Kirk Watson: “the passing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act is a crowning achievement of Congress and the civil rights movement. Some say…”

“the passing of the 1965 Voting Rights Act is a crowning achievement of Congress and the civil rights movement. Some say that we no longer need a Voting Rights Act, that 41 years is enough. Others want to water down key expiring provisions in order to weaken the act. Yes, we have made considerable progress in the last 41 years. However, much work needs to be done. The sad fact is that in every national election since Reconstruction, in every election since the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965, American voters have faced calculated and determined efforts by persons and groups whose goal is to deny them the most fundamental right, and that is the right to vote. Gone are the days of poll taxes and literacy tests. Today, however, intimidation, threats, innuendo and deception are still used to discourage voter turnout. The list of strategies used to deny Americans their right to vote is long and varied. Please vote for this bill, attack and reject the amendments.”