FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, August 5, 2021

Contact: [email protected] 

Ahead of the 56th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, Michelle Obama and Stacey Abrams Join Forces for the First Time to Call on Americans to Fight for Voting Rights Amidst Attacks Across the Country

(WASHINGTON, DC): Ahead of the 56th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 tomorrow, When We All Vote partnered with Fair Fight Action to release a new PSA featuring Michelle Obama and Stacey Abrams calling on Americans to join them in the fight against voter suppression. In 2018, Michelle Obama launched When We All Vote, and Stacey Abrams launched Fair Fight Action, organizations that are leading the movement to register and educate voters and combat voter suppression. 

Today, 56 years after the Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed, lawmakers are pushing more than 400 voter suppression bills in states across the country. The Voting Rights Act removed legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented Black Americans from exercising their right to vote, prohibiting the use of voter suppression tactics like the use of literacy tests, and resulting in the federal oversight of voter registration in areas where less than 50 percent of the non-white population had not registered to vote. Now, the protections guaranteed by the Voting Rights Act have been gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court, and are under further threat. 

When We All Vote and Fair Fight Action are working together to keep the promise of the Voting Rights Act by calling on Americans to fight to protect their freedom to vote and calling on Congress to pass the For the People Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. 

“Right now, dangerous legislation is being proposed across the country that limits the freedom to vote, cast our ballots, and have our votes counted. Many of these proposals would disproportionately impact Black, Brown, young, and working-class voters, and voters with disabilities. They’re counting on us to stop paying attention. They’re counting on us to be quiet. But they must not know who we are. Our work is just beginning,” said Michelle Obama and Stacey Abrams in the PSA. 

In 2020, When We All Vote and Fair Fight Action expanded access to voting in communities facing barriers to having their voices heard. When We All Vote reached more than 100 million people to educate them about the voting process and as a result, 512,000 people started or completed the voter registration process. Right now, Fair Fight Action is leading grassroots efforts urging federal action to protect voting rights, including “Hot Call Summer,” an effort to mobilize young people that has resulted in more than 50,000 calls to Congress.

The PSA will run on digital platforms across the country over the next few weeks and throughout the year. Viewers can learn more and register to vote at FightForOurVote.org.

LINK TO PSA: https://youtu.be/UgpkzWdNcio 

FULL TRANSCRIPT

In 2020, during a global pandemic, you showed up. From protests to the polls, together, we showed the world our power. 

But we’re not done yet. 

Our democracy and our vote—the very foundation of this nation and the most powerful tools we have as citizens—are under attack. 

Right now, dangerous legislation is being proposed across the country that limits the freedom to vote, cast our ballots, and have our votes counted. Many of these proposals would disproportionately impact Black, Brown, young, and working-class voters, and voters with disabilities.

They’re counting on us to stop paying attention. They’re counting on us to be quiet. 

But they must not know who we are. Our work is just beginning.

This fight isn’t about who’s president or who’s in Congress…

It’s about our families, our neighborhoods, our schools, and our communities. It’s about a country that belongs to all of us. And it’s about our freedom to vote and our ability to make our voices heard.

That’s why Fair Fight Action and When We All Vote are working day and night to protect our freedom to vote. 

We need you in this fight with us to build the country we all deserve—that’s what our progress demands. 

So what’s our game plan?

We’re calling ON members of Congress every day to tell them to protect and strengthen our access to the ballot…

We’re checking our voter registration status and ensuring everyone in our community is registered to vote…

And we’re working to change the future of this nation. It’s not going to be easy, but nothing this important ever is.

We need you. Are you in?

ABOUT When We All Vote: 

When We All Vote, an initiative of Civic Nation, is a leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap. Created by Michelle Obama, When We All Vote brings together individuals, institutions, brands, and organizations to register new voters across the country and advance civic education for the entire family and voters of every age to build an informed and engaged electorate for today and generations to come. We empower our supporters and volunteers to take action through voting, advocating for their rights, and holding their elected officials accountable. 

In 2020, When We All Vote ran a robust, multifaceted campaign and reached more than 100 million people to educate them about the voting process and get them registered and ready to vote. The initiative also led in voter education, registration, and volunteer engagement and as a result, 512,000 people started or completed the voter registration process, and nearly 500 media, corporate, and nonprofit partners joined its efforts.

Michelle Obama launched When We All Vote in 2018 and is joined by fellow Co-Chairs Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monáe, Chris Paul, Faith Hill, Selena Gomez, Liza Koshy, Megan Rapinoe, Shonda Rhimes, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington, and Rita Wilson.

When We All Vote is a key initiative within Civic Nation, a 501(c)(3) organization, and works with Civic Nation Action, a 501(c)(4). These organizations are homes for changemakers who inspire, educate, and activate people around the issues that will define this generation. 

ABOUT Civic Nation:

Civic Nation is a nonpartisan, nonprofit home for changemakers who inspire, educate, and activate people around the issues that will define this generation. Civic Nation empowers and educates individuals, companies, institutions and organizations to drive culture, systems and policy change, working towards a more inclusive and equitable America. Six initiatives are a part of the Civic Nation family: When We All Vote, United State of Women, ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, End Rape On Campus, It’s On Us and Made to Save. 

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