Activists Call for DC Statehood on Emancipation Day (Blog) 4/17/2023 DC residents recognize April 16 as Emancipation Day, a holiday commemorating the freeing of over 3000 people from slavery in 1861. In 2023, US…, Join LWV DC's Digital Organizing Community
Dolores Huerta & the Power of Grassroots Democracy (Blog) 4/10/2023 Dolores Huerta is a civil rights activist and labor leader who has dedicated her life to fighting for democracy in the United States, both in the…, One of the key challenges facing democracy in the United States today is the growing inequality of wealth and power. As more and more resources are…, Today, Dolores Huerta remains an important voice for democracy and social justice in the United States. Huerta firmly believes that democracy…
Voting Local Matters: Why Vote for City Council? (Blog) 4/4/2023 You may have heard that voting for local elected officials matters, but we want to simplify it. What does voting for mayor, city council, and school…, Each city council looks different in the scope of its powers, but these are a few responsibilities they might fulfill: Making City Policy: A major…, Voting For City Council Members So, why should you vote for your city council members? City councils can promote pro-voter initiatives. The…
Contemporary Women Activists You Should Know (Blog) 3/30/2023 In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating trailblazing women who advocate for equal rights and power our democracy. Read on to…, Byllye Y. Avery Byllye has dedicated her life to fighting for reproductive health, specifically health care and reproductive access for…, America Ferrera America is known for her work as an actress and author, but she also champions women’s and Latino rights. Along with Wilmer…, Jane Fonda Jane might be best known for her iconic work as an actress and model, but don’t be fooled — she’s an activist at heart…, Coretta Scott King Coretta Scott King was one of our time's most prominent women activists. Along with her husband, Dr. Martin Luther…, Winona LaDuke Winona is a writer, economist, and environmentalist dedicated to fighting for Indigenous land, sustainable…
What’s going on with Moore v. Harper? (Blog) 3/28/2023 Updated June 27, 2023 LWVUS and Leagues representing all 50 states and DC filed an amicus brief in Moore v. Harper last year. The case…, North Carolina legislators appealed to the United States Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case. The legislators argued that the North Carolina…, On November 8, 2022, the political composition of the North Carolina Supreme Court flipped to a Republican majority. Three months later, the court…
100 Years of the Equal Rights Amendment (Blog) 3/13/2023 2023 marks the 100th anniversary of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The ERA has a long history of champions who aimed to achieve “…, Griffiths tried again in 1972, and that’s when the hard work of Griffiths and her female colleagues, including Shirley Chisolm (D-NY) and Margaret…, The final three states ratified the ERA beginning in 2018, when Illinois and Nevada propelled successful legislative initiatives toward the finish…, Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) continue to lead the legislation in the Senate. The League is happy to see the leadership of…
International Women's Day & Creating a Safe Digital Space for Women (Blog) 3/8/2023 This blog was written by members of the LWV UN Observer Corps. Today, you can join the United Nations, UN Women, and League of Women Voters UN…, These statistics are just a small portion of what's evidenced everyday - that there is much lacking as far as gender equality in the world of tech!…
Selma and Current Threats to the Voting Rights Act (Blog) 3/7/2023 This blog was updated June 20, 2023. Today marks the 58th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when state and local police attacked hundreds of civil…, The VRA also put in place an affirmative process for voters to sue any jurisdiction for racial discrimination in voting. Section 2 of the VRA, among…, Alabama is home to a government that is currently asking the Supreme Court to eliminate key protections of Section 2 of the VRA, but it is also home…
Black Activist You Should Know: Anya Dillard (Blog) 2/28/2023 February is Black History Month, a time to reflect and celebrate Black advocates and experiences. In this blog, we're continuing our series of…, Tell us more about your background. How did you get involved in your activism work? My journey as a socio-political changemaker…, As we approach our 13th year of gift-giving, this is officially the longest-running charity initiative I’ve ever spearheaded. My time at the hospital…, Despite the cruelty society imposes on Black people in this country, my family never taught me to fear my blackness, nor did they teach me that my…, For me, growing up, being Black was attending a public high school where the members of the gospel choirs and step teams pulled larger crowds than…, I grew up being proud of my blackness, but growing up Black taught me that our society had been trying to work against that pride for many years.…
Voting Local Matters: Why You Should Vote for Mayor (Blog) 2/23/2023 Two months after my 18th birthday, I voted in my first US election. I was certain of my choice for the highest office. I brought my ballot into the…, What Does a Mayor Do? Many city governments are modeled after the United States federal government; they have an executive branch (the mayor and the…, Voting For Mayor So, why should you vote for the mayor? Mayors influence democracy. Mayors can increase the city’s budget for voter…