Several voting rights groups will not be attending President Joe Biden’s speech in Atlanta, Georgia.
According to The New York Times, voting rights and civil rights groups are frustrated with the White House over a lack of response to attacks on voting rights.
“We do not need any more speeches, we don’t need any more platitudes,” James Woodall, former president of the N.A.A.C.P. of Georgia, said.
He added, “We don’t need any more photo ops. We need action, and that actually is in the form of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, as well as the Freedom to Vote Act — and we need that immediately.”
The newspaper noted the administration had been focused on passing the president’s economic agenda.
Ian Bassin, executive director of Protect Democracy, told the Times, “When you’re diagnosed with cancer, you don’t wait a year to start treatment.”
He continued, “The White House and Senate are starting to act with greater urgency, and there’s still time, but the president better be bringing a plan for chemo and radiation to Atlanta, because time is running out.”
Democrat Stacey Abrams, a leading advocate for voting rights, will not be attending. An aide said she has a scheduling conflict, as the Times reports.
Still, she showed her support for the event in a tweet.
“The fight for voting rights takes persistence. As MLK exhorted, ‘The clock of destiny is ticking out. We must act now before it is too late.’ Thank you, [President Biden], for refusing to relent until the work is finished. Welcome back to Georgia where we get good done,” Abrams tweeted.
The fight for voting rights takes persistence. As MLK exhorted, “The clock of destiny is ticking out. We must act now before it is too late.” Thank you, @POTUS, for refusing to relent until the work is finished. Welcome back to Georgia where we get good done. #FTVA #JLVRAA
— Stacey Abrams (@staceyabrams) January 10, 2022
The White House released excerpts of Biden’s speech Tuesday morning.
“The next few days, when these bills come to a vote, will mark a turning point in this nation. Will we choose democracy over autocracy, light over shadow, justice over injustice? I know where I stand. I will not yield. I will not flinch,” Biden is expected to say. “I will defend your right to vote and our democracy against all enemies foreign and domestic. And so the question is where will the institution of United States Senate stand?”
Vice President Kamala Harris is also expected to deliver a speech.