This plea is based on an alert from The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and is taken almost verbatum:
Urge the RNC to Halt Plans to Challenge Voters
Support the Civil Rights Leaders at October 28 Press Conference.
Despite earlier requests from the civil rights community, the Republican National Committee has failed to put an end to Republican-initiated plans to aggressively target minority voters and voters with disabilities for challenges at the polls during the November 2nd general election.
According to the New York Times, Ohio GOP officials have taken formal steps to place thousands of recruits inside polling places on Election Day to challenge voters' qualifications, and have already challenged the eligibility of 35,000 registered voters in inner-city areas statewide. The BBC has obtained documents suggesting that Florida GOP officials have similar plans. The documents -- prepared for top RNC and Bush campaign operatives -- list the names and addresses of 1,886 voters in predominantly black areas of Jacksonville, Florida, who will likely be the subject of challenges at the polls. Pennsylvania House Speaker John Perzel (R) told U.S. News that he is working to "keep down" the Philadelphia vote, and will be challenging registered Democrats.
A coordinated campaign to challenge predominately minority voters and voters with disabilities is unlawful, unconstitutional, and anti-American. Voters may be frightened and discouraged, as widespread challenges could cause significant disruptions, delays, and long lines.
Join us in urging the RNC to put an end to its plans to challenge voters on Election Day. The Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, with the support of the NAACP, USAction, and American Association of People with Disabilities, will hold a press conference outside of the RNC headquarters to highlight the party's failure to stop this intimidation by its state and local operatives.
What: Press Conference (public is invited)
When: 10 a.m. Thursday, October 28
Where: Republican National Committee, 310 First Street, SE, Washington, D.C. 20003
Help us remind the Republican National Committee that every American has the right to vote and to have his or her vote counted!
To TAKE ACTION:
Support the October 28 press event by:
- Calling RNC Chairman Gillespie at 202-863-8500 and urging him to immediately cease and desist from poll challenge activity that threatens to disenfranchise voters who are fully eligible to cast a ballot and have it counted.
- By E-mailing the Republican National Committee at Chairman@gop.com.
* Please help us get the word out by forwarding this alert broadly!
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