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Statement

A Bitter Disappointment That Threatens Our Democracy

January 20, 2022
MomsVote

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement from Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO of MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the U.S. Senate’s failure to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act last night:

“Last night’s U.S. Senate failure to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act was a costly and bitter disappointment that puts our hopes for democracy at grave risk. At a time when state lawmakers are passing laws to suppress the votes of Black, Indigenous and people of color, using extreme gerrymandering, trying to lock historically marginalized Americans out of the political process, and allowing dark money to set our country’s agenda, Congress had a responsibility to step up and protect our democracy. Last night the U.S. Senate utterly failed to do so.

“The unified Republican opposition to legislation that would ensure the right to vote for all and protect against the election sabotage that is being planned in plain sight is horrifying, unjustifiable, and simply unacceptable. It cannot be the last word. The U.S. Senate must protect our democracy.

“America’s moms will continue fighting for free and fair elections because our democracy will only work when everyone’s voice matters and everyone’s vote counts – and moms are determined to protect it.”

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MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.