ASO statement after passage of AB7

A statement read by the Autonomous Solidarity Organization after the passage of Assembly Bill 7 in the senate on May 19, 2011.  They are holding a funeral for voting rights in the senate gallery after adjournment.  Transcript is incomplete and likely contains errors due to low sound quality.


We gather here today, not to mourn, but to celebrate the beatiful but unnecessarily brief life of comprehensive voting rights and progressive voting legislation.  For some, the right to vote unimpeded can be remembered back to 1790, for most it is a far more recent memory.  From 1790 until May 19, 2011, voters' rights had many shining moments.  The people were there in 1810 when the last religious prerequisite to vote was eliminated.  We were also there in 1850 when property ownership and tax requirements were no longer necessary to befriend our beloved right.  In 1870 we the people continue to form a more perfect union and rose to the defense of our dear friend.  We passed the 15th amendment allowing our African-American brothers and sisters to experience the allure of the voting process.  When 1915 brought us ? we ruled to outlaw literacy tests aimed at preventing blacks and irish catholics from voting.  Then, in 1920, something truly wonderful happened, those who sought to put an end to the current oppression reached out and grabbed an olive branch extended by an alliance of the formerly oppressed.  It was only when this newly built coalition of people—dedicated and true freedom fighters, a fellowship that pledged their allegiance to liberty and justice for all—and our female counterparts, those who grant the privledge of life to us all, achieved the right to vote.

With this newly found impetus the now obvious concept of comprehensive voting rights began to roll.  From the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act, granting voting rights to Native Americans, to the 24th amendment banning poll taxes in 1964, true equality including representation in our governing body was on the rise.  This momentum led to wonderful patriots such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. mounting a voter registration drive in Selma, Alabama that drew national attention to African-American voting rights.  The attention advanced the Voting Rights Act which was expanded in 1970, 1975, and 1982.  With the 26th amendment in 1971, and the Dunn vs Blumstein supreme court ruling of 1972 we ensured that those old enough to make the ultimate sacrifice for their country—for our country—could legally vote, and that no voter should be subject to unreasonably lengthy residence requirements.  Even as recently as 1995, our government has continue to make progress in voting legislation.  The motor voter law took effect allowing prospective voters to register while obtaining an ID.

Now, it is with heavy hearts that we bear witness to the birth of a truly rotten and heinous bill.  Where the motor voter act made it easier to register to vote while obtaining an ID, this voter ID bill makes it more difficult to register and vote while necessitating ID that many will not have reasonable access to.

But rejoice, because our friend is not truly dead.  If this ? has taught us anything, it is that with our help, voters' rights can be resurrected.  They can rise from the ashes to overcome those with malicious intent.  We can form our own coalition, a consolidation of the oppressed and in conjunction with those who genuinely are for voting to egalitarianism and the betterment of all people can share our memories of a fallen comrade.  With these memories we can guarantee that those who stood up and fought, those who lost their lives, and those who spilled blood paints the seven red stripes of our star-spangled banner, did not do so in vain.  Remember friends, that we can never truly prosper unless true of heart and soul can overcome any man-made obstacle.

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.