ECU Statement on a Precarious 61st Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act

End Citizens United (ECU) President Tiffany Muller issued the following statement on the 61st anniversary of the landmark Voting Rights Act:

“The Voting Rights Act is as vital today as it was when it passed 61 years ago. It tore down barriers that had long denied Black Americans and other communities of color participation in our democracy and established powerful legal protections against racial discrimination. Twenty years ago, the Voting Rights Act was reauthorized after a 98-0 vote in the Senate. But now, those hard-fought protections face an existential threat.

“Donald Trump and congressional Republicans are on a crusade to intimidate and disenfranchise vulnerable communities. They know they’ve brought economic havoc on Americans. They also know voters are ready to punish them in the midterms. Instead of changing course, they’re once again turning to their favorite playbook: voter suppression.

“Today is both a reminder of how far we’ve come in making elections accessible and fair — and it’s an urgent call to action as the president makes it his number one priority to undermine trust in our elections. End Citizens United is fully committed to taking on the corrupt, power-hungry politicians who are trying to silence the vote and ensure our elections reflect the will of the people.”

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For 10 Years, End Citizens United (ECU) has been dedicated to combating the two biggest challenges facing our democracy: the corrosive impact of Big Money in politics and attempts to block access to the ballot box. Since its founding in 2015, ECU has had over 1.4 million donors with an average donation of just $14. The group has more than four million members nationwide and is one of the nation’s leading anti-corruption organizations.