America Votes President Greg Speed released the following statement on the voting today amid ongoing protests across the country over the death of George Floyd and struggle to protect Black lives:

“As polls close in nine states and the District of Columbia, we are in a historic moment in the struggle for human, civil, and voting rights.

“Americans are hurting and angry at hundreds years of injustice and the recent killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and the relentless assaults on Black bodies. We are sickened but sadly not surprised by the hateful, incendiary rhetoric of the President at a time that calls for national leadership and reconciliation. Recent events reveal both the stubborn persistence of racism and oppression, and the power that can come from holding failed leaders accountable at the ballot box.

“Two of the fundamental ways in which to make our voices heard are protest and voting, and we see both across the country tonight. America Votes will always fight to protect voting, a basic human right, as one of many means for Americans to exercise agency and protest their government.

“At the same time, we know voting is not enough. The fight to change our system from the ground up, to make Black Lives Matter, will never end with a single election. We believe voting is one of many tools for social change and building long-term progressive power—not an end-goal in itself.

“And this powerful tool, voting, is one of many basic human rights that are under constant assault. We see white supremacy in action by de facto and de jure voter suppression—whether by conservatives instituting discriminatory voting laws or more recently by trying to limit vote by mail in the midst of a global pandemic. America Votes and our partners join many allies in demanding the protection of voting rights as part of the response to ongoing injustice. Voting is essential to the accountability needed to protect vulnerable communities and people, and to ultimately end structural racism and oppression.

“The past three and a half years have shown the depths we can scrape when malignant leaders are not held accountable. Hopefully, through the power of the vote and of protest, the future can show what better, accountable leadership can do to advance racial equity and make this a better, more decent country.

“We encourage everyone to get involved and, if able, donate to community organizations nationwide working on social justice, including: Black Futures Lab, Campaign Zero, Center for Policing Equity, Color of Change, Movement for Black Lives, National Black Justice Coalition, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.”

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America Votes is the central coordination hub of the progressive community both nationally and in more than 20 states across the country, working with more than 400 state and national partner organizations to advance progressive policies, win elections and protect every American’s right to vote. Visit www.americavotes.org for more information.