To: President Donald Trump, The Georgia State House, The Georgia State Senate, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Citizens for Voting Rights
Victory! The creator of this petition declared the campaign a success. You can still sign the petition to show support.
Consider whether or not the State has violated Section 5, by not enforcing the 14th Amendment; The framers of Section 5, considered this to be a tool to enable “Congress, in case the States shall enact laws in conflict with the principles of the Amendment, to correct that legislation by a formal congressional enactment.”
Why is this important?
Protect the 14th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act of 1965/64
The Coalition for A Better Macon
Thomas E. Perez
c/o Jennifer
Assistant Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Main
Washington, D.C. 20530
Our organization stands in opposition to the Georgia General Assembly passed SB 25, 26, 30 and 31, which effectively made all municipal elections in Macon-Bibb nonpartisan. This county is now facing a totally new form of government; whereas the Republican led legislature (Sponsored Legislation) - Rep. Allen Peake, Senator Cecil Staton, Rep. Nikki Randall, Rep. James Beverly, and former Senator Miriam Paris, under HB 1171 Consolidation and redistricting plan drawn by these individuals and approved by the State legislature shall discriminate and retrogressively impact against minorities as affirmed by the maps drawn – the Congressional, State House of Representatives, and the State Senate – are in violation of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These legislators in a hurry rushed referendum to the voters for consolidation without informing the people what they were actually voting on and pushed through the Georgia General Assembly which effectively makes the majority (African American) voters in this county a minority.
The Republican led legislators took districts with low voter turnout in Primary elections and specifically abridged voter turnout to effectively dilute African American voting strength whereas lower voter turnout among African American precincts is expected in a Primary July election with expected high voter turnout among whites in now predominately white precincts, based on data from the Municipal Elections 2011, Special Election and General Election 2012, which on paper shows a likely AA district. In reality this shall lead to a higher voter turnout among white voters in support of white candidates winning the seat once held by African American candidates.
Furthermore, it is the expressed desire of the Republican led legislator to willfully and knowingly subvert the will of the people through this process, whereby we as a community want to elect candidate(s), we choose to represent our interest(s). As demonstrated by the Republican led legislature their express desire and now law forces those same constituents that make up this community to adhere to nonpartisan elections as a local voting law, which was not voted on by the people. Essentially, by will of the State and Republican led Legislature to subvert and abridgment of the people that choses to exercise one of the basic freedoms afforded to us by the Constitution, the 14th Amendment, and particularly Section 5, Voting Rights Act of 1965 whereby people of color, Negro, Black, and/or African American have the right to vote and be represented accordingly.
This master-plan as represented by the aforementioned requires your immediate attention.
Under Section 5 and as an Officer of the Court, elected by the people you have a duty and responsibility to act; Section 5 enforcement demands an immediate investigation….
1. Consider whether a covered voting change has occurred;
2. If so, whether the requirements of Section 5 have been met, preclearance has been obtained; and
3. If not, what relief by the court is appropriate
4. Consider whether or not the State has violated Section 5, by not enforcing the 14th Amendment; The framers of Section 5, considered this to be a tool to enable “Congress, in case the States shall enact laws in conflict with the principles of the Amendment, to correct that legislation by a formal congressional enactment.”
Lopez v. Monterey County, 519 U.S. 9, 23 (1996). The only court that can make the determination that change is not discriminatory is purpose or effect is the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Upon finding non-compliance with Section 5, the Local Federal Court shall consider an appropriate equitable remedy.
The general objective of such remedies is to restore the situation that existed before the implementation of the change. Thus, the typical remedy includes issuance of an INJUNCTION against further use of the change.
In certain circumstances, other remedies have included voiding illegally-conducted elections, enjoining upcoming elections unless and until the jurisdiction complies with Section 5, or ordering a special election; in some cases courts have also issued orders directing the jurisdiction to seek Section 5, review of the change from the Attorney General or the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Respectfully,
The Coalition for A Better Macon
And
Mr. Stanley Phillip Brown, Jr. (Citizen and African American Candidate for Office)
Cc: Attorney General Eric Holder, United States Washington DC
Michael J. Moore, US State of Georgia
Attorney Representing
Sam Olsen
The Coalition for A Better Macon
Thomas E. Perez
c/o Jennifer
Assistant Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Office of the Assistant Attorney General, Main
Washington, D.C. 20530
Our organization stands in opposition to the Georgia General Assembly passed SB 25, 26, 30 and 31, which effectively made all municipal elections in Macon-Bibb nonpartisan. This county is now facing a totally new form of government; whereas the Republican led legislature (Sponsored Legislation) - Rep. Allen Peake, Senator Cecil Staton, Rep. Nikki Randall, Rep. James Beverly, and former Senator Miriam Paris, under HB 1171 Consolidation and redistricting plan drawn by these individuals and approved by the State legislature shall discriminate and retrogressively impact against minorities as affirmed by the maps drawn – the Congressional, State House of Representatives, and the State Senate – are in violation of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These legislators in a hurry rushed referendum to the voters for consolidation without informing the people what they were actually voting on and pushed through the Georgia General Assembly which effectively makes the majority (African American) voters in this county a minority.
The Republican led legislators took districts with low voter turnout in Primary elections and specifically abridged voter turnout to effectively dilute African American voting strength whereas lower voter turnout among African American precincts is expected in a Primary July election with expected high voter turnout among whites in now predominately white precincts, based on data from the Municipal Elections 2011, Special Election and General Election 2012, which on paper shows a likely AA district. In reality this shall lead to a higher voter turnout among white voters in support of white candidates winning the seat once held by African American candidates.
Furthermore, it is the expressed desire of the Republican led legislator to willfully and knowingly subvert the will of the people through this process, whereby we as a community want to elect candidate(s), we choose to represent our interest(s). As demonstrated by the Republican led legislature their express desire and now law forces those same constituents that make up this community to adhere to nonpartisan elections as a local voting law, which was not voted on by the people. Essentially, by will of the State and Republican led Legislature to subvert and abridgment of the people that choses to exercise one of the basic freedoms afforded to us by the Constitution, the 14th Amendment, and particularly Section 5, Voting Rights Act of 1965 whereby people of color, Negro, Black, and/or African American have the right to vote and be represented accordingly.
This master-plan as represented by the aforementioned requires your immediate attention.
Under Section 5 and as an Officer of the Court, elected by the people you have a duty and responsibility to act; Section 5 enforcement demands an immediate investigation….
1. Consider whether a covered voting change has occurred;
2. If so, whether the requirements of Section 5 have been met, preclearance has been obtained; and
3. If not, what relief by the court is appropriate
4. Consider whether or not the State has violated Section 5, by not enforcing the 14th Amendment; The framers of Section 5, considered this to be a tool to enable “Congress, in case the States shall enact laws in conflict with the principles of the Amendment, to correct that legislation by a formal congressional enactment.”
Lopez v. Monterey County, 519 U.S. 9, 23 (1996). The only court that can make the determination that change is not discriminatory is purpose or effect is the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Upon finding non-compliance with Section 5, the Local Federal Court shall consider an appropriate equitable remedy.
The general objective of such remedies is to restore the situation that existed before the implementation of the change. Thus, the typical remedy includes issuance of an INJUNCTION against further use of the change.
In certain circumstances, other remedies have included voiding illegally-conducted elections, enjoining upcoming elections unless and until the jurisdiction complies with Section 5, or ordering a special election; in some cases courts have also issued orders directing the jurisdiction to seek Section 5, review of the change from the Attorney General or the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.
Respectfully,
The Coalition for A Better Macon
And
Mr. Stanley Phillip Brown, Jr. (Citizen and African American Candidate for Office)
Cc: Attorney General Eric Holder, United States Washington DC
Michael J. Moore, US State of Georgia
Attorney Representing
Sam Olsen