Two US lawmakers arrested in DC while demonstrating for federal voting bill
US congressman Al Green and Texas state representative Ron Reynolds have been arrested while demonstrating outside the Capitol building in support of the federal voting legislation.
“Rep. Reynolds was arrested today along with Rep. Al Green TX in Washington DC while peacefully protesting against voter suppression, protecting access to the ballot and preserving our precious right to vote,” Reynolds’ office announced.
Reynolds was one of the Texas House Democrats who fled to Washington about three weeks ago to block a GOP-backed voting restrictions bill.
Reynolds and his colleagues have spent the time lobbying for a federal voting rights bill to nullify the voting restrictions proposed back in home.
“Proud to fight for the voting rights of those I serve by any means necessary,” Green wrote in his tweet.
“The state has a long history of voter suppression, and the latest iteration of it involves denying people the right to vote in hours that are convenient to them — when they’re getting off of work,” he added.
On July 14, the Texas Senate approved a controversial restrictive legislation to restrict absentee voting and forbid drive-through voting, which many believe were the Democrats’ trump card in the 2020 presidential elections.
This came a day after 51 Democrats in the state’s lower house decamped to Washington to block passage of the bill by preventing a quorum that is necessary for a special session. They signaled that they would remain in Washington until the special session ends.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has repeatedly criticized the bill as an “assault on democracy.”
“We’re facing the most significant test of our democracy since the Civil War,” Biden said after the passage of the bill. “I’m not saying this to alarm you, I’m saying this because you should be alarmed.”
Democrats wary of four more years of Trump
Trump says Haley, Pompeo won’t join new administration
Quick and peaceful US election transition
VIDEO | Palestinian Bedouin communities struggle amid Israel's settlement expansion
VIDEO | British activist on hunger strike for Gaza
VIDEO | Turkey under pressure to cut off oil supplies to Israel
Iran warns US against resumption of ‘maximum pressure’ policy
Israeli strikes kill 28 people in Lebanon
Hezbollah strikes major Israeli air force base for first time
Iran authorizes imports and sale of unleaded gasoline at free prices
Who said what about genocide in Gaza and Lebanon at OIC-Arab League summit?
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
