What Activism Looks Like: Voter Rights
In our second What Activism Looks Like, we bring you a story of a Republican and a Democrat working together for civil rights.
Desmond Meade served time for a drug conviction, but has since recovered and put himself through college and law school. When his wife ran for office in 2016, he was a law-abiding, tax-paying pillar of his community, but couldn't vote for her because Florida is one of only 3 states that permanently strips former felons of their right to vote.
Research shows that giving prisoners community responsibility vastly improves outcomes for both the individual and the community. The US has one of the highest recidivism rates in the world, and it's looking worse with moves by Jeff Sessions to give free reign to unregulated private prisons. Taxation without representation is one of the reasons the 13 colonies revolted against Great Britain; the right to vote is both a founding principle of democracy and an important part of reintegration for citizens who have done their time and are ready for a new start.
Desmond and his partner across the aisle Neil Volz have decided to take matters into their own hands. They're spearheading a groundbreaking, bipartisan, grassroots initiative to offer a second chance to 1.5 million Floridians with prior felony convictions who have paid their debt to society, and restore their voting rights via a referendum on the 2018 ballot.
What you can do1. WATCH THE VIDEO to learn more.
2. SIGN THE PETITION (If you live in Florida) or SEND A COPY TO FRIENDS & FAMILY IN FLORIDA and get them to sign it.
3. DONATE to help fund the grassroots initiative.
4. JOIN A PETITION PARTY THIS WEEKEND.
5. SPREAD THE WORD.