Looking Back, Moving Forward Protecting the Right to Vote this Black History Month

Looking Back, Moving Forward Protecting the Right to Vote this Black History Month

For those of us living in the Denver area, Black History Month represents much more than merely the dates and stories we learned in history books. It embodies the very essence of the civil rights which make our society great. During this month, we should honor the great legacy of the civil rights movement and the often overlooked contributions of African Americans to our nation.

This month also serves as a time that we must honor the memory of those important individuals who have made a difference to the lives of Coloradoans. In little more than a year, the African American community and all of Colorado have lost three community leaders who dedicated their lives to helping others.

Arie Taylor, the first African American woman elected to the Colorado General Assembly, Elvin Caldwell, the first African American elected to the Denver City Council and Omar Blair, the president of the Colorado Association of School Boards all will be missed. They were pioneers who overcame prejudice that, while greatly diminished, is still too often present in our nation. All were instrumental in strengthening our state's traditions of equality and justice - the basis of our civil rights. Thanks to them and many of their peers, these rights are now taken for granted by many.

In remembering all that these great Coloradoans have achieved, we are reminded that their struggle remains unfinished. The lesson that they, and all of the civil rights leaders, have left with us is that we must remain vigilant in protecting their legacy. This is true whether we see harassment based on race or religion, an erosion of our civil liberties by overzealous government officials or efforts to deny any group of Americans their legal right to vote.

During the 2000 and 2004 elections too many Americans found one of their most fundamental rights, the right to vote, under renewed threat. In both of these elections, thousands of voters were disenfranchised simply because they were African American or from another minority group. Too many people died to secure the right to vote for all Americans for it to be eroded today.

We must all be committed to protecting this hard-won right for every American. That's why I fought for the Help America Vote Act. This was the most comprehensive voting reforms passed by Congress since the Voting Rights Act of 1965. While it does not solve all of the problems, this proposal marked a first step in modernizing our electoral process nationwide.

Unfortunately, as last year's election showed, there is still more that should be done. I am working with Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-OH) to draw attention to the voting irregularities that occurred in Ohio and throughout the country last year. We must address the fact that many voters, particularly minorities, were presented with unacceptable obstacles to exercising their right to vote. Black History Month is the perfect time to redouble this commitment.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/co01_degette/050204b.html