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Tag: voting

On 60th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, United Women in Faith Remembers Struggle for Civil Rights

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NEW YORK –  United Women in Faith today issued the following statement in remembrance of the 60th anniversary of the events leading up to Bloody Sunday: 

“On this day sixty years ago, 600 men, women, and children began to march from Selma to Montgomery to protest the suppression of Black voters. Segregationists injured 58 people that day, from tear gas burns to skull fractures. After seeing this cruelty, demonstrators rose across the country and President Lyndon B. Johnson vowed to make the Voting Rights Act law. At the successful march two weeks later, over 25,000 people arrived at the state capitol in Montgomery.

“As the largest denominational organization for women, we pause to remember the legacy of those who risked life and limb in pursuit of the right to vote,” said Sally Vonner, General Secretary and CEO of United Women in Faith. “Although it has been 60 years since Bloody Sunday, we know that the fight for voting rights – indeed civil rights – continues.”  

“We may not all feel the brunt of an officer’s baton, but we are still fighting against repressive forces who stand in opposition to voter access for all. During the United Methodist General Conference in 2024, Vonner introduced legislation regarding Voting Rights Protections in the United States on behalf of United Women in Faith. The resolution passed and now serves as a reminder of The United Methodist Church’s commitment to voting rights. It is also an expression of our appreciation for those who fought so women and people of color could exercise their right to vote.

“In the same way that our foremothers and ancestors stood against segregation and fought for civil rights, we lift our voices today. 

“On this 60th anniversary of Bloody Sunday – and every day – we honor the sacrifices of past generations and look ahead to the work that is left to be done,” said Vonner. “We will put faith, hope and love into action to overcome every trial we face.”

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United Women in Faith is a sisterhood acting in faith to tackle the hard work of the world without hesitation. Connect with the organization here.

This post was updated on March 7 at 8:50 am to reflect corrections.

Rev. Al Sharpton Brings Voting Message to Ohio State

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Political, civil rights, social justice activist and MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton made his argument for Ohio State students and Ohio residents to vote at a pre-election event held Wednesday at the school’s Fawcett Center.
 
U.S. Rep Joyce Beatty, Jesse Jackson, Jesse Jackson Jr., exonerated Central Park Five members joined Sharpton
Special guests U.S. Rep Joyce Beatty, Jesse Jackson Jr. along with exonerated Central Park Five members Yusef Salaam and Korey Wise echoed Sharpton’s message of justice, civil rights, and the power of the vote.
Salaam, Wise and three others were wrongfully accused of the 1989 rape and assault of a Central Park jogger.
Jesse Jackson and family members of Coretta Scott King also attended the event.
“You can’t be a strong tree if you don’t know the roots,” Sharpton said as he detailed the history of the racial and social justice struggle throughout U.S. history. “The only people in America that don’t celebrate their history are people that have been given a slave mentality. The first thing they had to do with the slaves was cut them off from history, took their names, and took the culture because if you were connected to your history, you would know you were not born to be slaves.
“Someone with common sense will embrace their roots. So that’s why we’re here today to tell you to reconnect to the roots.”
 
‘If you don’t vote, you are telling us who you are’
The event was non-partisan, but Sharpton said the choice was clear in November’s race for U.S. President between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
“Whether you vote or not and who you vote for doesn’t define Kamala (Harris) or (Donald) Trump, it defines you,” he said. “If you don’t vote, you are telling us who you are. If you vote wrong, you are telling us who you are.”
Spotlight PR is a public relations consultancy supporting leaders and organizations advancing justice including Ohio Organizing Collaborative, which builds transformative relational power with everyday Ohioans for statewide social, racial, and economic justice.
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Chris Pugh is the Media Relations Manager for Spotlight PR.