Various news outlets have reported that a large number of Americans marched across the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C., on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and called on Congress to pass voting legislation. Martin Luther King III also addressed the crowd before the march and said, “Today we are here for this march across Frederick Douglass bridge to say to the president and US Senate: You were successful with infrastructure, which is a great thing, but we need you to use that same energy to ensure all Americans have the unencumbered right to vote”. Marchers said they came to honor the late King, protect democracy, and bring awareness to voter suppression.
One woman in the march, Angelina Robert interviewed a news outlet and said, “I’m terrified that our democracy is under attack. We are seeing an erosion of our voting rights. If we can’t push through voting rights, we’re going to see a slide towards authoritarianism”. Another marcher, Angela Eleni informed a news outlet, “Dr. Martin Luther King stood for protecting democracy for everyone, and so we’re here to ensure that takes place”. A college student in Washington said, “In today’s era, with voting and voter suppression, we just want to let everybody know that we’re here to support”. Most people were demanding Congress pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, a combination of voting bills.
Democrats argue that the legislation will prevent voter suppression, but Republicans have argued that it will open elections to fraud. Eleni also said, “John Lewis will protect your rights. It is all of our futures, no matter who you align with, that is at stake”. Moreover, another marcher, Charles Lowrey said that he was marching because the legislation in Congress needs to be passed, in order to protect and improve voting rights. It’s so important. It is noteworthy that the voting legislation has no clear path forward since Democrats don’t have the votes needed for it to pass.