According to the Brennan Center for Justice, between January 1 and July 14, 2021, at least 18 states enacted 30 laws that restrict access to the vote. Just last week, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott signed into law a bill that bans 24-hour and drive-thru voting, imposing new hurdles on mail-in ballots.

Sojourner Truth Radio: September 16, 2021 – Voting Rights, Migrant Crisis, Fairy Creek

Today on Sojourner Truth:

Voting rights campaigners have been frustrated by a lack of action by Congress to restore voter rights, which have been undermined since the 2013 Supreme Court decision that stripped the historic Voting Rights Act won during the Civil Rights Era. Civil Rights leaders have been pressuring President Biden and Congressional Democrats to take urgent action. This, as voter suppression laws are spreading across the United States. The most recent law, a very restrictive one, passed in Texas. In an effort to get something done, Democrats have cut a deal with Blue Dog Democrats (Conservative Democrats), including Joe Manchin. On Tuesday, September 14, eight Senate Democrats joined Manchin to put forth a new voting rights bill named the Freedom to Vote Act. To give reaction to what is happening in this historic fight for voting rights, we speak with voting rights campaigner Barbara Arnwine.

An update on the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, where there is a continuing humanitarian crisis, including that of 2,200 unaccompanied children who crossed the border in July. Our guest is Alba Jaramillo, Executive Director of Arizona Justice For Our Neighbors.

For our weekly Earth Watch, over 1,000 arrests as Indigenous peoples and environmental campaigners fight to stop logging on Vancouver Island’s ancient forests. We speak with Indigenous land defender Rainbow Eyes.