A total of 25 faith leaders have gone on hunger strike for voting rights, on the first anniversary of the insurrection, (January 6 2022.)
This is to urge Congress to pass voting rights legislation by Martin L.King, Jr on January 17, 2022.
The pastors, are all part of a coalition called Faith for Black Lives
Among them on strike is Megachurch pastor Jamal Bryant, who leads New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia.
Rev. Stephen A. Green, Chair, Faith for Black Lives told Premier in a statement: “As faith leaders, we are called to speak truth to power and to raise the conscience of this nation through moral resistance.
“This moment requires sacrifice and a deep commitment to radical love in action in order to redeem the soul of this nation and protect our democracy.
“Through this hunger strike we hope to press upon the United States Senate the moral imperative of this moment.”
The statement continued on the Faith for Black Lives website: “Across America, voting rights are being threatened as 19 states passed 34 laws impacting the right to vote, specifically targeting communities of colour.
“States enacted laws to reduce early voting, restrict access to absentee ballots, and seize control of non-partisan election administration official functions.
“In addition, extreme partisan gerrymandering threatens access to Black political representation in state and federal elections for the next decade.”
Conservatives contend that such bills, such as the one passed last year in Georgia, aim to improve the integrity of the voting process amid allegations of voter fraud.
Progressives believe that such bills curtail ballot access for urban and suburban communities.
Rev. Stephen A. Green suggested that the hunger strike was a part of "moral resistance."
Sign up to support the hunger fast by visiting www.strikeforvotingrights.com