North Florida Legislator Rep. Alan Williams At The White House Today To Discuss Voting Rights in America

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2013

CONTACT:  Office of Representative Williams
(850) 717-5008

Rep. Alan Williams At The White House Today
To Discuss Voting Rights in America

WASHINGTON – This afternoon, state Representative Alan Williams (D-Tallahassee) is attending a meeting at The White House at which President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and Labor Secretary Tom Perez are holding talks with civil rights leaders and state and local elected officials to discuss strengthening the Voting Rights Act and safeguarding every eligible American’s right to vote.

The meeting was scheduled to convene at 2:45 p.m. today.

In preparation for the meeting, Representative Williams, who serves as chairman of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus, issued the following statement pertaining to voting rights.

“I am extremely pleased to personally witness President Obama and the Department of Justice taking bold action to protect American’s voting rights, which is of extraordinary importance to the people of Florida. Today’s talks between the administration, state officials and civil rights leaders are just the beginning of a renewed commitment to ending voter disenfranchisement in this country.

“In Florida, we hold particular concerns about voter rights, especially given the efforts of Governor Rick Scott to direct state elections officials to conduct a voter purge. Florida’s actions are worrisome given this state’s egregious history of voter discrimination and suppression. Therefore, I am pleased to echo the calls of other Florida elected officials, including U.S. Reps. Alcee Hastings and Ted Deutch, and state Senator Arthenia Joyner, who have publicly requested that Governor Scott not renew his latest attempt at a voter purge.

“Urgent and careful action is needed to ensure that we have a voting process that is fair and free of discrimination. Congress must enact a new formula for conducting preclearance under the Voting Rights Act to prevent discrimination, and in Florida, it is essential that Governor Scott not renew the voter purge.”

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