Page 6 - Florida Sentinel 4-9-21

Political
Georgia Representative Park Cannon Speaks Out Following Arrest
Biden To Update Target For All Adults To Be Eligible For Vaccinations To April 19
FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN AND PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN
President Biden plans to announce that he will up- date his deadline for states to make all U. S. adults eligible to receive a coronavirus vac- cine during remarks Tuesday from the White House on the “state of vaccinations” in the country.
Under the new target, every adult would be eligible
by April 19, reflecting progress made in the states since Biden’s previous deadline, May 1, for all adults. Both President Biden and Vice President Harris are scheduled to visit vaccination sites Tuesday as the administration seeks to keep a focus on combating the pandemic.
Following her wrongful ar- rest at the Georgia State Capi- tol after Gov. Brian Kemp signed the controversial voting legislation, Georgia Represen- tative Park Cannon made a public statement during a press conference yesterday morning. This was her first time publicly addressing the incident involving her arrest by Georgia State Patrol.
The Democratic state repre- sentative was originally ar- rested a week ago after knocking on Gov. Kemp’s door during a private signing of Senate Bill 202, which is be- lieved to be setting voters’ rights back and a form of voter suppression in the Black com- munity. The 95-page bill al- lows the state to take control of “underperforming” local elec- tion system,” cuts off absentee ballot applications 11 days be- fore an election. limits the number of absentee ballot
Georgia Representative Park Cannon
drop boxes, and strips volun- teers from their abilities to dis- tribute food and water to voters waiting in line to vote.
Kemp has continued to de- fend his choices in signing the bill, saying it “gives more peo- ple the opportunity to vote” and it’s “not disenfranchising anyone.”
During yesterday’s 9 AM press conference, according to 11Alive, she recounted her ar-
rest as well as her plans to con- tinue the fight against voter suppression, which Rep. Can- non says is “still alive.”
“One week ago today, a tragic event occurred that is forever etched in my mind. In an effort to be present at the signing of legislation affecting all Georgia voters, the Capitol Police arrested me,” the 29- year-old queer-identifying House rep said surrounded by supporters and attorneys as she spoke into a bundle of mi- crophones. After she was ar- rested, she was booked to Union City Jail, where she was charged with two felonies: ob- struction of law enforcement and preventing or disrupting General Assembly sessions or other meetings.
“At that moment, I had no clue what was happening and I am not ashamed to admit that I was afraid of what might hap- pen.”
Corporate America Has Spent $50 Million On State Lawmakers Who Support Limiting Voter Access
Some of America’s biggest and most profitable corpora- tions have given more than $50 million to state lawmakers who have supported legislation that makes it harder for people to vote, according to Washing- ton-based government watch- dog group Public Citizen.
The group’s accounting dates back to 2015, with AT&T being the biggest contributor at $811,000. Comcast gave $440,000, UnitedHealth Group $411,000, Walmart $377,000, State Farm $315,00, and Pfizer $308,000. More than 60 companies have given at least $100,000.
This cash may not have been given to lawmakers to suppress
Black voters, but politicians live and die on donations, so their anti-democratic efforts are being financed indirectly. Attention has been drawn to fi- nancial giving since the Janu- ary 6 insurrection attempt in Washington, D.C. In its after- math, 123 corporations and trade associations suspended political giving to 147 members of Congress who voted against certifying the presidential elec- tion results.
Here are some more find- ings from the report:
Among its findings:
—Companies donated at least $50 million to lawmakers who supported voting restric- tions, including $22 million in
the 2020 campaign cycle.
—At least 81 Fortune 100 companies have given a com- bined total of $7.7 million to
supporters of the restrictions. —Nearly half of all Fortune 500 companies donated a combined total of $12.8 mil- lion to supporters of the re-
strictions.
—About three-quarters of
the companies that changed their donation policies after the U.S. Capitol attack have also given to lawmakers who supported voting rights restric- tions.
—More than 60 companies have given at least $100,000 to lawmakers who supported the restrictions.
Obama Praises MLB For Pulling All-Star Game From Georgia
Former President Barack Obama applauded Major League Baseball's decision to pull this year's All-Star Game out of Atlanta in protest of Georgia's new restrictive vot- ing law.
Congratulations to @MLB for taking a stand on behalf of voting rights for all citizens. There’s no better way for America’s pastime to honor
BARACK OBAMA
the great Hank Aaron, who always led by example.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 3, 2021.
The "Midsummer Classic" was set for July 13 at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, in addition to other activities connected to the game, including the annual MLB Draft.
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