Listen to the full show here:
In March, the Washington Post reported that at least 250 new voter restriction bills were proposed in 43 states across the country. Now in April, the ACLU reports the number of bills has increased. Today over 350 voter restriction bills are in consideration.
This wave of legislative action by the GOP follows in the wake of false claims purported by former President Donald Trump – that the 2020 election was stolen. Many experts say the laws will make it harder for people to vote. The GOP says the laws are about election integrity. Democrats say the laws are about voter suppression.
Voters, poll workers, organizers and political analysts describe their experiences, the recent national push of voter restriction laws, and what they are doing about it.
Also, a look back on the American legacy of voter suppression.
Featured Speakers:
Deputy Director of the Democracy Division of the ACLU Robert Hoffman
Houston Attorney and Political Analyst Celcil Durant
Author and Activist Harvey Wasserman
Political Director of Iowa LULAC Chapter 307 Joe Henry
Chairman of Political Action at the NAACP Atlanta Ray McClendon
Journalist Dennis Hart, Blogger/Editor of Bleeding Heartland Laura Belin
Child care social worker with SEIU 521 Wren Bradley
Jan Dreesman, Ames Iowa
Musical selections included: Spiritual Medley by The Spirituals, and Something Inside so Strong by The Nottingham Clarion Choir
Host: Ursula Ruedenberg and Stephanie Schubert
Producers: Ursula Ruedenberg and Stephanie Schubert, with contributions from Ann Garrison, Akua Holt, Polina Vasiliev, and Steve Zeltzer
Contributers: Heather Gray of WRFG 89.3 in Atlanta, Georgia, Haryaksha Baba of Radio Phoenix in Phoenix, AZ, and Mark Torres from the Pacifica Archives
About COVID, RACE, AND DEMOCRACY
CRD airs every Monday at 2 PM CST on KPFT 90.1FM in Houston TX, 4 PM EST on WBAI 99.5FM in New York, 6 PM EST on WPFW 89.3FM in Washington DC, as well as on several Pacifica Network affiliated stations across the United States.
Executive Producers: Akua Holt, Polina Vasiliev, and Steve Zeltzer
Featured image by Michael Fleshman
