|
However, change can only occur when people decide that
enough is enough and take action. With the extremist
policies of Ohio politics having now placed the backs of the
black community’s current existence up against the wall, the
time for patience and nonproductive talk have come to an
end. In the words of Rev. Al Sharpton, “It’s time to bring
down the volume and bring up the program.”
That program is the Ohio Voter Bill of Rights initiative
which was born out of the righteous indignation of State
Representative and Ohio Legislative Black Caucus President
Alicia Reece (D-Cincinnati) to the continuing abusive
political assaults on workers’ rights, public education,
women’s rights, civil rights in the criminal justice system
and the politics of black fear manifest in Stand Your Ground
legislation.
I
spoke with Representative Reece about the Ohio Voter Bill of
Rights, a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution. This
is part two of our conversation.
Perryman:
What are the specifics in the Voter Bill of Rights?
Reece:
There are several specifics. The biggest thing is that it
takes the rights that we have now and puts them in the
Constitution so that they’re protected and can’t be taken
away as is happening now. It takes the 35 days for early
voting and puts it in the Constitution. It makes voting
explicitly fair, that voting is a fundamental right. This is
not currently in our Constitution. It also identifies the
various acceptable forms of ID you can use to prove that
you’re a voter and puts that in the Constitution which
protects us from having the state-issued ID as the sole
source of identifying one’s self. It also makes sure that
provisional ballots are counted and also protects against
voter fraud. Lastly, it says that once the voters have
passed the initiative that the general assembly cannot take
away these rights unless they go back to the voters, which
puts the power in the hands of the voters rather than a few
politicians.
Perryman:
What do you see as the counter-arguments against the
initiative and how do you plan to address them?
Reece:
The first argument is that Republicans are going to say that
the elections are riddled with voter fraud. However, that’s
simply not the case and the statistics will not support
that. So there will be scare tactics because of the large
number of low-income persons, minorities and women that came
out to vote. They can’t believe that these groups of people
voted in such large numbers so there is a scramble to take
away the right and make it more difficult to vote. Now
remember that these voter actions were bipartisan bills that
were created after the Bush debacle. But the premise was
that African Americans and low-income people and students,
they just won’t vote. So, there was a bipartisan bill that
was signed into the law. And some of those same folks that
voted for it and advocated for it, are now on the other side
saying we’ve got to get rid of it. Therefore these rights
need to be in the Constitution so we don’t have to play
“who’s in charge” and “who decides who gets to vote.” We
believe that voting is a fundamental right and I truly
believe that we’ll be able to overcome and educate the
community.
Perryman:
Who does the initiative impact primarily?
Reece:
It impacts all Ohioans. It’s going to give all Ohioans the
fundamental right to vote and puts it in the Constitution.
So I think of this as just a common sense approach that will
protect the rights of all and not favor one group over
another. It’s something that helps all Ohioans and levels
the playing field.
Perryman:
There are people who may not have been active in the
political process. They may not have voted. How do we break
this down and tell them that it’s in their best interest or
make it relevant to them?
Reece:
By, first of all, making sure they understand how powerful
they are and the power in having a vote. The second is, we
let them know that they are under attack. And just like when
the voter intimidation billboards went up and people said
‘wait a minute, there’s an attack.’ You know how it is in
our community. When the alarm goes off we jump up and we’re
ready to go. And so we will be working to educate voters
because we are in a state of emergency and if we don’t
protect their rights we will be subject to new school Jim
Crow laws. We’ll be subject to voter disenfranchisement like
we’re experiencing in Cincinnati where they can move a voter
board of elections site because it’s too accessible and put
it in a place that’s inaccessible. And so this has not just
been a movement in Ohio but this will be a movement
throughout the country and we will be setting an example.
The Voter Bill of Rights allows the average citizen to fight
back. Everything else we’re talking, complaining over or
upset about. But now, you can actually do something about
it. So, we will get that message out throughout the
community and we’re going to get it out down at the
barbershop level, at the beauty shop level, and at the
grocery stores, lodges and churches so that people
understand that we are in a state of emergency and that
we’ll have a chance to fight back through the Voter Bill of
Rights.
Perryman:
I like that term “state of emergency.” I also think the term
slippery slope is suitable because if action is not taken,
the consequences could be almost unimaginable for African
Americans in particular, or senior citizens, the poor and
students. What are some drastic possibilities if this
assault on our voting rights is allowed to continue?
Reece:
Well, if it’s allowed to continue you’ll see less and less
of African Americans and students. If you don’t fight back
it gets more blatant and in your face. We’ve got people that
are purged from the rolls, people that are disenfranchised.
I never thought I would ever see a day when votes weren’t
counted. I mean we were told get out to the polls, that the
polls are the Promised Land. And to find out that we had
votes that had been thrown away. People’s votes had been
thrown in the garbage can. So if we don’t fight back then we
continue to get stepped on, and as Dr. Otis Moss told me,
“Voting rights are the lifeline to democracy.” And if we
ruin that lifeline, and I like to say we’re on life support
right now, then we lose our democracy.
Perryman:
Do you think that eventually, if we don’t fight back that
these health, wealth, income and educational disparities,
are likely to worsen?
Reece:
Absolutely. Things are happening and we’re not fighting
back. There’s a war on voting rights and there seems to be
an agenda to make sure that there’s no hope for the
hopeless, there’s no voice for the voiceless, and if we do
not stand up and fight back then absolutely. We will
continue to have a group of people that are destitute with
no hope and no representation.
Perryman:
What can we do in Lucas County, in the city of Toledo to
help?
Reece:
We will be going throughout the state and having events and
activities. We will need to get petitions from 44 of the 88
counties. So this will definitely be a statewide effort.
And so our goal is if you’re interested we’re asking folks
to sign up now with Shaun Tucker, a Toledo native, who is
the campaign manager. His contact is:
shaun.tucker@gmail.com. or
(614) 917-8551. We also need petitioners and are hosting
trainings throughout the state and online. And so we will
be hitting the streets to collect the 385,000+ signatures
that we will need to turn in by July 2. So we are in need
of one, education, which you’re doing through the newspaper
articles and keeping folks up to date as we move forward in
this process. Two, educating them on what the Voter Bill of
Rights is. Three, we’d be willing to come there for various
events which we will have throughout the state and then
four, identifying petitioners in your area that would sign
up and we can start getting them trained through our
trainings.
And I would like to add
that Representative Michael Ashford is active with the Voter
Bill of Rights and he will be hosting a series of events and
rallies in Toledo.
Perryman:
Great. One final question. For such an honorable but
monumental task, one of your largest challenges could be
funding. How are you prepared to deal with that?
Reece:
You’re right. Funding is going to be necessary. And when you
think back to Dr. King, when he launched the movement to get
a voting rights act through Congress he didn’t have any
money either but they were able to build momentum and have a
diverse funding source from the community and community
organizations, labor, etc. Our goal is to have a diverse
funding source. We’ve been blessed to have volunteers at
this point. As we move forward we are fundraising but we
want community buy-in as well. So, I’m all over the country
trying to raise funds as well as Dr. Otis Moss and others.
I’ve also worked with Reverend Al Sharpton who is the
national advisor for the Voter Bill of Rights and I’ll be in
D.C. trying to raise money. But the community can buy-in for
as little as $10 or $20. We want a community buy-in to this
and that’s important because the community has the power. So
anyone who wants to donate can donate to the Ohio Voter
Rights Committee.
Perryman:
Has there been labor participation as far as funding
support?
Reece:
In conversations with labor, there’s great interest there.
We already have the A. Phillip Randolph Institute who has
endorsed it. As you know, A. Phillip Randolph was with Dr.
King so they have been a strong voice for us and we
certainly know that there will be other labor groups that
will come on board.
Contact Rev. Donald Perryman, D.Min, at
drdlperryman@centerofhopebaptist.org
|
