D. Elisabeth Glassco’s Post

🇺🇸 Embracing Civic Duty: Exercising the Right to Vote 🗳️ As an American citizen, I take great pride in our nation's rich history and the principles upon which it was founded. One of the fundamental rights bestowed upon us is the right to vote – a cornerstone of our democracy and a privilege that should never be taken for granted. Every time I step into the voting booth, I am reminded of the countless individuals who fought tirelessly for the freedoms we enjoy today. From suffragists who paved the way for women's suffrage to civil rights activists who championed equality for all, their sacrifices serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of civic engagement. By casting my ballot, I am not only honoring their legacy but also fulfilling my civic duty as a responsible citizen. It's a powerful expression of democracy in action – a voice for change, progress, and the values that define us as a nation. As we approach each election, I am reminded of the profound impact that every vote can have on shaping the future of our country. Whether it's at the local, state, or national level, each election offers us the opportunity to make our voices heard and to stand up for the issues that matter most to us. So let us embrace our role as active participants in the democratic process, and let us never forget the privilege and responsibility that comes with being an American citizen. Together, we can continue to uphold the ideals of freedom, justice, and equality that make our nation great. #ProudAmerican #VotingMatters #CivicDuty 🇺🇸🗳️

Great way to close out the day of plenary sessions with an insightful and thought-provoking session exploring Latinos and the future of voting and civil rights, including how political illiteracy, misinformation, and voter suppression impact minority participation at the ballot box. A huge thank you to Domingo Garcia, National President of LULAC, Gaby Pacheco, President and CEO TheDream.US, Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel of MALDEF - Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Alphonso David, President & CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum, and Max Sevillia, Senior Vice President of National Affairs Anti-Defamation League, for the in-depth discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing Latino voters in 2024. "Voting rights and civil rights are el corazón de LULAC," stated LULAC National President Domingo Garcia. "We’re looking to break down all the silos and barriers that exist in reaching financial success for black and brown communities, added Alphonso David. "It is important for us to understand and harness our political power." As we prepare for this year’s election, these insights will be critical in supporting efforts that ensure that every Latino has the information and access required to participate fully in our democracy. #VotingRights #CivilRights #Democracy2024 #LatinoVoices #LULAC24

Sixty years ago, LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law. Today, the activism continues: https://lnkd.in/g2X7wa6s Over a five-year span between 1865 and 1870, following the end of the Civil War, three constitutional amendments were ratified to end slavery (the 13th), make formerly enslaved people U.S. citizens (the 14th) and give all men the right to vote regardless of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude” (the 15th). In the decades that followed, however, and despite provision that “the Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation,” various states and municipalities passed “Jim Crow” laws, abused poll taxes and literacy tests to limit voting and condoned racially motivated violence to enforce segregation and disenfranchise African Americans. Featured CU expert: Ashleigh Lawrence-Sanders, a University of Colorado Boulder assistant professor of African American and U.S. history

Understanding felony disenfranchisement and its impact on African Americans is crucial, especially in the context of Juneteenth. ✅ Learn how past injustices still affect voting rights today. Discover how disenfranchisement perpetuates systemic inequality. Understand the ongoing battle to ensure every voice is heard. Juneteenth, a symbol of liberation, reminds us of the continuing struggle for true freedom and civil rights. Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/e4uk5F4Q.

Juneteenth is an extremely important holiday for all Americans. As a Central Florida native, I find the story of Moses Norman and the massacre of 30-80 black Ocoee residents on November 2, 1920, as providing crucial local context to the ongoing struggle for equal rights. This tragic event, sparked by Norman’s attempt to exercise his right to vote, is one of many episodes in the long and deadly fight for civil rights faced by black Americans since the Thirteenth Amendment was passed in 1865, shortly after the Civil War. Juneteenth marks a key turning point, but more importantly, it highlights that the struggle for equal rights did not end with the Thirteenth Amendment, the Civil Rights Act of 1957, or the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As recently as 2021, nineteen states have enacted voting access restrictions that disproportionately affect people of color. The fight for equality continues today, and Juneteenth serves as a stark reminder that there are still battles ahead to be fought and won.

In Premier Smith’s own words from just last year, ‘it’s damaging for kids to have this playing out in the public realm.’ By supporting these draconian measures, Pierre Poilievre is joining Premier Smith in playing politics with some of the most vulnerable members of our society: trans and gender diverse youth. These policies run directly counter to expert guidance and evidence, violate the constitutional rights of 2SLGBTQI+ people, and will lead to irreparable harm and suffering. Instead of focusing on the next election, Poilievre should focus on the next generation.

On July 2, 2024, we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a pivotal moment in American history. Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, this landmark legislation represented the culmination of decades of relentless advocacy by civil rights leaders, addressing deep-seated racial inequality and segregation across the United States. We are reminded of the ongoing struggle for equality and the imperative of sustained advocacy and vigilance. The parallels between past and present underscore the urgent need for collective voice and action to realize a more just and equitable society for all. Read more from Imari Paris Jeffries Ph.D. on why the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 serves as critical moments to reaffirm commitments to justice and equality below.

    New study explores challenges of a rapidly emerging, multiracial  population for the future of Civil Rights   As the nation marks the civil rights milestone of the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, a new research paper published by the UCLA Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles explores the rapid growth of a multiracial population in the United States, highlighting new challenges and possibilities for the future of the civil rights movement. More at https://lnkd.in/d55BWv5U

The Niagara Movement was an African American civil rights organization founded in 1905 by a group led by W. E. B. Du Bois and William Monroe Trotter. It was named for the “mighty current” of change the group wanted to effect and Niagara Falls, near Fort Erie, Ontario, was where the first meeting took place on July 11-14, 1905. The Niagara Movement was a call for opposition to racial segregation and disenfranchisement, and it was opposed to policies of accommodation and conciliation promoted by African-American leaders such as Booker T. Washington. During the Reconstruction Era that followed the American Civil War, African Americans had an unprecedented level of civil freedom and civic participation, especially in the South. With the end of Reconstruction, this began to change. Many of the Southern states introduced laws that significantly restricted the political and civil rights of African Americans. All of them passed laws restricting voting rights or making them more difficult to exercise, and passed laws requiring racially segregated facilities. These policies became entrenched when the SCOTUS in 1896 ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that the law requiring “separate but equal” facilities was constitutional. By the turn of the 20th century activists within the African-American community began demanding a more active opposition to racist government policies than the type advocated by DC. Groups of activists sought to gain a larger voice in the debate at the conventions of the National Afro-American Council but were procedurally marginalized because the conventions were dominated by Washington supporters. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

This is magnificent and just the kind of leadership and collaboration that is so urgently needed in the US. This is the kind if movement-building that made the Civil Rights Movement so powerful. Together we SHALL overcome. #OrganizeMobilizeResist #GoodTrouble https://lnkd.in/eKM6sq4v