FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2021
Contact: Lori Arguelles
202-441-6789
Sojourners President Speaks Out on Failure to Move Voting Rights Protections Forward
STATEMENT OF ADAM RUSSELL TAYLOR ON FOR THE PEOPLE ACT VOTE
WASHINGTON, DC – “The right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy. Senate Republicans’ shameless refusal to even debate, much less act on the critical voting rights protections contained in the For the People Act is a clear sign that our democracy is under assault. This is also an assault on our dignity, our humanity, and our faith.
Core to my faith is the belief that every person is created in the imago dei, the very image and likeness of God, and therefore, every person has equal worth and dignity. Thus, any effort to deny or restrict the right to vote is also an assault on imago dei. The right to vote is sacred because it actualizes the divine imprint in all of us. The right to vote is sacred because it makes real the maxim that our vote is our voice.
This legislation is not about partisanship, it is about citizenship. It is not about whether you support one political party over another, it is about the fundamentals of our democracy; the ability to cast our ballots freely, safely, and equally.
By refusing to open debate these Republican Senators not only blocked progress on guaranteeing every person’s right to vote, but also blocked progress on measures to end partisan gerrymandering and shine a light on dark money sources that seek to insidiously influence politics. Voters need to choose their representatives, not the other way around. We need our Senators to have faith in the sacred right to vote and ensure that the promise of democracy is made real for all.”