With early voting underway in a number of states, people are lining up at the polls. In addition to everything else people need to remember—the proper form(s) of ID, the correct time and location to appear, supplies to possibly wait in line for hours—a concerning new trend is appearing at some polling places. What is it? Now, we have a new instance of a voter claiming they were initially turned away from their polling place because of Black Lives Matter apparel. Daily Kos covered an instance of this occurring in Memphis, Tennessee, where an unknown number of early voters were turned away over their Black Lives Matter and I Can’t Breathe T-shirts and masks. That Memphis poll worker was fired.
More recently, local outlet Fox 5 Atlanta reports that Nicky Griffin told the station she was initially denied entry at her polling place because she had a Black Lives Matter face mask on. According to Griffin, she was told she could take it off or turn it inside out. Mind you, either removing it or wearing it inside out amid a pandemic are both … concerning options in terms of public health, but that’s not even the biggest issue here. What is? Black Lives Matter isn’t a campaign slogan—it’s a movement beyond any candidate or campaign. Thankfully, Griffin knew to argue back.
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She told the outlet that after waiting in line to vote at the East Roswell Library in Roswell, Georgia, she was told at the door that she couldn’t enter because of the mask. Griffin says she was told the mask was “considered campaigning.” Luckily, Griffin knew her rights.
Griffin told Fox 5 that she countered her initial denial, explaining, “I said can you please show me where black lives or matter is on the ballot. If it’s not on the ballot then it’s not considered campaigning.” She was eventually let in and allowed to vote.
So, what’s the deal? Similar to the previously mentioned case in Memphis, it’s true that in Georgia, you aren’t allowed to wear anything that promotes a political party or a candidate on the ballot. Basically, if it’s on the ballot, don’t wear it to (or too close to) the polls. But, as Griffin rightfully points out, “In general black lives matter doesn’t mean I’m Republican or Democratic.” Though Trump and his administration love to make Black Lives Matter a partisan issue, it absolutely should not be.