February 21, 2013

Medgar Evers/Ella Baker Civil Rights Lecture Series

“Voting as a Constitutional Right in the 21st Century:

How Do We Institutionalize the 1965 Voting Rights Act?”

Jackson State University

H.T. Sampson Library

Java Cafe

6:30p.m.

www.jsums.edu/Hamer.Institute

Hamer.Institute@jsums.edu

601-979-1562

Murder, violence, terrorism and the attack by state troopers on peaceful marchers heading to the state capitol in Montgomery, Alabama, persuaded President Johnson to sign the voting rights act into law on August 6, 1965.  The Voting Rights Act itself has been called the single most effective piece of civil rights legislation ever passed by Congress. However, today, minority voters still face significant obstacles in registering to vote and casting ballots. Attempts to manipulate the law in ways that will disadvantage communities of color continue nationwide.

Panel Members Include:

Dr. Michelle D. Deardorff, Professor and Chair, Department of Political Science, Jackson State University

Mr. Rob McDuff, Civil Rights and Criminal Defense Attorney, McDuff Law Firm

Mr. Mike Sayer, Senior Organizer and Training Coordinator, Southern Echo

Mr. Ellis Turnage, Attorney, Turnage Law Office