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“THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1642-E1643 on July 27, 2005.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965
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HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL
of new york
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the significance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Next week will mark the fortieth anniversary of the passage of that historic act of Congress and there will be commemorations and remembrances of this anniversary throughout the nation, including a march in Atlanta being led by our colleague, the Honorable John Lewis--a civil rights legacy in his own right. While August 6th will signify prominent strides that this country has made in terms of equal rights, the 40th anniversary of the Act's passage will also highlight considerable room for improvement and work to truly guarantee that right to vote to all Americans.
The Act is a reminder of the oppression suffered by the Black community between Reconstruction and the Civil Rights Movement that Blacks could be utterly denied the most basic constitutional right to vote without any recourse to assert and obtain that from any of the branches of the United States government, including the Judiciary. The right to vote is fundamental to political empowerment under our Constitution and democratic form of government. Its denial effectively deprived citizenship to African-Americans in the Jim Crow era.
Despite the promises of the Fifteenth Amendment, most Black Americans were routinely denied the right to cast ballots in federal and state elections, particularly in the South. This denial was a function of both the state government and of local individuals determined to maintain their hold on political power in this country. It was another element of the fear and torture that existed throughout this country to intimidate and discourage Blacks from pursing their most basic rights in this country.
Individuals were denied the opportunity through official and unofficial channels to cast their ballots. Literacy tests, poll taxes, grandfather clauses, and gerrymandering were but a few of the mechanisms used by the state to prevent Black Americans from voting and electing leaders to represent their interests while lynchings, threats and intimidations, and Ku Klux Klan marches asserted the will of bigots to oppose the equal treatment of all Americans.
Faced with these startling realizations and a mobilized Black community, President Lyndon Johnson advocated for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Despite the perceived political disadvantages for himself and his party, Johnson's efforts were important to securing the rights of Black Americans throughout the country. His efforts opened the doors of electoral influence and power for Black Americans in this country.
Thanks to the efforts of the Voting Rights Act, poll taxes that charged certain Americans for their right to vote were eliminated. Literacy tests which were selectively applied to Blacks were banned. Individuals who stood in polling sites intimidating minorities from voting were committing federal crimes. Federal agents were deployed to protect and guarantee the rights of these Americans to vote.
Today, we can enjoy the fact that African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, and other minorities are guaranteed the right to vote in every state and federal election, that the legislative bodies of this country are more representative of the diversity of the nation than of the rich and powerful, and that the power of the people to elect their leaders is guaranteed in both the 15th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act.
Nevertheless, Mr. Speaker, the right to vote--the most important obligation of our citizens--is not universal to our citizens. There remain a number of barriers to full voting rights of this country and this Congress should look into addressing those challenges when we renew the Voting Rights Act next year. Some of these barriers are intentional; others less so. Regardless, the right to vote should be undeniable to a democracy's citizens. It should be undeniable to the citizens of the United States.
As we approach the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, an ever-increasing number of Americans are being permanently denied their right to vote in federal elections for their past criminal behavior. Based on Justice Department figures from 2000, an estimated 1.6 million ex-offenders in 14 states are denied the right to vote after paying their debt to society. These ex-offenders are continually denied their right to cast votes for these past actions. We should allow these individuals who have fulfilled their sentences to vote in federal elections.
Purging of voting records, targeting and intimidation in minority voting sites, the absence of reliable voting machines, circulation of false and misleading information, and long lines in polling sites have all been recent examples of the challenges to creating a fair and justice electoral system. There is clearly more work that needs to be done and I look forward to working with my colleagues in securing legislation that will tackle this challenge.
For today, we can look back on the hopes and promises of a more open society and see the fruits of our labor: A citizenry that participates at all levels, a Congress that reflects and represents the country's diversity, and a country that is opening doors and opportunities for the voices of all Americans. Tomorrow, we should take up the challenges of opening this society even more to the inclusion of all our citizens.
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