Every week at All Saints Church we put our faith into action. This Sunday we are petitioning the Department of Justice demanding that the Civil Rights Division vigorously enforce Election and Civil Rights Laws.

Tennessee has crossed a dangerous line. In a blatant attack on voting rights, Tennessee just sent letters to over 14,000 registered voters demanding they prove their citizenship. The Governor and his allies have shamelessly pushed this tactic through, disregarding the rights of voters who don’t conform to their narrow view of who should participate in our democracy.

This is not an isolated incident; it is part of a concerted effort by right-wing politicians to manipulate election laws and undermine civil rights.

From Texas, which sent letters to U.S. citizens falsely flagging them as potential noncitizens who could be removed from the voting rolls to Georgia, which recently passed restrictive voting laws, other states will likely follow suit if this unconstitutional power grab goes unchallenged.

We cannot allow partisan zealots to hijack our electoral system and disenfranchise legitimate voters. Make no mistake: Right-wing politicians are specifically targeting communities where they know the majority of people will vote against them.

These voter suppression tactics are not random — they are calculated moves designed to silence the voices of immigrants, people of color, and others who threaten their grip on power. By demanding proof of citizenship from already registered voters, they hope to intimidate and discourage participation in our democratic process.

In Georgia, severe restrictions on mail-in voting have disenfranchised thousands. Texas has eliminated 24-hour and drive-thru voting, creating barriers for shift workers and busy families. Florida has imposed harsh restrictions on voter registration drives. If Tennessee’s actions are allowed to stand, it will set a dangerous precedent, emboldening other states to engage in even more aggressive voter suppression tactics.

The consequences of inaction are dire. If these tactics are allowed to stand, it will open the floodgates for further erosion of voting rights, leading to a future where partisan manipulation replaces fair elections and voters who don’t conform to right-wing preferences are marginalized and silenced.

Every eligible voter, regardless of their background or political persuasion, deserves the right to participate in our democracy without intimidation. The Department of Justice must draw a line in the sand and fight back against these unconstitutional actions with every tool at their disposal.

Options to Take Action:

1. Sign a letter at the Action Table on Sunday.
2. Click on this link to download an Action Letter to sign and mail.
3. Click on this link to sign the petition at the National Campaign for Justice website.

Resolutions of Episcopal Church General Conventions:

• 2022-D048: Support Public Investment in Post-High School Education and Training
• 2018-D006: Call for Public Investment and Community Participation in Transition to New Economies
• 2018-D081: Call for Community Development Efforts and Government Policy Initiatives to Address Transition to Clean Energy

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Please continue to urge your Representatives, Senators and the President to demand a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War, and pray for the innocents. (download a phone script here)

#ceasefire    #releaseallhostages

Also, as we mourn all those lost to violence, we continue to pray for peace in the Holy Land and for our Episcopal Relief & Development partners who are working to serve all people who come to them seeking treatment and safety. Your generous support of the ERD Middle East Fund will help to address immediate and long-term needs created by the Israel-Hamas war through locally-led partnerships. Donate to the ERD here.

Contact the White House at https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ or leave a phone comment at 1-202-456-1111.

If you ever need to look up your member of the U.S. House of Representatives or your U.S. Senators check here: www.house.gov and www.senate.gov.

To find contact information for your California State Senator or California State Assemblymember check here: www.senate.ca.gov and www.assembly.ca.gov.