- Title: Thousands march in Washington, U.S. cities for voting rights
- Date: 28th August 2021
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (AUGUST 28, 2021) (REUTERS) PERSON LEADING "STAND UP FIGHT BACK" CHANT MAN PLAYING BONGOS THOUSAND PREPARING TO MARCH FOR VOTING RIGHTS CLOSE UP OF REVEREND AL SHARPTON FROM NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK AND CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN FROM TEXAS MARCHERS LEADING CHANT "BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY" AL SHARPTON, CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE AND CONGRESSMAN ALL GREEN LEADING MARCH VARIOUS OF MARCH WIDE OF MARCHERS WALKING TOWARD NATIONAL MALL CARRYING SIGNS MARCHERS WALKING BY LAFAYETTE PARK AND THE WHITE HOUSE MARCHERS CHANTING "THEY CAN'T STOP THE REVOLUTION" AS THEY CARRY SIGNS INCLUDING ONE OF JOHN LEWIS MARCHERS CARRYING SIGNS READING "ABOLISH THE FILIBUSTER, STOP POLICE BRUTALITY, END POVERTY AND BLACK LIVES MATTER" MAN LEADING CHANT "WHAT DO WE WANT, (VOTING RIGHTS) WHEN DO WE WANT IT? (NOW)" MARCHERS WALKING BY THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEO BURROUGHS JR. - ATTENDED MARCH ON WASHINGTON IN 1968 SAYING: "No justice, no peace. Justice has not rolled down like a mighty stream in America. America, as is true of Western civilization, is continuing to bamboozle and suppress the aspirations of African and brown people throughout the world and we simply must be unified by any means necessary." MAN IN CROWD LISTENING WHILE HOLDING A VOTING RIGHTS SIGN WITH IMAGE OF JOHN LEWIS PERSON WRAPPED IN AMERICAN FLAG HOLDING A SIGN READING "PROTECT VOTER RIGHTS" (SOUNDBITE) (English) CARL BOYD - WHO ATTENDED MARCH IN WASHINGTON IN 1968, SAYING: "Everybody that's here, is for that one reason, and not to see that our democracy be ruined and destroyed and our voting rights be taken away from us." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) CARL BOYD - WHO ATTENDED MARCH IN WASHINGTON IN 1968, SAYING: "We can't let these haters destroy our country, and remember, truth is so important and we must stop all these big lies that are being told now about individuals in our country and to be able to restore what America is all about." (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHYLLIS HALL- MARCHER, SAYING: "I'm in favor of all people eligible to vote, being able to vote and not being blocked from voting. So it's not just me. It's you know, I care about everybody in this country who's eligible to vote, should have access to the voting booth." (SOUNDBITE) (English) NANCY TURNER – MARCHER, SAYING: "And that is why voting is so important, is not about agreeing, it's about your right, and when you have the right to express, you are really doing justice for yourself." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE HOLDING SIGNS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE HOLDING SIGNS AND LISTENING TO SPEAKERS
- Embargoed: 11th September 2021 18:42
- Keywords: March on Washington civil rights voting rights
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Race Relations / Ethnic Issues,Society/Social Issues,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA001ES6ZUPZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands marched in Washington and in other cities across the U.S. on Saturday (August 28) to demand protections for voting rights, aiming to pressure lawmakers to pass legislation to counter a wave of ballot restrictions in Republican-led states.
Held on the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s historic 1963 March on Washington, organizers of the "March On For Washington And Voting Rights" say the state-level moves to curb voting access disproportionately impact people of color.
In Washington marchers held "Black Lives Matter" flags and signs called for federal legislation to protect voting rights. Large crowds marched from McPherson Square near the White House to the final meeting point at the National Mall, where King gave his iconic "I Have a Dream" speech 58 years ago.
There were some in the crowd who attended the march in 1963 and once again came to Washington to push for the passage of a federal law that would outlaw discriminatory voting practices.
The bill, named after the late civil rights hero John Lewis, was approved in the U.S. House of Representatives this week but faces poor prospects in the Senate due to rules that allow a minority to block legislation.
After Democrat Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Republican lawmakers in many states reined in use of dropboxes and mail-in voting. The moves came after former Republican president Donald Trump tried unsuccessfully to overturn the election based on unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud.
So far this year, at least 18 states have enacted laws restricting voter access, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.
Organizers expected 50,000 demonstrators in Washington, where civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King III and the Rev. Al Sharpton are scheduled to speak. Rallies have also been planned in Phoenix, Miami and several other cities.
In addition to the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a more expansive voting reform bill was also passed by the House earlier this year but Senate Republicans blocked it in June, saying voting rules should be left to the states.
The lack of meaningful Republican support appears set to doom any legislation in the Senate, which is divided 50-50 along party lines and where filibuster rules mean Democrats need to secure the votes of 10 Republicans to advance measures.
(Production: Kia Johnson) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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