(Smith and Eskamani photos from each rep’s Facebook page)
ORLANDO | This week, several Democratic Florida representatives are joining other state representatives from across the country in Washington, D.C. to participate in events and meetings to stress the urgent need for Congress to pass legislation protecting the right to vote before the end of summer and undo anti-voter laws in time for the 2022 midterm elections.
In what has been dubbed the Week of Action, over 100 state legislators will demand that the “For the People Act” be passed. Of those who have head to D.C., Orlando’s state Reps. Anna V. Eskamani, Travaris McCurdy and Carlos Guillermo Smith are in attendance in support of voter protection.
The Week of Action kicked off today with a “Recess Can Wait – Our Democracy Can’t” rally which features a lineup of elected officials calling on Congress to put their August recess on hold until the “For the People Act” has passed.
“It was not too long ago that repressive voting laws were repealed thanks to the valiant work of American heroes and leaders like Fannie Lou Hamer, former Congressman John Lewis, and Martin Luther King, Jr.,” said House Democratic Caucus Co-Leader Bobby DuBose (Ft. Lauderdale) in a press release. “I applaud and stand beside my colleagues Representatives Anna V. Eskamani (Orlando), Yvonne Hinson (D-Gainesville), Travaris McCurdy (D-Orlando), Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando), and Patricia Williams (D-Pompano Beach) in advocating for and standing up for all Floridians’ voting rights. I urge our U.S. Senators to act immediately and prevent more voter suppression laws like Florida’s SB 90 from becoming law in other states. Action must be taken to preserve our democracy and honor the legacy of our American heroes by passing the ‘For the People Act’ now.”
In 2021 alone, 30 laws have been enacted by 18 states making it more difficult for Americans to vote. SB 90, called the voter suppression bill by opponents of the legislation, was approved by the Florida Legislature during the 2021 session. The bill has been signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
For more information on the Week of Action and the events to come, visit RecessCanWait.org.
