I learned very early in the civil rights movement that with determination and organization, you can stand up to the greatest of challenges. I stood side-by-side with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Dorothy I. Height fighting for “one-person, one-vote.” I vividly remember the struggle to register voters in Selma and secure the right to one-person one vote. After Selma, I worked with Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. to establish Operation Breadbasket, which assisted communities in need.
As President Obama said, “Voting is a fundamental right – and when we make our voices heard, we can keep moving our nation forward, building a fairer, stronger and more just America. But now more than ever, that right is under attack from groups who are determined to turn back the clock, particularly by restricting access to the ballot box.
This Black History Month should serve as a reminder to all of us that while we have come a long way, there is still much more work to be done. We need to harness the legacy of Dr. King and Dr. Height by standing up to those groups that are determined to limit our right to one person, to vote. An easy first step would be to go to http://www.protectingthevote.org/, become a part of the DNC’s voter protection effort, and spread the word about this important project with your friends and family.
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