Three people who died for Kenneth Blackwell's right to vote

[AtLiberty]

http://www.core-online.org/history/chaney.htm

[merh]

1. Hell, not just his right to vote, but his right to hold the friggin

office he has! :cry:

[roseBudd]

2. My name is Ken Blackwell and I approve this message...

bushcheated04

[FreedomAngel82]

3. How sad

and pathetic. *sigh* Blackwell should be ashamed.

[Zan_of_Texas]

4. Blackwell is an embarrassment to the human race, not just his race.

African Americans have been lynched, beaten, attacked by dogs, knocked down by fire hoses for merely attempting to vote.

I heard in the words of a slave, on archival sound recorded in the 1930s, a former slave tell how he was trying to learn to read, and the slave-owner caught him and burned out his eyes.

For the people whose ancestors worked for free for several hundred years to be denied the opportunity to vote now, in 2004, seven generations after Emancipation, is so unjust that it is beyond belief.

And yet, it is fact.

If those of us who enjoy the accident, the privilege of being in the dominant race in the US take no action to right this injustice, we take on our own 21st century guilt.

[NationalEnquirer]

16. Exactly, keep race out of it.

Repukes believe having blacks do their bidding will insulate them from scrutiny.
As far as I am concerned, they are all the same color, GREEN.

[Straight Shooter]

5. I await, with patience, the retribution that lies in wait for Blackwell

It matters not if he thinks he has gotten away with his deeds, vengeance will come for him. Too many people of color have died in violence as they fought for their civil rights, as they lived among those who would deny them the most simple and basic of human comforts. Their souls have been stirred from their otherwise peaceful rest, as they wait and watch for the opportunity to bring revenge, served very cold, to Ken Blackwell for his betrayal of people of color and their right to dignity as full-fledged American citizens.

As despicable as bush is, Blackwell in a way is more so.

[fasttense]

6. They died for Democracy

And Blackwell repays them by usurping Democracy and serving as a tool for Nazis and the KKK.

[mod mom]

7. Sending these to blackwell campaign with a note: These three

civil rights activists died for the rights of African Americans to Vote. In 2004, tens of thousands of African Americans were denied their right to vote by you, kenneth blackwell. SHAME ON YOU!

[AtLiberty]

8. Please read my latest letter to Oprah...

Each day I send a different snail-mail letter to Oprah, begging her to feature the 40th anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery on her show. A DU friend has urged me to share my letters with you to offer inspiration.

Dear Oprah,

Forty years after the murders of James Earl Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, the following incidents were reported on Election Day 2004:

- Phone calls and flyers told voters that their polling places had changed, when they had not.

- Intimidation efforts targeted the minorities, implying for example that voters would be scrutinized for illegal activities if they were to vote.

- Precinct "observers" challenged voters for unnecessary identification of minority voters. At the very least, these unnecessary ID challenges helped contribute to long lines at polling places.

- Lines in urban minority areas of Ohio were up to ten hours long because precincts were deliberately denied sufficient voting machines. It was pouring rain on election day. Seriously ill and elderly voters were denied moving to the front of the line were not given an alternative method of voting. It is estimated that these lines prevented tens of thousands of people from voting due to exhaustion, hunger, thirst, illness, job obligations, child care issues or just plain discouragement.

- Longtime voters found themselves inexplicably removed from the voting rolls, and having to cast provisional ballots, as a result of state purging. Thousands of provisional ballots were later rejected for minor errors or ommissions, leaving them uncounted.

As with the murders of Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner, none of the offenders of the 2004 election have been brought to justice. In fact, the biggest offender is running for governor.

Ohio and Florida are burning, Oprah.

This March marks the 40th anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery. What a glorious opportunity to educate viewers on the rich and tumultuous history in this country of the basic right to vote. Invite US Representatives John Conyers and Stephanie Tubbs-Jones to urge Americans to carry on the unfinished work of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with meaningful and lasting election reform.

I'm on the floor here, Oprah. I beg you.

Sincerely...

Please write Oprah and urge her to to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery, March 3-12. Those who died and marched for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 didn't do so for 10-hour waits in the pouring rain, widespread disenfranchisement and uncounted votes. Ask her to invite Rep. John Conyers to address massive voter suppression and his courageous work on meaningful election reform. The march for voting rights continues... When done, please send this to 12 people. Remember, snail mail is more effective. Thanks!
E-MAIL:

www.oprah.com/email/reach/email_showideas

Oprah
Harpo Studios
1058 W. Washington St.
Chicago, IL 60607

INFORMATION ON THE ANNIVERSARY MARCH:

http://www.crmvet.org/anc/0503selm.htm

[dmac]

9. What a perfect letter! We all need to get on this bandwagon

and urge Oprah, along with AtLiberty that this is a cause that belongs on her show. What better opportunity to inform citizens about what went on in Ohio - for everyone watches Oprah. Please help flood her mailbox with request like this. It is amazing how few people are aware of the blatant disenfranchisement that took place in Ohio - some are not even aware of the recount effort that took place there, let alone how it followed that same systematic fraud as the election itself. Here is one avenue open to us that hasn't been tried yet. Please folks, write a letter now - and cross your fingers and say your prayers.

Here are the addresses again:

www.oprah.com/email/reach/email_showideas

Oprah
Harpo Studios
1058 W. Washington St.
Chicago, IL 60607

INFORMATION ON THE ANNIVERSARY MARCH:

http://www.crmvet.org/anc/0503selm.htm

[troubleinwinter]

10. I wrote just now.

I had written about a month ago, too.

[liberalla]

12. Has Oprah seen the video?

She needs to see the video.

She needs to see the video of disenfranchised voters on election day. I remember hearing Randi Rhodes speak about video she had seen and that it made her cry. This was weeks before the 9 minute video DU put together was available. I agree that she should cover this. With Conyers and all the evidence of people whose vote didn't count... it's a natural. We need to keep it focused on the sanctity of the vote, protecting every American's right to vote. (Not that the election was rigged--Oprah would refuse that IMO)(though I do believe the election was rigged)

Especially with February being Black History Month...

Should we make this an 'orchestrated' effort?

This topic deserves the Oprah stage and the type of coverage that comes when Oprah picks up a cause.

To me, there is no greater cause at this time that safeguarding free and fair elections to ensure democracy returns to our country.

[dmac]

14. I totally agree - - -

I know the video you mean and I will see if I can find it. If anyone has it bookmarked and can get it out here before I find it, please post it. I guess to send the link, that letter will need to go by email.

[dmac]

15. I found this link:

broadband http://veredictum.com/stolenelection2004-256.ram

Though it is not the link I was looking for, it is pretty good.

The one I am looking for is the one that was shot by some of Micheal Moore's (I think) people and it showed the long lines, people intimidating voters, and captured the real concerted effort to disenfranchise voters better than anything else I have seen. If you know which video I am talking about and have the link, please PM me with it. Thanks.

[dmac]

11. My second letter to Oprah . . .

Dear Oprah,

The 40th Anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery Voting Rights March is coming up soon. This event will last from March 3 through the 12th, with speeches and entertainment venues throughout – from story-telling, mock-trials, dinners, pageants, rallies, music, and more, with a 54 mile reenactment march in the middle from the 7th through the 11th, from Lowndes county on into Montgomery, Alabama. People coming together in fellowship to celebrate this precious right will serve as a reminder to all that this was not a freedom easily won, nor will it be easily relinquished.

Oprah, I believe now is more important than ever to remind citizens of the sacrifices made years ago to guarantee ALL Americans of their right to vote. In our most recent election, disenfranchisement issues arose across the country, with some states’ records being downright reprehensible. For some reason the mainstream press has been reluctant to report these events honestly. Please help us get this message out. Congressman John Conyers, along with a few others, has been fighting to bring justice to those who interfered in the peoples’ right to vote. I believe he would be an excellent guest to have on your show to help bring this to the attention of those who are unaware of what occurred.

This is an issue that concerns all Americans. There are some shining stars on the political horizon, but it will not matter how wonderful the candidates we put forward, if this issue of disenfranchisement is not dealt with once and for all. Help bring to light the injustices that persists with our rights to vote.
(Enclosed is an itinerary of events for the March)

Sincerely,

XXX XXX

[dmac]

13. Here is a link to details about the march:

http://athena.msae.wisc.edu/~nvrmi/jubilee/donations.php

[AtLiberty]

17. Is there a specific link for video about the suppression?

Not just the Stolen Election video (which is very good, thanks).

[dmac]

19. There is, yes, because I remember watching it and how it made me

feel, but I cannot find it. I tried to use the Demopedia but couldn't figure out how to just do a random search. Sorry.

[AtLiberty]

18. Today's letter

(While I don't agree with the timeline of Conyers' proposed legislation, I believe it's secondary to educating the public and generating anger and support...)

Dear Oprah,

We shall overcome, we shall overcome, we shall overcome some day.

We are not alone, we are not alone, we are not alone today.

Please refer to the following news release introducing meaningful voting reform legislation by Represenatives Stephanie Tubbs-Jones and John Conyers. This proposed legislation has the potential to turn the direction of this country.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050204/clf025_1.html

Next month marks the 40th anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery. What a glorious opportunity to educate your viewers on the struggle for the basic right to vote and the unfinished work we must accomplish immediately.

I'm on the floor here, Oprah. I beg you.