Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today released the following statement on the 55th anniversary of the day President Lyndon Johnson signed the monumental Voting Rights Act into law in 1965.
“Representative John Lewis often reminded us that the right to vote was democracy’s most precious, powerful tool. Yet until President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law 55 years ago, millions of Black, Latino, Asian and Native Americans were shut out of the democratic process. And while this monumental legislation is one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation in American history, its promise has never been fully realized. Communities of color across the United States still face barriers to exercising their right to vote, from prohibitive photo ID laws to outdated polling machines and hours-long lines. It’s up to all of us to honor the legacy of Representative Lewis by standing up for our democratic values, and I’ll continue doing all I can in Congress to ensure all Americans can participate in the safe, free and fair elections that are the bedrock of this nation.”
BACKGROUND:
Senator Cortez Masto is a cosponsor of a Senate resolution to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the enactment of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965.
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