American Civil Liberties Union

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Media@dcaclu.org

Statement of Caroline Fredrickson, Director, ACLU Washington Legislative Office, on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

WASHINGTON -- "Few Americans have done more to transform the civil rights in this country than the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.; he remains one of the greatest leaders of the American civil rights movement. His leadership and campaign of non-violence in the struggle for equality led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

"On Monday, Americans across the country will gather to honor his memory. Dr. King once said, ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.’ One of the greatest tributes we can give Dr. King in honor of his life and legacy is to become loud and vocal about the continuing need for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, legislation he fought for during the civil rights movement.

"Our country has come a long way because of the work of Dr. King, but the struggle for equality continues. Discrimination in voting persists in many parts of the country; many are still wrongly denied the right to vote. Portions of the Voting Rights Act will expire if Congress does not act. Lawmakers must renew this important law.

"The Voting Rights Act, more than any other federal law, has helped secure equal access to the ballot box for all Americans. It gave a voice to the voiceless. The right to be active citizens and exercise the vote, free from coercion or bias is pivotal to our democracy. Reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act will bring us closer to the realization of Dr. King’s dream and ensure that all Americans continue to enjoy unfettered access to the voting booth."

For more on the ACLU’s concerns with the Voting Rights Act, go to:
http://www.votingrights.org/