Cleo Fields: “I want to also talk a little bit about some of the history, not only in Louisiana but all across this country, as…”

“I want to also talk a little bit about some of the history, not only in Louisiana but all across this country, as relates to the Voting Rights Act. As the gentleman knows, the Voting Rights Act was actually instituted by this institution simply because of the denial of due process in the voting arena. Individuals of color, as a matter of fact women as well, could not participate in the electoral process simply because they were women and simply because they were Hispanic, simply because they were black or African-Americans and, therefore, this esteemed body thought enough of this country to pass something called a Voting Rights Act. Did the gentleman know that there were individuals who would try to register to vote, but simply because they were African-Americans, they were not able to vote? And after it was illegal to deny a person the opportunity to vote, State legislatures passed statutes that had prohibitions in terms that made the registration process more complicated. For example, I can recall talking to one of my professors at Southern University that mentioned the fact that in order to register to vote in Louisiana, you had to state the Preamble to the Constitution.”