Ryan Coogler Black Panther II Remains in Georgia Despite Repressive Election Laws – Deadline

The struggle for full suffrage is fundamental to the African-American struggle in this country and to this country’s claim to a functioning democracy. As an African American and as a citizen, I am against all attempts, explicit and otherwise, to shrink the electorate and reduce access to the ballot. I will say this when I return to Georgia, a state that has a special place in my heart. I lived in Atlanta for eight months while filming my last movie. I have been looking forward to returning for a long time. But when I was informed about the passage of SB202 in the state, and its implications for state voters, I was deeply disappointed.

While I wanted to put my concerns into action, I couldn’t do so without first learning about the specifics of Georgia. Having spoken to voting rights activists in the state, I have come to understand that many of the people who work on my film, including all the local vendors and businesses we hire, are the same people who will be the victims of SB202. For those reasons, I will not get involved in a boycott of Georgia. What I’m going to do is use my vote to highlight the effects of SB202, its shameful roots in Jim Crow, and do all I can to support organizations fighting against voter oppression here in the state.

Senate Law 202 will:

• Shorten the application period for absent voting
• Shorten the deadline for submitting an absence request
• Provisionally ban voting outside the district, except from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on election day
• Add additional ID requirements for postal voting (photocopy of ID for people without ID / driver’s license)
• Ban mobile voting
• Shorten the disposal period
• Ban private funding for election administration
• Include a date of birth for absentee ballots
• Punish handing out water / snacks to voters in line
• Add new restrictions for polling location hours extensions
• Seriously limit the number of dropboxes and the hours they are available for their use
• Hand over massive electoral power to state republicans, including control of the state election council and the ability to remove provincial election officials who do not carry out their bids

The US House passed HR 1, the For the People Act. This important legislation will implement crucial reforms in the area of ​​voting rights. The Senate must now do its job by passing S. 1.

HR 1 will expand access to the ballot by:

• Targeting barriers to voting, such as cumbersome registration systems and limited voting hours
• Automatic voter registration across the country
• Ensuring that individuals who have committed a crime regain their full rights
• Expand voting by post and vote in advance

HR 1 fights back against the Republicans’ attack on the right to vote by:

• Binding Congress to Restore Voting Rights Act
• Banning voter roll purges like those in Georgia and elsewhere and
• Ensure that discriminatory voter identification laws do not prevent US citizens from exercising their rights.

HR 1 also puts an end to partisan gerrymandering to prevent politicians from choosing their voters.

The For the People Act has broad support for the provisions to:

• Reduce the role of big money in politics
• Strengthen ethical laws
• Empower voters and increase access to the franchise
• Outlaw voter purging,
• Restoration of the Voting Rights Act and
• Protect our right to free, fair and safe elections.

The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act would bring back the pre-approval that is needed now more than ever.

Our film stays in Georgia. Additionally, I have made a personal pledge to raise awareness of ways to help destroy this harmful law, and I continue to be informed about this by people on the ground. I will encourage everyone who works with me to connect with the local community directly affected by Senate Law 202 and use their influence and resources to help fight for this specific and essential pillar of democracy.

I will also donate to Fair Fight Action. You can do the same at http://www.stopjimcrow2.com