Texas’ sweeping voter suppression law is a targeted attack on Black women

Statement from In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda

WASHINGTON — Today, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a new state law making it more difficult to vote in a state that already has restrictive voting laws. Marcela Howell, president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, issued the following statement:

“The egregious new law in Texas is voter suppression, plain and simple — and a threat to American democracy. Gov. Abbott’s reinstatement of racist voter intimidation and criminalization tactics is straight out of the Jim Crow playbook.

“This Texas law is just the latest heinous example of the lengths that Republican lawmakers will go to suppress the voting power of Black women. Republican-controlled legislatures in 18 states have already passed more than 30 bills this year, effectively bulldozing what remains of the Voting Rights Act. Black people fought for voting rights too hard and long — many losing their lives in the struggle — to allow racists to keep us away from the polls. We will vote — and our votes will be counted — because our movement for justice is stronger than white supremacy.

“This targeted assault on our most basic rights and freedoms as American citizens underscores the urgent need to pass federal voting rights legislation. We demand Congress pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the For the People Act immediately. Our democracy and our lives depend on it!”

###

In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is a national reproductive justice organization focused on lifting the voices of Black women at the national and regional levels in our ongoing policy fight to secure reproductive justice for all women and girls. Our eight strategic partners include Black Women for Wellness, Black Women’s Health Imperative, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, SisterLove, Inc. SisterReach, SPARK Reproductive Justice NOW, The Afiya Center and Women With A Vision.