ACLU Suing Georgia Over Its New Voter Suppression Law
The ACLU has just announced that they’re suing Georgia over their new voter law amidst concerns of voter suppression. The news comes nearly a week after Georgia governor, Brian Kemp, signed the bill into law despite the backlash he received. The law cracks down on voting, creating restrictions that make it harder for Georgians to cast a ballot.
Many are outraged and calling the law voter suppression that will mostly impact voters of color. Some major changes include enforcing stricter ID requirements for absentee ballots, limiting drop box locations, shortening voting hours, and prohibiting volunteers from distributing food and water to voters waiting in line.
Communities of color, especially Black neighborhoods, have been notorious for having long voting lines during election time. Handing out food and water has been an important part of encouraging voters to continue waiting to cast their vote. Many feel that taking this away is a deliberate act of trying to reduce the number of Black voters.
Please do so ACLU! It is illegal voter suppression and we need to make an example out of Georgia of what not to do
— miranda monet (@informedwm) March 30, 2021
Georgia has been infamous for suppressing votes for years. The issue was widely debated during their last gubernatorial race when the state tried to limit Black votes for Stacey Abrams. Abrams has since been fighting against voter suppression and helped determine the outcome in the latest presidential and Senate races.
🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏼if I was a taxpayer in Georgia I’d sue.
— Stairway to Heaven (@Lana78328672) March 31, 2021
Law is on your side.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is taking legal action because they too believe the new law is voter suppression. They claim it violates the First, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments as well as the Voting Rights Act. They also called it a “clear attack on voters of color.”
Jim Crow 2.0 is real and it is part of this law. Don’t try to paint a different picture that Voter Suppression is not real. It is and it is targeted at minority and poor voters in Georgia. Shame on you and the GA Legislature for perpetuating the Big Lie about election fraud.
— JerryGonzalez (@JerryGonzalez93) March 31, 2021
Governor Kemp is standing firm in his decision to sign the bill. “I refuse to back down from this fight,” he recently tweeted. He has faced intense scrutiny over the bill from both celebrities and other politicians. During last week’s news conference, President Joe Biden called the bill a “blatant attack” on voting rights. He even described it as “Jim Crow in the 21st century.”
I’m glad to see @Delta reverse their position on Georgia’s voter suppression law, but until they back it up with some action, instead of zero-risk backtracking after it’s already signed into law, I still won’t be flying with them when I can safely fly.
— Ian Rose (@ianrosewrites) March 31, 2021
Ed Bastian, CEO of Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, recently came under fire for supporting the new law. He has since recanted his support and now claims it “does not match Delta’s values.” CEO of Atlanta-based Coca-Cola has also condemned the law, calling it “unacceptable.”
Even as opposition grows, Kemp is still not backing down. Many are applauding the ACLU for their decision to sue and the nation is watching and hoping for a positive outcome. Be sure to visit ACLU’s site to learn more about their mission and make a donation to help fight against injustice and inequality.
Writer | Tweet me @itsjadak
