do is lose. They the opposite of the song to 412 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:15,840 Speaker 4: do is win. All they do is lose. So we 413 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:18,440 Speaker 4: need to understand, like we need to have out This 414 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 4: is the time to get your backstraight, get ready to fight, 415 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:24,200 Speaker 4: to fight. But everybody always talk about what they would 416 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 4: have done. If m Milka was alive, I would have 417 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:27,880 Speaker 4: been out there marching. I would have been doing this. 418 00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 2: Here's your time, this is your time right now. Let's 419 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:33,199 Speaker 2: see what you're talking about. 420 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,520 Speaker 4: Are you really about that life right now? Not the 421 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:42,040 Speaker 4: T shirt wearings, not the Twitter fingers, but the really 422 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:44,760 Speaker 4: going out there and doing this work, Because at the 423 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:47,160 Speaker 4: end of the day, it's gonna take resources, it's gonna 424 00:22:47,160 --> 00:22:49,719 Speaker 4: take commitment, it's gonna take planning. When I was in 425 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,520 Speaker 4: the military, I had a captain say, you know, amateurs 426 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:54,639 Speaker 4: talk about tactics, we're gonna go march, We're gonna do this. 427 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 4: Experts talk about resources, logistics, How you gonna make it happen, 428 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:01,240 Speaker 4: How you're gonna keep us a thing. Who you're gonna 429 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 4: bring in, who you're gonna bring in the fight to 430 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:05,800 Speaker 4: fight who's a brain power. 431 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 2: It's not just. 432 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 4: About the what's gonna work on Twitter for the moment, 433 00:23:10,280 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 4: what's gonna go viral? 434 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:13,159 Speaker 2: What's gonna go viral? 435 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:15,800 Speaker 4: Is us doing our work because we know at the 436 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 4: end of the day, our children and our children's children 437 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:21,400 Speaker 4: are counting on us, and our ancestors are watching us. 438 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:23,960 Speaker 4: They saying they know they prepared us for this moment, 439 00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 4: or we're gonna meet the moment. That's it. 440 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 2: That's the fight. 441 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:31,639 Speaker 4: So that's stuff he does, psychological welfare. He's the best 442 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:34,639 Speaker 4: troller ever. Don't let him troll you and get in 443 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:36,600 Speaker 4: your psyche. We have to fight back, ye have. My 444 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 4: mama ninety one, she always said, did you see what 445 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:40,720 Speaker 4: he did today? On a new I'm like, I'm gonna 446 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 4: turn that mess off? 447 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:44,679 Speaker 2: Well wait, slow down, man, don't turn. 448 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:45,440 Speaker 6: Turn that mess off? 449 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 2: Stay folk, turn seeing in off now? And I see 450 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 2: it in. 451 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:50,920 Speaker 1: I watched what car? 452 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 2: Watch the car? I need some job security. Don't turn 453 00:23:58,040 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 2: it off. 454 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:04,160 Speaker 1: So I want to leave the audience with something here, 455 00:24:04,320 --> 00:24:06,919 Speaker 1: very very tangible, because one of the things that I 456 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 1: don't like about large mass conferences is sometimes we come 457 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:14,119 Speaker 1: in and identify the problems, but we don't leave people 458 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 1: with something tangible they can do when they go home. 459 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,400 Speaker 1: This is probably the most premier battle that we have, 460 00:24:20,640 --> 00:24:23,160 Speaker 1: this battle of voting rights. And the crazy part about 461 00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:25,919 Speaker 1: it is there's an entire generation of young people right 462 00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,359 Speaker 1: now that simply saying that we fought and died for 463 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:31,360 Speaker 1: this does not work for them. We have to meet 464 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:33,800 Speaker 1: them where they are. We have to have something for 465 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:37,160 Speaker 1: them to vote for, and we are simply missing that 466 00:24:37,359 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 1: moment and talking to this new generation of voters. So 467 00:24:40,760 --> 00:24:42,440 Speaker 1: in the last couple of minutes, we have because I 468 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: think this is honestly the most important panel, lead the 469 00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:47,520 Speaker 1: audience with something very tangible they can do when they 470 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:50,760 Speaker 1: go home, whether or not it's it's organizing, whether or 471 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:53,359 Speaker 1: not it's organizing their church or registering their high school, 472 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:57,199 Speaker 1: whatever it may be, leaving with something to do so 473 00:24:57,200 --> 00:24:59,040 Speaker 1: that we can make sure we mobilize efficiently. 474 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 6: Yeah. 475 00:25:00,200 --> 00:25:03,920 Speaker 5: Well, one challenge right we have is all the folks 476 00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:05,320 Speaker 5: who say, why does it matter? 477 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:07,800 Speaker 6: Why does my vote matter? Right? 478 00:25:07,880 --> 00:25:11,720 Speaker 5: And so, if you're somebody out there who is struggling 479 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 5: because of gas prices, or struggling because you lost access 480 00:25:17,080 --> 00:25:21,879 Speaker 5: to healthcare, or you lost access to your job, or 481 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:26,159 Speaker 5: you care about fighting for truth, justice, and accountability. When 482 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 5: it comes to Nolan Wells right, the common denominator on 483 00:25:30,840 --> 00:25:34,120 Speaker 5: all of this is the right to vote. It is 484 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 5: the right from which so many of our civil rights flow. 485 00:25:38,920 --> 00:25:41,639 Speaker 5: And so I think that as we go back to 486 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 5: our homes and communities, we need to think about the 487 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:49,280 Speaker 5: messages that just help ensure that that resonates loudly. We 488 00:25:49,359 --> 00:25:53,480 Speaker 5: need to remind people about the consequences of not voting. 489 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:57,240 Speaker 5: We see that exhibit a of that is this administration, 490 00:25:58,000 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 5: this Trump administration. 491 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 6: What can you do push for a State Voting Rights ACKed? 492 00:26:04,720 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 5: If you are in a state that does not have 493 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,400 Speaker 5: a state VR, you can fight for a State Voting 494 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:16,159 Speaker 5: Rights Act. I've flagged that Maryland and New Jersey, or 495 00:26:16,160 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 5: two states where we just saw laws put on the 496 00:26:19,040 --> 00:26:27,960 Speaker 5: books California, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, New York, Connecticut, Minnesota, Colorado, Michigan. 497 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:32,560 Speaker 5: You're on the right path, Delaware. They all have vras. 498 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:32,640 Speaker 6: On the book. 499 00:26:32,760 --> 00:26:36,080 Speaker 5: So if I didn't call out your state, you have 500 00:26:36,119 --> 00:26:39,760 Speaker 5: an opportunity to lay groundwork for a state VR, push 501 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 5: for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. We need 502 00:26:43,560 --> 00:26:47,320 Speaker 5: to continue to lift up the legacy of John Lewis, 503 00:26:47,520 --> 00:26:50,200 Speaker 5: and when we get that moment, make sure that Congress 504 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 5: is ready to act and restore our most sacred voting 505 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:53,760 Speaker 5: rights law. 506 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:55,200 Speaker 6: Make sure that you have. 507 00:26:55,280 --> 00:26:58,200 Speaker 5: A plan to vote, a plan to vote, whether it 508 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 5: is by absence e vote, voting by mail, voting in person. 509 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:08,040 Speaker 5: Making sure that you are informed about what's on the ballot. 510 00:27:08,280 --> 00:27:11,280 Speaker 5: Do not vote just at the top of the ballot, 511 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 5: vote all the way. 512 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 6: Down that ballot. 513 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:19,080 Speaker 5: Those are four tangible things that I think we can 514 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 5: all leave here and do as we go back home. 515 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:25,399 Speaker 4: Speaker, real short, we all know how important voting is. 516 00:27:25,720 --> 00:27:28,200 Speaker 4: It's dear and dear if you've ever lost your right 517 00:27:28,240 --> 00:27:28,639 Speaker 4: to vote. 518 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 2: I have. 519 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,240 Speaker 4: I was disenfranchised. I had a felony conviction from nineteen 520 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:34,320 Speaker 4: ninety four. Don't feel sorry for me. I'm rich and 521 00:27:34,320 --> 00:27:41,600 Speaker 4: I'm gonna speak of the House. But they have worked 522 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 4: very hard to disenfranchise us in Virginia. You don not 523 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 4: have automatic restoration, but you have too big to have 524 00:27:48,040 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 4: your rights restored to vote. If you don't do anything 525 00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 4: else from here, if you don't feel like you have 526 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:56,439 Speaker 4: the power, go touch somebody who's been justice involved and 527 00:27:56,520 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 4: make sure that they're voting. That they have the right 528 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:01,040 Speaker 4: to vote, that they have their right store. If you 529 00:28:01,080 --> 00:28:04,120 Speaker 4: don't do anything else, create y'all got group chats for everything. 530 00:28:04,520 --> 00:28:06,919 Speaker 4: Create a group chat with at least fifty people in 531 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:09,600 Speaker 4: that boat that y'all are talking about whatever issues that 532 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 4: making sure that everybody in your group has voted. We 533 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:15,240 Speaker 4: have to make sure that we do everything out. That's 534 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:17,719 Speaker 4: the easiest thing for you to do. Go touch somebody. 535 00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:19,600 Speaker 4: Some of these folks are not hearing policy. But they 536 00:28:19,640 --> 00:28:23,000 Speaker 4: want childcare, they want a good job, they want safe communities, 537 00:28:23,119 --> 00:28:24,760 Speaker 4: they want public safety and. 538 00:28:24,720 --> 00:28:25,880 Speaker 2: Police that respect them. 539 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:27,680 Speaker 4: If we want that and we want to continue to 540 00:28:27,720 --> 00:28:28,960 Speaker 4: do that, this is the time to do it. That's 541 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 4: the same thing that everybody wants, and that's easy to do, 542 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:32,200 Speaker 4: all right. 543 00:28:32,280 --> 00:28:34,119 Speaker 1: I want y'all to pray hard and fight harder. 544 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:37,399 Speaker 2: Thank you, and God bless you off great sure thank. 545 00:28:51,360 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 1: Native Lampard is a production of iHeart Radio and partnership 546 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 1: with Reason Choice Media. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit 547 00:28:58,120 --> 00:29:01,280 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to 548 00:29:01,320 --> 00:29:02,240 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.