Susan Davis: “What an occasion and privilege it was to mark the 50th anniversary of the march in Selma. As my friend and hero…”

“What an occasion and privilege it was to mark the 50th anniversary of the march in Selma. As my friend and hero Congressman John Lewis said: ``Selma is more than a place, it is the realization of an idea.'' Selma showed us that true empowerment begins with voting rights. After 50 years of progress, the Supreme Court has rolled back the Voting Rights Act, one of the most effective laws ever passed. Now, House leadership is saying parts of the VRA are ``not necessary.'' Literacy tests may be relics of the past but only because of the VRA. Some States have replaced old overt forms of voter disenfranchisement with more subtle forms of voter suppression through registration, through redistricting, and voting itself. States need to stop holding people back from voting, and Congress must hold States accountable. The Court may not have done the right thing, but surely Congress can. Let's restore the VRA and better the voting process for all voters. ____________________”