Panel of Intersectional Leaders Discuss the Need for Unity in Voting Rights in Honor of John Lewis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 10, 2021
CONTACT:
Fernanda Durand | (214) 402-0186 | fernanda@communicationsshop.us
Panel of Intersectional Leaders Discuss the Need for Unity in Voting Rights in Honor of John Lewis
NATIONWIDE – In honor of Congressman John Lewis, a key figure in the American struggle for civil rights, Poder Latinx hosted a panel of civil and social justice advocates Saturday during a virtual conference to address the numerous voter suppression bills being introduced in legislatures across the country, emphasizing the necessity for Black and Brown unity within the voting rights movement and uplifting the generations of activists inspired by the legacy of Congressman Lewis.
“We were very excited to be joined by our partners from across the country for a national day of advocacy to honor the late civil and voting rights activist and congressman, John Lewis. Today’s panel addressed these issues by emphasizing the necessity for Black, Brown, and LGBTQIA+ unity within the voting rights movement and uplifting the stories of activists inspired by the legacy of late Congressman Lewis,” said Yadira Sanchez, co-executive director of Poder Latinx and one of the moderators of the event.
Panelists Alphonso David, president of the Human Rights Campaign, Donald Cravins Jr., executive vice president and chief operating officer at the National Urban League, and Carol Joyner, director for the Labor Project for Working Families came together to discuss their personal and professional experiences in the social justice space, being inspired by the work of John Lewis, and how diverse communities need to work together in order to achieve intersectional victories.
“How do we see beyond ourselves? We must see beyond the policy issues that directly affect us or the people that we know. That was the spirit that he [John Lewis] brought forward every single day,” said Alphonso David, president of Human Rights Campaign, on what “getting in good trouble” means to him.
The conversation took on many angles, tying in many of the current policy needs in the United States from paid leave, to protection for transgender people of color, and an explanation of the onslaught of voter suppression bills moving through state legislatures across the country. The overwhelming solution drawn by the speakers was that unity and intersectionality among our communities is a critical element of maintaining and advancing our progress.
“Congressman John Lewis left us with a call to action to fight the good fight and uplift the voices of the underrepresented. I’m proud to represent Poder Latinx as a board member and join this critical discussion about the intersectionality of the voting rights movement and what it will take for us to keep it alive now and in the future. Our unity defines our success in this space, we must coordinate our efforts to be as loud as possible on the issues that impact us the most,” said Donald Cravins Jr., vice president and chief operating officer at the National Urban League.
“Our organization, our team and our community is grateful to have been able to share this time with our distinguished panelists today, commemorating Congressman Lewis’ legacy. His work shapes ours everyday and we hope to continue ‘getting into necessary trouble’ for the greater good of all our communities,” said Esteban Garces, co-executive director of Poder Latinx and one of the moderators for today’s event.
To watch the entire conversation go to Poder Latinx' Facebook page here.
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