Jackson asks black caucus to help stage rally vs. ID bill

By SONJI JACOBS

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 04/12/05

Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson met privately with Georgia's Legislative Black Caucus on Monday to discuss plans to fight a controversial bill that would require voters to show photo identification at the polls.
Jackson asked the caucus to help his national civil rights organization, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, organize a national march in Atlanta on Aug. 6 — the 40th anniversary of the day the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law.

Tara Todras-Whitehill/Special
(ENLARGE)
Sen. Valencia Seay (from left), the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rep. Jo Ann McClinton were part of a meeting to oppose the recent voter ID bill passed in the Legislature.
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He said House Bill 244 underscores the importance of making sure that Congress renews the provisions of the Voting Rights Act that are set to expire in 2007. One provision allows the U.S. attorney general to send federal observers to monitor elections and requires primarily Southern states to gain the approval of the Department of Justice before implementing new voting procedures or practices.
"Your fight here is part of a bigger move to deny voters rights and voter access," Jackson said. Last month, he criticized President Bush for not clearly indicating support for extending the Voting Rights Act.
Jackson said the August march in Atlanta would spotlight the importance of the Voting Rights Act and other issues such as quality public education, affordable health care and saving Social Security. Jackson had tough words for the right wing of the Republican Party and urged Georgia's black caucus to build a coalition with other like-minded people.
"This march is the beginning of a resistance movement," Jackson said.
State Sen. John Wiles (R-Marietta), who carried HB 244 in the Senate, said the bill "ensures fair and open elections."
"It provides assurance to voters and citizens that there will not be voter fraud at polling places by requiring identification," Wiles said. "The ID will be provided free to those who cannot afford it."
He doesn't agree with critics who say requiring photo identification will keep some people from voting. "People know about the bill, and they can go get an ID with ample time before the next election," Wiles said.
If signed into law, the bill must be reviewed by the U.S. Justice Department.
State Rep. Stan Watson (D-Decatur), chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus, said the meeting with Jackson had been in the works for several weeks.
"We want to mobilize folks about the policies that are affecting the African-American community, from education to health care to the Voting Rights Act," Watson said. He and other black caucus leaders, including state Sen. Valencia Seay (D-Riverdale) and state Rep. Alisha Morgan (D-Austell), plan to have a news conference Monday to announce more details about the march.
Last month, the Georgia General Assembly passed the voter identification bill despite protests from Democrats, especially African-American lawmakers. Black Democrats walked out of the Senate and House when early versions of the bill initially passed. The measure would require voters to show one of six forms of government-issued photo identification at the polls. Previously, voters had been able to show 17 forms of identification, including utility bills, hunting and fishing licenses, and bank statements. The bill also allows voters to cast an absentee ballot for any reason.
Black lawmakers, civil rights groups, AARP, labor unions, the League of Women Voters of Georgia and the Mexican-American Legal Defense Fund lobbied furiously against the bill, saying it could turn elderly, minority and poor voters away from the polls.
The bill is pending before Gov. Sonny Perdue, who has until May 10 to sign or veto it. If he does neither, the bill becomes law. Perdue's office has indicated that he supports the measure.