Kweisi Mfume: “Clearly, one of the greatest hypocrisies is the notion that we can somehow have equal voting rights and equal protection…”

“Clearly, one of the greatest hypocrisies is the notion that we can somehow have equal voting rights and equal protection under the law as it pertains to the right to vote while at the same time denying in every legal way we can the right of people to duly elect Representatives in districts that are drawn to reflect the demographics of the State in such a way that we maximize participation. Madam Speaker, the struggle for African-American voting rights has been a dynamic one, ranging from periods of complete disenfranchisement and obstruction to varying degrees of participation in the political process. The vote and its correlated benefit--inclusion in the political process--has come to symbolize the principal resource needed to improve the social status of the African-American community.”