QUOTE
100,000 march in Atlanta to renew Voting Rights Act
by Hkingsley
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/8/6/211218/5673
Update [2005-8-6 21:17:54 by Hkingsley]: the latest from WSB TV here:
ATLANTA -- An estimated 100,000 people from all over the U.S. jammed downtown Atlanta and marched with Rev. Jesse Jackson to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act -- and to urge Congress to renew the historic piece of legislation.
Today was the big day. Thousands came out to both reflect on our history and thrust us forward. I live in Atlanta, and there was a special energy here today, a sense that we've come a long way, but the fight's not over yet...I apologize if this has been diaried already -- I've been out all day...
Dick Durbin, Nancy Pelosi, and Maxine Waters made the trip down here, along with countless others in positions of power.
Pictures can be seen here:
http://lpe.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/0805/march/7
* Hkingsley's diary :: ::
*
Summarizing the focused spirit today, here's John Lewis:
"Forty years later, we're still marching for the right to vote," said Lewis. "Don't give up, don't give in. Keep the faith, keep your eyes on the prize."
I implore fellow Kossacks and other Americans to keep this front and center in the coming months. A lot of blood was spilled and pain endured to get us this far. And even though the enemy today isn't necessarily your local sheriff and power structure, but electronic voting machines and harassment generally, we must continue the fight for a more perfect system of inclusion.
Here's the Atlanta Journal Constitution story from today:
> Below is the lead -- pretty poignant.
Published on: 08/06/05
John Terrell's left leg still ached from hip replacement surgery. He wobbled on his cane and lagged behind many of those walking in Saturday's "Keep the Vote Alive" march.
Unlike many, the 53-year-old native Atlantan didn't carry a sign supporting reauthorization of the historic legislation that ensured the right to vote for many people, especially African Americans.
Instead, Terrel had memories of his childhood, when it was dangerous for young black men to demonstrate for an end to segregation and to win a guarantee that blacks could vote without being challenged.
In those marches, he had to worry about more than his grip on a walking cane.
"We have to keep this right. We have to keep this alive," Terrell said. "I was alive when we got this right, and I'm not going to let this die.
"I'm just glad the march is not long," Terrell said.
He was among the thousands of people who braved the summer heart Saturday to join the country's leading black civil rights leaders, politicians and entertainers in a march to push for the extension of key provisions in the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
by Hkingsley
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/8/6/211218/5673
Update [2005-8-6 21:17:54 by Hkingsley]: the latest from WSB TV here:
ATLANTA -- An estimated 100,000 people from all over the U.S. jammed downtown Atlanta and marched with Rev. Jesse Jackson to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act -- and to urge Congress to renew the historic piece of legislation.
Today was the big day. Thousands came out to both reflect on our history and thrust us forward. I live in Atlanta, and there was a special energy here today, a sense that we've come a long way, but the fight's not over yet...I apologize if this has been diaried already -- I've been out all day...
Dick Durbin, Nancy Pelosi, and Maxine Waters made the trip down here, along with countless others in positions of power.
Pictures can be seen here:
http://lpe.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/0805/march/7
* Hkingsley's diary :: ::
*
Summarizing the focused spirit today, here's John Lewis:
"Forty years later, we're still marching for the right to vote," said Lewis. "Don't give up, don't give in. Keep the faith, keep your eyes on the prize."
I implore fellow Kossacks and other Americans to keep this front and center in the coming months. A lot of blood was spilled and pain endured to get us this far. And even though the enemy today isn't necessarily your local sheriff and power structure, but electronic voting machines and harassment generally, we must continue the fight for a more perfect system of inclusion.
Here's the Atlanta Journal Constitution story from today:
> Below is the lead -- pretty poignant.
Published on: 08/06/05
John Terrell's left leg still ached from hip replacement surgery. He wobbled on his cane and lagged behind many of those walking in Saturday's "Keep the Vote Alive" march.
Unlike many, the 53-year-old native Atlantan didn't carry a sign supporting reauthorization of the historic legislation that ensured the right to vote for many people, especially African Americans.
Instead, Terrel had memories of his childhood, when it was dangerous for young black men to demonstrate for an end to segregation and to win a guarantee that blacks could vote without being challenged.
In those marches, he had to worry about more than his grip on a walking cane.
"We have to keep this right. We have to keep this alive," Terrell said. "I was alive when we got this right, and I'm not going to let this die.
"I'm just glad the march is not long," Terrell said.
He was among the thousands of people who braved the summer heart Saturday to join the country's leading black civil rights leaders, politicians and entertainers in a march to push for the extension of key provisions in the 1965 Voting Rights Act.