Thousands march for election rights in Washington and other US cities | The world

On the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic 1963 parade in Washington, March and organizers of election rights march argue that state measures restricting voting access will have a proportional impact on minorities.

In Washington, protesters with Black Lives Matter flags and billboards called for federal law and marched from McPherson Square to the last rally point at National Mall, where King had his famous “I have a dream” 58 years ago.

• In June, Republican senators blocked electoral reform
• In July, the Supreme Court upheld the controversial voting restrictions

Carolyn Ruff, 74, traveled from Chicago to Washington to press for the passage of a federal law restoring key protections of the 1965 Electoral Rights Act.

The bill, named after the late civil rights man John Lewis, passed the House this week, but will face an uncompromising situation in the Senate due to rules that allow minorities to block the law. Click here to read more about John Lewis who died in July 2020.

After Democrat Joe Biden Won the 2020 presidential election, Republican legislators in several states have restricted the use of deposit boxes and the ability to vote by mail. The move comes after former Republican leader Donald Trump sought to reverse the election result based on unsubstantiated allegations of widespread election fraud.

So far this year, at least 18 states have enacted laws restricting voter access, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.

Organizers expect about 50,000 protesters in Washington. Protests were also planned in Phoenix, Miami and other cities.

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