Contact
Laila Hirschfeld
(202) 624-1739
lhirschfeld@usaction.org

(Washington, DC)—Today, USAction Education Fund (USAEF) joined with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the NAACP Education Fund, the National Council of La Raza and the American Association of People with Disabilities to denounce voter suppression tactics.  USAEF Civic Engagement Director Alan Charney made the following statement:

"In the past several months USAction Education Fund has worked with our 19 state partners to bring democracy to all people.  We have successfully added half a million people to the rolls, and plan to turn out 1.2 million people on Election Day.  Our campaign was completely non-partisan.  We registered voters who have historically been underrepresented or disenfranchised in the past, mostly people of color and unmarried women. 

"We are wholly dedicated to making democracy work, especially for those of whom our nation has failed in the past.  We can think of no more noble or patriotic cause than to help America keep her promise to her people—and to engage all Americans in the political process.

"When we heard recent reports of a planned strategy to challenge Black and Latino voters at the polls, we were shocked.  Of all people, the political parties that lead this nation should be committed to ensuring that all Americans have access to democracy. 

"This year, millions of new voters will participate in electoral politics.  We cannot in one breath complain about voter apathy, and in the next complain about "overwhelming" turnout.  The bottom line is: people should feel welcomed to the polls, not scared away from them.  It is simply un-American to manipulate the outcome of an election by preventing people from participating.

"Voters have enough to worry about on Election Day: tough decisions to make, new voting technology to figure out, long lines to navigate.  They do not need the added worry that they will be a victim of a planned program of suppression.

"America only works with full participation.  Martin Luther King, Jr. said, 'There is nothing more dangerous than to build a society, with a large segment of people in that society, who feel that they have no stake in it; who feel that they have nothing to lose.'  
  
"USAction Education Fund is committed to attaining justice for all at the polls, and making democracy work.  We now call on the political parties to do their part, and proceed with excitement and pride as millions of new voters go to the polls." 

# # #

USAction Education Fund is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to research and education concerning issues of racial, social and economic justice.  The organization works with partners in 24 states to help increase civic participation and consumer advocacy.  Members of the media who wish to interview Executive Director Jeff Blum and President William McNary, should contact Laila Hirschfeld at (202) 624-1739.