This report is just too stunning and important for me not to post the link.
I didn't want anyone to miss this.
This is an important read.
This is an amazing educational tool - not only for now - but for times to come.
Here's the whole report
DEFENDING DEMOCRACY: Confronting Modern Barriers to Voting Rights in America
Excerpts
From the foreward
Since the ratification of the 15th Amendment and, later, the Voting Rights Act, we have been summoned to fight to protect the power and potential of the African-American vote from attempts to undermine the promise of democracy. Not surprisingly, the states with the highest voter turnout among people of color in the 2008 elections and population growth among voters of color are the states pushing the most restrictive voting laws in the past year.
From the executive summary
Finally, the report places the focus where it belongs—on the democracy-expanding efforts that we all can work to ensure. The report offers a call to action to empower you and members of your community to stand for greater inclusion in our democracy by: (1) Informing yourself about restrictive voting laws or proposals that have been adopted or are being considered in your state, how they may affect you, and how to overcome them; (2) Equipping your community with the information needed to ensure that each member who wants to vote in your community is able to do so, and that the votes from your community are counted; (3) Practicing “Each One, Bring One” by bringing an eligible first-time voter, or returning voter who otherwise might not vote, with you when you vote on Election Day; (4) Volunteer to serve as a poll monitor who assists voters on Election Day; (5) Taking action by urging your elected officials and the United States Department of Justice to fight these voter suppression tactics; and (6) Spreading the word about the National Voter Registration Act, designed to bring our democracy closer to the people by facilitating voter registration at state agencies that serve the public.
And from The Root (my emphasis)
The NAACP will send copies of the report to various federal and state agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Federal Election Commission, attorneys general in all 50 states and justice committees in the House and Senate. They will also send the report to the United Nations, which is also the site of the NAACP's Stand for Freedom rally in New York on Saturday, Dec. 10.