By: Mildred Robertson
As record numbers of citizens exercise their right
to vote in the 2020 Election, dark forces are moving across our country to
dampen those patriotic impulses. From armed militias plotting to intimidate
voters at the polls to a Trump caravan accosting a democratic campaign bus in
Texas, this year’s presidential election harkens back to the early days of the Civil
Rights movement. During that period, African Americans were threatened with
guns, dogs, nooses and water hoses to prevent them from casting their ballots. It
appears that today, many citizens, black and white alike, may face great
personal peril as they cast their vote in the November 3rd election.
In Alamance
County in North Carolina, a “Souls to the Polls” march to take advantage of the
last day to early vote in that state resulted in an attack by the police…police
who were supposed to be providing security for the marchers. According to the
NAACP, which organized the march, the group had appropriate permits to march,
and had shared their plans with the local police prior to the event. It appears
when the group paused for 9 minutes to honor the memory of George Floyd, they
were ordered out of the street, and were then set upon by local police with
tear gas. Among those gassed were invalids and children.
Meanwhile, the current administration is lobbying
the courts to suppress votes, by eliminating all that do not arrive by Tuesday,
November 3rd, regardless of when they were mailed. This could
disenfranchise millions. In Harris County Texas more than 120,000 voters who participated
in drive-through voting are in danger of having their votes invalidated. While
the Texas Supreme Court rejected the request to hear the Republican case, a Federal
court will take up the ruling on Monday to decide whether those votes will be
counted. Drive through ballots represent 10 percent of the votes cast in that
state.
Today it feels as though time has actually gone
backward. But on Tuesday, November 3rd America has the opportunity
to reset the clock. We must we vote. We must encourage our friends and
neighbors to vote.
The dark forces whose goal it is to dim this nation’s
light can only succeed if we let it. But we can lift our collective voices and
reject the darkness. We can move toward the light. We can reclaim the soul of
this nation.
Vote as if your life depends on it…because it does.
#soulstothepolls #NAACP #AlamanceCounty #VoterSuppression #Policebrutality #Vote2020
