For Immediate Release
January 14, 2017
SCDP CHAIR STATEMENT ON REPUBLICAN ATTACK ON REP. JOHN LEWIS’S FIGHT FOR VOTING RIGHTS
Columbia, SC – South Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jaime Harrison released the following statement calling on Republicans to condemn President-elect Trump’s false statement that Congressman John Lewis has not taken “action” or achieved “results.” Harrison is also demanding that Republicans stop undermining those actions and results by supporting insidious voter suppression measures and refusing to return the Voting Rights Act to full strength following the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder.
“In recent years, it has become distressingly clear that the Republican Party wants to roll back the voting rights gains that John Lewis spilled his blood for. Republican voter suppression is threatening the legitimacy of our democracy and must stop. I call on Republicans to condemn President-elect Trump’s disgraceful attack on an American hero and to stop blocking legislation to repair the damage done to the Voting Rights Act by the Supreme Court’s Republican appointees. John Lewis has taken bold action for our democracy his entire life and has achieved remarkable results. Democrats and Republicans alike must rise above partisanship to fight shameful attempts to erase these gains.”
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