Courageous Work of Many

As we pause once again to celebrate the freedoms and justice that Independence Day represents, we also reflect upon the courageous work that so many have done to make our nation a more perfect union.

We at the NAACP know that there is more work to do, especially now. Our very democracy is in jeopardy.

In a letter directed to state officials last week, under the guise of its mandate to investigate vote fraud and 2016 election irregularities, Commission heads Kris Korbach and Vice President Mike Pence asked for suggestions on ways of improving the integrity of U.S. elections. But at the same time, a second letter sent on the same day by the Dept. of Justice requested personal, private information — from partial Social Security numbers to party affiliations and voting records — on millions of registered American voters.

We see these letters for precisely what they are—illegal, and a looming threat to our democracy. And we believe that this request represents only the first salvo in a move to implement the widespread suppression of American voters, the possible purging of the rolls and essentially a rollback of our constitutionally guaranteed voting rights. There is no other plausible use for this type of information.

Please know that we will do everything in our power to resist this call, and continue to lead the fight for the historical gains we’ve made for African-Americans, and for all citizens at the ballot box.

Join us in this fight.

Thank you for your support.

Leon Russell
Chairman
NAACP National Board of Directors