A rally for voting rights will be held at Nevada City’s Rood Center on Maidu Avenue, Monday, April 4th from 3:30 pm to 5 pm. Featured at the event will be Martin Luther King’s landmark speech “Beyond Vietnam,” read by individuals representing different segments of the community. The event is being held at Nevada County’s administration building to demonstrate support and appreciation for our local Registrar of Voters, Elections Office staff, and poll workers.
This rally is tied to similar events being held nationally as part of The Poor People’s Campaign, led by Rev. Dr. William Barber II and others. The national movement calls for an end to the suppression of voting rights that has been taking place throughout the country, and the passing of legislation that protects those rights. According to the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice, in 2021 over 425 bills that restrict voting rights were introduced in 49 states.
The Nevada City effort is led by Color Me Human, Creating Communities Beyond Bias, Earth Justice Ministries, the Peace and Justice Center, and the Unitarian Universalists Community of the Mountains. It is one part of a local three-month campaign that seeks to encourage voter registration among youth, and educate and inspire voters. Evan Steel of Color Me Human notes that endeavors of this nature “are of paramount importance to democracy in our country.”
For questions about the April 4 event at the Rood Center or to find out about local organizing efforts, email Color Me Human at mail@colormehuman.org or go to their facebook page, www.facebook.com/colormehuman.org. For more information on the Poor People’s Campaign: https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org.