Okay. See if they are out there. [ background noise ] janet has to be out there somewhere. [ laughing ] step back, please. Thank you. Thank you. Another that focuses on suicide prevention. Well also bring you a National Press club event with actor and veterans advocate gary senise. That begins at 1 00 p. M. Eastern here on cspan 3. Next a discussion on the history of the Voting Rights act from the obstacles africanamericans faced in the reconstruction era to the current status of Voting Rights after the Supreme Court ruling in Shelby County versus holder. The National Museum of africanamerican history and culture hosts this event. Its an hour and a half. It is such a pleasure to be here. I want to thank you so much for joining us in this celebration. Were here tonight to celebrate two important cornerstones of our democracy. One, of course, is the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights act and as mr. Ellis said, also the 75th anniversary of the Legal Defense fund, and i positioned them
Africanamerican history and culture hosts this event. Its an hour and a half. It is such a pleasure to be here. I want to thank you so much for joining us in this celebration. Were here tonight to celebrate two important cornerstones of our democracy. One, of course, is the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights act and as mr. Ellis said, also the 75th anniversary of the Legal Defense fund, and i positioned them as two cornerstones of our democracy. One is obviously a law that helped to transform this country and provide the Legal Protections that allowed this democracy to evolve into what it is today. Still in progress, but its certainly better than it was, but with any law you need enforcers. With any law you need those who will protect that law who will enforce it, who will allow it to live out its fullness and i know that the Legal Defense fund has spent all of its days since the passable of the Voting Rights act working towards that goal and then many, many others. Im particularly
That. The reason why it expanded like that was not just because the legislature was doing so many radical things on so many issue s it was not just an hispanic issue. Every group had a stake in North Carolina was affected by this whether you cared about the environment or a womens right to choose or economic injustice. I think that was a powerful message. It is kind of an asylum and what reverend barber said is that it was an issue for everyone in the state. A lot of shelf life that is longer than just one demonstration or one protester. I actually ended my book with the moral Mondays Movement because i think it is such a powerful example of the time of activism that we need. I think youre right but i also think that it wasnt abstract. It wasnt like the right to vote affects all of these other things. It so happened that in North Carolina, all of those were there. It was about a womans right to choose, about voting, about, you know, wages and a whole set of issues that were on the tabl
Thats one. Two, two, im actually intrigued by the wonderful statements that you made which is that we didnt and never have had the guts to enforce the punishment provision of section two of the 14th a i mendment. I think that is absolutely true. Probably less inclination to punish today than ever did. I cant imagine that happening. It is the same provision that i just described that is used to support expel and disenfranchisement and yet we would really never marshal the power that is right there in the clause to actually punish for the denial the right to vote which you are quite right. Whether that is in fact a fertile area for litigation is something i would have to think more about. By the way were letting the panelist respond. Go ahead, sir. One of the things i think that we have to understand that when feelings get strong it doesnt matter what the law is. You can have all the laws on the books and you can end up with a terrible result. But the opposite of that is that we have to
Rightfully incarcerated, its as though they are no longer citizens. What the president of the United States said is they are citizens too. He was talking about people in prison without question people who are out of prison and served the time for which were sentenced, but they are not full citizens without the right to vote. Therefore, this also has to be regarded as a key democracy issue for this country that we have to confront. Can i just add quickly on that . They are actually ending laws is one area there is some new bipartisan support that is very interesting. Criminal justice issues are rising even as an issue within the republican primary. You now have very conservative people who are talking about the need to end or at least curb mass incarceration. There have been efforts in the senate where rand paul has talked about the need, not necessarily to end felony disenfranchisement but to e relax the laws. And obviously i think there continue to be movement with the country focused