Still Fighting to Make 47K Voices Heard

Last weekend, strong, bi-partisan language that would restore the right to vote to 47,000 Minnesotans stalled at the Capitol.

Thousands of Minnesotans like you took action this year to move this campaign forward — Minnesotan’s like Debra, who fought every week to honor the memory of her son.

Debra’s family is just one of many that knows the pain of being isolated from the community — and also the joy of being part of our democracy. Her story is why we fought this year, and why we’ll keep fighting.

“I am in the fight to restore the vote for my son.

He was a great child, and as he grew older he had run-ins with the justice system that resulted in his incarceration. After his release, he did all he could to show everyone that he was a better man, father, and citizen. But the system wouldn’t allow that. He could not sign a lease to stay and support his family. He could not vote to change discriminatory laws. Because of his criminal record he faced barriers to moving on with his life. For years, my son battled depression, expressing tear-filled frustrations to me because of his unfair treatment.

In 2012, after waiting what seemed like a lifetime, a little blue slip of paper came in the mail. This slip informed him that his right to vote had been restored. Even as a child at Christmas, I’d never seen my son feel more accomplished or happier than when he finally cast that ballot. Months later he passed away.

To this day, I keep that same blue slip in my home and close to my heart. It helps me to feel his presence and remember his face and excitement when he’d finally overcome a truly depressing and emasculating period in his life, which mama was powerless to make ok for her child.

I am taking a stand with the Justice 4 All program to restore the vote because I have been witness to the depression of community separation, but also seen the joy of Democracy. All deserve that joy. This fight to restore the vote is not just about the act of casting a ballot, but the experience and hope that this act brings.  I continue to fight in my sons honor because when we change this law, I will be able to look at this blue slip of paper again and tell my son, “Mama took action son and everything is going to be ok.” For the betterment of each individual and our communities, it’s time to restore the vote.”

Please share this blog with Majority Leader Tom Bakk and Speaker of the House Kurt Daudt and ask them to include #RestoreTheVote in the upcoming Special Session, and tweet with us #mnleg #RestoreTheVote. Here are some samples to get you started:

47,000 Minnesotans will not continue to be silenced. @TakeAction and our allies will continue to organize #RestoreTheVote #mnleg

I’m stil standing w/MNans like Terencio to fight for #RestoreTheVote: “Though I’m physically free, I can’t vote” #mnleg http://50.87.249.163/~takeacu7/blog/post/video-our-peoples-freedom-is-past-due/

It is no accident that over 47k people have been locked out of their Democracy. We will continue to fight for racial justice #RestoreTheVote #mnleg

47k shouldn’t continue be subject to taxation w/o representation. The struggle will continue #RestoreTheVote #mnleg

What do we gain as a society from stopping 47k Minnesotans from influencing who governs them? #RestoreTheVote #mnleg