March On for Voting Rights is a Nationwide Mass Mobilization to Demand that Elected Officials Protect Democracy, Denounce Voter Suppression and Ensure Fair, Easy Access to the Vote for All
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 23, 2021
Media contact: Ana Maria Rosato [email protected]
Jessica Ortiz, [email protected], 312-550-0102
Rise Strategy Group
ATLANTA—On Saturday, August 28, the 58th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic March on Washington, Atlantans who are committed to saving democracy and free elections will join together for the March On for Voting Rights. The Atlanta march will start at historic Ebenezer Church and conclude at Centennial Park with a rally and concert featuring Atlanta’s own Ludacris as headliner. The effort is part of a nationwide mass mobilization to demand Congress stop voter suppression and pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Restoration Act, which will ensure free, fair access to the ballot for every voter. In addition to Atlanta, marches will also take place in Houston, Miami, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and in more than 65 other cities around the country on August 28.
“During the Presidential and Georgia runoff elections, March On traveled throughout Georgia to ensure that we empowered voters and combated the rampant disinformation in communities that are vulnerable to voter suppression,” said Andi Pringle, Political and Strategic Campaigns Director of March On. “These efforts worked, and now, people are attempting to make it harder to vote in Georgia and states across the country, and it is morally unconscionable and anti-democratic. We’re calling on Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For the People Act by any means necessary.”
Marching alongside Pringle and many other notable activists are Courtney and Corrie Cockrell, the great-nieces of murdered civil rights leader Medgar Evers. The sisters believe in the urgency of this moment and the need for a diverse coalition of Americans to stand up and demand that our legislators take action against voter suppression.
Additional participants speaking and performing in support of voting rights and voter registration include:
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Congresswoman Nikema Williams
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Ben Jealous, Former NAACP President
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Dr. Bernice King
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Chris Rey, Phi Beta Sigma International President and CEO
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Shirley Franklin, former Atlanta Mayor
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Rev. Dr. Gerald Durley
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Andrea Young, Executive Director of the ACLU of Georgia
Additional speakers and performers will be announced leading up to August 28.
The march is co-sponsored by March On, SEIU, National Action Network and the Drum Major Institute, an organization founded by Martin Luther King Jr. and dedicated to the King legacy of addressing racism through peaceful solutions.
RSVP at https://actionnetwork.org/events/mo4vr-atl.
To get involved or learn more about the March On for Voting Rights, visit https://marchonforvotingrights.org/.
For information about the COVID Policy at March On for Voting Rights efforts, visit https://marchonforvotingrights.org/covid/.
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About March On For Voting Rights
March On for Washington and Voting Rights is a mass mobilization to demand that elected officials protect democracy, denounce voter suppression, make D.C. a state, and ensure fair, easy access to the vote. On August 28, the 58th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, we will march on cities across America to demand that the vision of MLK’s “I Have a Dream” speech be deferred no longer. That means passing the For the People Act, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. The march is led by Drum Major Institute, March On, the National Action Network, Future Coalition, SEIU, and 51 for 51, and is joined by over 140 other partners. The march is funded through the #ForJohn campaign, a grassroots effort co-founded by Martin Luther King III and Arndrea King to fight voter suppression.
About March On
March On is a political organization composed of women-led political activist groups that grew out of the women’s marches of January 21, 2017. They have come together as a united force to take concrete, coordinated actions at the federal, state and local levels to impact elections and move the country in a progressive direction. For more information, visit wearemarchon.org.
About the Drum Major Institute
The Drum Major Institute advances the core mission of our founder, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to assure that the arc of the moral universe continues to bend toward justice. Dr. King’s legacy and voice are as important today as they were upon our founding 60 years ago. To meet this historic moment, we are lending our unique ability to facilitate dialogue and collaboration to support the countless courageous acts of individuals and organizations across the nation and the world to ensure that the vital conversations that are now starting will sustain and advance far beyond this moment in time—and lead to tangible lasting outcomes. We encourage all people to embrace their role in the King legacy, take action in their community and strive to build the Beloved Community. Learn more at drummajorinst.org.
About SEIU
Service Employees International Union is an organization of 2 million members united by the belief in the dignity and worth of workers and the services they provide, and dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families and creating a more just and humane society. For more information, visit https://www.seiu.org/.
About National Action Network
National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, criminal record, economic status, gender, gender expression, or sexuality. For more information, visit https://nationalactionnetwork.net/
About Future Coalition
Founded by youth activists for youth activists, Future Coalition is a network and community for youth-led organizations and Gen Z and young millennial leaders from across the country that came into being as a project of March On in the fall of 2018. Future Coalition works collaboratively to provide young people with the resources, tools, and support they need to create the change they want to see in their communities and in this country. For more information, visit futurecoalition.org.