Just got back from a week-end rally marking the 40th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act. Despite the overcast skys and humidity, the crowds poured in instead of the rain. From the view my seat offered at Herndon Stadium at Morris Brown College,Atlanta, the site was rather impressive & historic as over 25,000 marchers entered the stadium in solidarity and support for the voting equality.
What wasn't impressive was the some of the same political litany & empty phrases uttered about actual legislative effort to protect and preserve voting rights so fiercely fought for over the last 40 years. Although Democratic Party made an effort to have congressional representives at this Pro-Democracy Rainbow/PUSH rally, it was the Progressives getting the real ear of the attendees .
But, Nancy Pelosi tried and said that there were about 200 votes in congress in support of strengthening the protection of voter's rights. [ I thought, gee, Nance, that's a bit short of the mark.] Not as energizing presence as Sen. Obama would have been, Dick Durbin from IL and John Conyers, MI spoke in vague terms when it came to strenghtening the Voting Act to prevent voting abuses.
Stevie Wonder, was a wonder, not only in delivery a message of faith and persistance
when it comes to voting , but he had the entire stadium singing along with
him["What the fuss!"]. Heck, he was right up there with the Rev Jesse when it came to
inspiring that crowd in the stadium to get up and yell "I Am Somebody! " So was Maxing Waters.
Security was tight one moment, lax the next. You couldn't get on the field to buy a
Tee shirt to support of the effort in dollars, but you did get on if you were a friend of friend. This,to the chagrin of some, I discovered, while chatting with some security guards.
The saddest part of this rally was the return trip home. While riding the subway, my friend and I had a talk with
a nice local lady who had attended the rally . She was rather pleasantly surprised that we drove up from Gainesville, FL for the weekend rally but also sympathized with the voting inequities and irregularities which occurred and continue to occur in her state, our state as well as Ohio. She was a proud working class woman who in the end was not impressed with this rally , didn't foresee any hope or gain for American voters unless they were white, rich, powerful, and carried a GOP card. She said many other shared her view that "...though you work hard all your life, nothing in the end is really yours, including your right to vote".
It was sad return. For despite the fact that a lot of effort was put into this 40th anniversary for the Voting Rights Act, despite the big names in both politics and entertainment, despite the fact that over 25,000 marched in solidarity to Herndon Stadium on a hot humid day, despite the myriad of speeches addressing voting disenfranchisement, intimidation, & abuse and despite homilies about keeping the faith when oppression veers its ugly head, many attendees, walked away earlier than expected from this rally. And it wasn't because Willie Nelson was a no-show, or that they had to catch that MARTA train home. No, I think it was because some the messages, though well-intended, just rang hollow.
I hope in the days ahead, those that attended will look back and feel they got a better return when it comes to voting in the next election.