@coyote I see small snippets of the news online, and the only thing that crosses my mind is that it's all just churn for the masses. While I doubt there will ever be an "official" end to the obstructionists and those who would have us return to more oppressive times, they *are* finished and they know it. Everything we are seeing them do and try to do will ultimately fail; they know it, and we know it. The only thing we need to do for the next little while (a year, perhaps two) is keep reminding ourselves that everything we are seeing is a tempest in a teapot that will disappear in the end. It will end, and we will move forward, with or without them.
The picture I keep seeing in my head is of something slowly rising from under the sea, and the noise they are making is the waves and chaos on the surface that heralds its arrival. It will come, it will appear, and there's nothing they can do about it. As it comes up and is seen by more and more people, their cries and protests will become more and more shrill and desperate as their "truth" is broken, exposed, and destroyed. They only fight and scream and cry because they know that they and their way of handling things is quickly dying, and a new way - a better and inclusive way - will completely supplant them.
Virginia Governor Northam and the Democratic-led General Assembly, along with two GOP delegates and one Republican state senator, have successfully abolished the death penalty, becoming the first Southern state to ban its use. Some Republican legislators stated they would have supported ending the death penalty if the bill included a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, but Democrats insisted on maintaining flexibility in sentencing. Over the past 400 years, Virginia has executed more prisoners than any other state.
Gov. Northam has also made a significant change in restoring voting rights to 69,000 people convicted of felonies. The policy change no longer requires former prisoners to go through lengthy probations before qualifying to have their voting rights restored.
@deetoo - I too prefer to stay positive through all this obstruction. And yet, I am watching the reports on Rachel Maddow about the election law just passed in Georgia today. This law went through the house, the senate and on to the governor for signing. The signing was done behind a closed door. This law would make it possible for Republicans to change an election result if they don't agree with the results.
Other states are looking to pass similar laws. Please someone talk me down from the wall. Will this get overturned at the national level by HR 1?
If I am going to be arrested, I want it to be for giving water to people who are standing in line to vote in Georgia.
I had to stand in line 2 hours to vote for Hillary Clinton in 2017 for the AZ primary. We were all hunger and thirsty, nobody anticipated how long the line would be and it was dinner time. A pizza delivery company arrived multiple times with free pizza and water for the voters in line and I was grateful for the thoughtfulness.
I can't believe it is now illegal to give a voter in waiting line water or food in Georgia.
There's already a lawsuit to stop it. Link is to a short summary, and there's a link to the actual filing documents on the page.
https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/georgia-voter-suppression-bill/
If I am going to be arrested, I want it to be for giving water to people who are standing in line to vote in Georgia.
I think it will make an interesting experiment if crowds of people stage protests that involve giving refreshments en masse to voters waiting in line during the next Georgia election. And make sure there are news teams and documentarians standing by to film it.
Eventually the Federal Government may have to step in the way they did with desegregation, and send troops to the polls to enable all people to vote.
You know, I would consider traveling to Georgia just to participate in an organized "hydrate the vote" movement. Seriously. I love your idea Jeanne!
Also someone could stage celebrity visits to the lines. Popular singers singing, people like Oprah, making surprise visits, free hand-outs. Turn voting into an amazing celebration that no-one would want to miss.
And songs the voters can sing, in harmony, fugues, while they are all in line. Maybe Demi Lavato will write one. Games.
Make it a not-to-miss event of a lifetime.
And state-wide contests for which precinct has the greatest turnout.
American Idol of voter performance awards where voters sing and compete and get to be on national tv.
So what next. They'll have to pass a no singing near the polls law?
I hope President Biden will declare election day a national holiday. That would solve a lot of problems in one fell swoop.
As often happens...while reading about and feeling dismayed about these terrible voting laws, a verse of Scripture popped into my head.
In Genesis, Joseph speaking to his brothers who sold him into slavery:
“You meant evil against me, but God used it for good.” ...
If I am going to be arrested, I want it to be for giving water to people who are standing in line to vote in Georgia.
I think it will make an interesting experiment if crowds of people stage protests that involve giving refreshments en masse to voters waiting in line during the next Georgia election. And make sure there are news teams and documentarians standing by to film it.
Eventually the Federal Government may have to step in the way they did with desegregation, and send troops to the polls to enable all people to vote.
peaches! hehheh. since it is Georgia we will hand out peaches to the voters, and dare them to try and stop us.
May a lurker connected to getting out the vote in Georgia be inspired and come up with some creative ways to help people vote.
I bet there will be people giving free things to others BEFORE they get in line as well as after. I love the visual you painted Jeanne, a true celebration instead of oppression.
Peaches for everyone!
The Suez Canal has been blocked for some time now. Fears of shortages loom.
@jeanne-mayell A native Georgian here , I have fought the status quo my whole life, I was appalled at that dog and pony show. Big burly caucasian good ole boys - dressed in 3 piece suits and flanking the boy faced wonder as he signed that disgrace in to law with nary a woman nor person of color in sight. A painting of now called Calloway Gardens - a plantation built by slave labor. A Representative- black woman -Was arrested, handcuffed and hauled to jail - for knocking on the door - asking to be present and see our voting rights signed away. Dr. King, John Lewis, Ruth Bader Ginsberg and so many more are with us and watching. Rev. Warnock got her out of jail - the ramifications not lost on any of us working towards unity and a better future for us all. The only way the GOP can win here now? Is by changing up all the rules we have played by... they know it, we know it. I ❤️ The idea of people coming en masse to support us standing in line, getting our say, in spite of their machinations, overcoming by sheer numbers of determined people to "speak" with their vote thrills me to the core! Living in an area that elected Marjorie Taylor Greene, those of us who have , and are ,steadfastly networking , would consider it an honor that validates ALL of voices here... not just the QAnon trumpists. Intuition/Spirit about rigged voting machines, says that what they are accusing us of?!? They have done and that it needs to come out before 2022 elections. Timeline is important here... we are still fighting these battles - let us remain resolute and bring home the victory to We, the people. ??✨
@enkasongwriter it is freed! The rising tides ( full moon tides) have raised it free.
The great ideas here are inspiring. I love the idea to make it a national holiday - why the hec not? I'm assuming that this never happened because the GOP have squashed the idea, but I truly don't know how much effort groups have put into doing this. I would love to also see singers, celebrities, etc. come out to assist in GA during the next elections.
I can already see Jane Fonda doing so now....!
Let me know where I can send a giant box of peaches to be handed out to voters in Georgia! ?
@journeywithme2 When is the next big election in Georgia? Anything this year or is it mainly the midterms in 2022 we are worried about next? I live only a couple hours drive from the state line-- maybe I could get brave and hand out peaches or something.
@ana Next big will be 2022 Rev Warnock will again be campaigning for his Senate seat, Gov Kemp will be fighting for his... the laws they have passed MUST be challenged and changed- it has granted unconscionable power to the GOP to invalidate/change the results!!! They can only win by cheating and are now changing the laws to allow it!!! In plain sight!!! Raffenspurger's political career is dead in the water, after making a stand against their machine. How that small percentage continues to tell us/accuse us of their misdeeds and get away with it continues to baffle me to no end. Providing we can move freely in society and you are close to my sector.. bring your sleeping bags, I'll house and feed up to five people .. more if you bring your tents lol
A second lawsuit has been filed:
https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/georgia-voter-suppression-bill-naacp/
And a third:
https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/georgia-voter-suppression-bill-aclu/