DNC Celebrates 40th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act

[MaineDem]

For Immediate Release
August 6, 2005

Contact: Karen Finney 202-863-8148

Democratic National Committee Celebrates 40th Anniversary of the Voting Rights
Act

Washington, DC - On the Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act Democratic
National Chairman (DNC) Howard Dean issued the following statement:
xToday I join countless Americans in celebrating the anniversary of this
historic and watershed legislation. Forty years ago the Voting Rights Act (VRA)
was created to ensure African Americans the right to vote without fear of
intimidation, suppression, or harassment. Today the VRAxs legacy extends to all
Americans regardless of race, or economic status.
xBecause of the Voting Rights Act we have 81 members of Congress of African
American, Asian, Latino and Native American descent, and thousands of
minorities in elected offices around the country. Today we must commit to
strengthen and reauthorize those portions of the Voting Rights Act which will
expire in 2007 in order to guarantee the voting rights for all in Americans in
the future.x
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