American democracy is at an inflection point. Voting rights are again hanging in the balance and as the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) we are compelled to speak out about the urgency of passing critical legislation to ensure the right to vote in our nation. The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, which have now been combined and passed the House of Representatives, must also pass the Senate.
Our history compels us.
The General Assembly of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA adopted a Human Rights Policy Statement in 1963, setting forth general principles related to the inherent worth, rights and responsibilities of all persons. The statement recognizes:
“The right to full participation of the person in political and civic life, including the opportunity: to vote by secret ballot…the right to vote is a basic human right”
The NCC was also actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement, including having our leaders march with the late civil rights icons Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Congressman John Lewis across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. We must remain vigilant and resolute to make sure the right to vote is protected.
Our faith compels us.
The 1963 statement also set forth our belief as Christians that “human beings are made in the image of God, that every person is of intrinsic worth before God, and that every individual has a right to the fullest possible opportunities for the development of life abundant and eternal. Denial of rights and freedoms that inhere in an individual’s worth before God are not simply a crime against humanity; they are a sin against God” (1963 Statement, using inclusive language.)
Throughout the years and at pivotal moments in history we have reaffirmed these beliefs and statement. This time is no different. We believe that the Church, other faith partners, and civil and human rights advocates must take a stand as the beloved community, articulated by Dr. King:
“An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” (Dr. King, Jr, Letter from a Birmingham Jail)
Our conscience compels us.
When rights of one are denied, we are all impacted. We must stand together to ensure the full acceptance and citizenship for all in our society, guaranteeing and protecting each person’s human rights on an equal basis. The right to vote is the very center and core of a fair and free democracy. To deny access to the vote is to deny the very humanity and sacredness of those denied. We call upon the Administration and Congress to live up to the promises made by this nation’s founders when they asserted that all were created equal and pass voting rights legislation that will remove barriers to the ballot. We call for the passage of The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act.
We call for the passage of these bills by any means necessary, including the end of the filibuster that has historically been used to block the voting rights of African Americans. The filibuster is a relic of the Jim Crow era and should not be allowed to upend voting rights now. In 1957, Senator Strom Thurman set the record for longest individual filibuster when he spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes to oppose the Civil rights Act of 1957. In 1964 Senator Richard Russell, Jr. led other political leaders to hold up passage of the Civil rights Act of 1964 for 60 working days.
This is a moment for us to act. This is a moment when we must stand up and speak out as people of faith and conscience, calling on the Senate to end the filibuster and pass these critical pieces of voting rights legislation and ensure the right to vote. Indeed, as the song says, “we who believe in freedom shall not rest until it comes.” (Ella’s Song, Sweet Honey in the Rock) #VotingRightsAreHumanRights.