In Georgia, voting rights groups have filed a second lawsuit seeking to block a sweeping voter suppression law signed by Republican Governor Brian Kemp last week. The law grants broad power to state officials to take control of election management from local and county election boards, adds new voter ID requirements and even makes it a crime to hand out food or water to voters waiting in line at polling places.
Meanwhile, the children of prominent civil rights leaders have condemned Georgia’s business leaders for their silence on Republican-led voter suppression efforts. In a joint letter, they write, “The failure of corporate leaders across our state to live up to their racial equity commitments made in the last year disregards and disrespects our fathers’ tireless work and jeopardizes the soul of Georgia and the promise of democracy.” The letter was signed by Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; Al Vivian, son of Reverend C.T. Vivian; and John-Miles Lewis, son of the late Congressmember John Lewis.