Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY JAN 17 2022

A2 UP FRONT
Monday 17 January 2022

Continued from Front that while she supports the attending Saturday’s rally
They make it harder for voting rights legislation, after the Rev. Warren Stew-
people to vote, especially she would not alter filibus- art, a prominent Black cler-
people of color, he said. ter rules so it could move gy member and activist,
Another reason the fam- forward. The filibuster, she said she was among “those
ily chose to appear in Ari- said, forces bipartisan co- ... who would hide behind
zona is to send a message operation. Otherwise, Re- procedure.”
to Sinema. President Joe publicans could just repeal The rally was held at East-
Biden had implored her and replace whenever lake Park, which for de-
and Sen. Joe Manchin, a they rise to power. cades during segregation
Democrat from West Virgin- “We must address the dis- was a gathering place for
ia, to end the filibuster rules ease itself, the disease of Blacks not welcome in oth-
that require 60 of 100 sena- division, to protect our de- er parts of the city.
tors to pass most legislation. mocracy,” said Sinema, The plea from the King
Sinema poured cold water drawing disappointment family brings an especially
that idea Thursday, mak- from fellow Democrats. powerful voice to an in-
ing clear in a dramatic Sinema was jeered by some creasingly tense campaign
speech on the Senate floor of the hundreds of people to pressure Sinema to

Martin Luther King III speaks during a rally for voting rights, Tues-
day, Sept. 14, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. As communi-
ties across the nation prepare to mark the birthday of the Rev.
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

change her mind. Progres- a traditional celebration
sive groups have installed where you kick back, eat
billboards and aired televi- barbeque and just relax,”
sion ads, and activists even he said. “This is about work-
harassed Sinema in a bath- ing.” The Rev. Jesse Jack-
room at Arizona State Uni- son, having worked closely
versity and a friend’s wed- as a young man with Martin
ding where the senator of- Luther King Jr., said Friday
ficiated. that he was worried about
Congressional Democrats the current lack of political
have written voting legis- consensus on voting rights.
lation that would usher in Previously, Republicans
the biggest overhaul of U.S. and Democrats in Wash-
elections in a generation ington have voted to re-
by striking down hurdles authorize the Voting Rights
to voting enacted in the Act of 1965, with both par-
name of election security. ties recognizing the historic
The legislation also would nature of the legislation.
reduce the influence of big “The right to vote was the
money in politics and limit crown jewel of the civil
partisan influence over the rights struggle,” Jackson
drawing of congressional said in a phone interview,
districts. adding that “we’re in a
It also includes the John desperate situation.”
Lewis Voting Rights Ad- Ultimately, he agrees with
vancement Act, a bill that members of the King fam-
would strengthen civil ily who are pushing for MLK
rights-era voting law and Day celebrations to take
honor the legacy of the a different tone until Con-
late Georgia congressman. gress acts on the voting
Supporters had hoped leg- rights bills.
islation would advance by “There’s no time to cel-
Monday’s MLK holiday. Still ebrate,” Jackson said.
encouraged, King urged “It’s time to demonstrate,
people to take action like march in big numbers. We
sign petitions or call their cannot just be silent ob-
senators. The holiday is “not servers in this fight.”q