Page 10 The Skanner November 30, 2016
News
Voting Rights Activists Speak on the Aftermath of the 2016 Elections
Forum panelists talk about the role restricted voting access may have played in Donald Trump’s victory
D
uring a recent fo-
rum on the 2016
presidential elec-
tion on Capitol
Hill, voting rights ad-
vocates and civil rights
leaders expressed con-
cerns about the role that
restrictive voting laws
might have played in the
outcome. The forum also
tackled the problems
faced by African Ameri-
cans and Latinos on Elec-
tion Day.
“I did not get a call from
any of the White vot-
ing districts,” said civil
rights attorney Barbara
Arnwine, the president
of the Transformative
“
FREDDIE ALLEN/AMG/NNPA
By Lauren Victoria
Burke
NNPA Newswire
Contributor
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, president of the North Carolina NAACP,
expressed his thoughts on the voter suppression tactics that were
used during the 2016 presidential election. Photo taken during
a NAACP demonstration on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in
Washington, D.C. in June 2015.
manipulation and the
voting rolls and every
other kind of ID law — I
think we saw, basically, a
stolen election,” said Ben
Ptashnik, the executive
dent-elect had perceived
it. Ptashnik also spoke on
the issue of voting ma-
chines being proprietary
in such a way that only
allow the vendors to fix
‘Thirteen former confederate states, you con-
trol 181 electoral votes right off the top. You
have 13 governors who control 13 boards of
elections. You control 31 percent of the House
of Representatives and you control 26 mem-
bers of the Senate with just 13 states’
Justice Coalition.
Some panelists even
speculated that the elec-
tion was stolen due to the
weakened Voting Rights
Act inability to fully pro-
tect the right to vote.
“I think what happened
in this election is that
voter suppression and
director of the National
Election Defense Coali-
tion.
Ptashnik
told
the
packed room on Cap-
itol Hill that Donald
Trump was right when
he said that the election
was rigged, but not in
the way the Republican
candidate, now Presi-
them, if necessary.
Rev. Dr. William Bar-
ber, who led the “Moral
Mondays” effort in North
Carolina as the president
of the NAACP’s branch in
that state, had a lot to say
about how the strategy
against voter suppres-
sion has to change.
Though Donald Trump
won the state over Hil-
lary Clinton, voters in
North Carolina tossed
their Republican gover-
nor from office on Nov. 8.
“We have to have a
grown up conversation
about race and class in
America,” Barber start-
ed. “We need to have a
moral revival — people
are hungry for it.”
Barber continued: “We
have to do some deep dive
work in the South. Never
forget it: Thirteen for-
mer confederate states,
you control 181 electoral
votes right off the top.
You have 13 governors
who control 13 boards
of elections. You control
31 percent of the House
of Representatives and
you control 26 members
of the Senate with just 13
states.”
Though
Democratic
presidential candidate
Hillary Clinton won the
popular vote, Trump
won the election based
on the Electoral College.
An emotional Ptashnik
urged audience mem-
bers to “take Donald
Trump seriously and
resist” what is about to
happen.
Author and senior con-
tributing writer for The
Nation Ari Berman, who
wrote the book “Give Us
the Ballot,” also partici-
pated in the panel.
CNN contributor and
former
communica-
tions director for Sen.
Bernie Sanders’ (D-Vt.)
presidential campaign
Symone Sanders moder-
ated the panel. Members
of Congress who attend-
ed included Reps. Marc
Veasey (D-Texas), John
Conyers (D-Mich.), Bob-
by Scott (D-Va.), Terri
Sewell (D-Ala.) and Shei-
la Jackson Lee (D-Texas).
OBITUARY:
Helen Patricia
Taylor
Oct. 16, 1935 –
Nov. 15, 2016
OBITUARY:
Sylvia Willamina Russell
Feb. 19, 1953 – Nov. 7, 2016
S
all that knew
ylvia
her are: kind,
Willa-
sweet, hum-
m i n a
ble, fun and
Russell
funny, and
was born to
how undeni-
the union of
Portland En-
ably beauti-
trepreneur
ful she was
William T.
inside
and
Russell
Sr.
out.
(Bill)
and
Sylvia
is
Mandy
M. Sylvia Willamina Russell preceded in
Randall, in
death by her
Portland, Or., Febru- parents William and
ary 19, 1953. From this Mandy, sister Carolyn,
union, Sylvia was the and brother Edwin Rus-
fourth eldest of seven sell. She is survived by
siblings, (Billy Jr., Jea- her sons Dee, Marcell
nette, Velma, Edwin, and Martez; brother
Katherine, and Angela). William T. Russell Jr.
Growing up in Port- (Billy); sisters Jeanette
land, Sylvia attended Russell, Velma Russell,
Highland/Boise
Ele- Katherine Russell, An-
mentary and Jefferson gela Russell, and Meesha
High School. She was Russell; grandchildren
known and beloved by Maliah Russell, Cecelia
all in her community. Russell, Delilah Russell,
She was a loving daugh- Destin Russell, Malachi
ter, sister, mother, aunt, Branch, Ma’Kai Branch;
cousin, friend, and and a host of nieces,
grandmother.
Words nephews, cousins, and
that come to mind for extended family.
Helen Patricia Taylor
H
elen Patricia Taylor
was born on Oct.
16, 1935 and passed
away Nov. 15, 2016.
She was preceded in
death by her husband,
Booker Taylor; daughter,
Mary Edwards; and sis-
ter, Bettye Lewis. She is
survived by two daugh-
ters; two sons; three sis-
ters; two brothers; and
a host of grandchildren;
great-grandchildren;
nieces; nephews; and
cousins. She resided on
Mallory Ave., Portland,
Or., with family for over
40 years.
Viewing is Friday Dec.
2, 2016 at Terry Family
Funeral Home. Services
will be held at 10 am.,
Dec. 3, 2016, at Bethel
A.M.E.