by S. Rotan Hale
A coalition of Democratic based organizations hosted a series of rallies in response to a lawsuit by Republicans to block Governor Terry McAuliffe’s recent historic executive order to restore rights of 206,000 ex-offenders.
A group of around 50 concerned citizens joined several civic local and state leaders at a gathering held Saturday, June 4 at Mt. Zion AME Church on Melrose Ave. NW that was one of 4 “Voices for the Vote Rallies” held across the commonwealth.
The session was conducted by 11th House Delegate Sam Rasoul who, charged with the effort, was backed by a host of state-wide participating organizations: Mt. Zion AME Church, Roanoke Branch NAACP, Your Vote Your Voice, ACLU, AFL-CIO, Roanoke City Democratic Committee, New Virginia Majority and Virginians for Equality & Sensible Gun Laws.
Early in the meeting Del. Rasoul spoke about certain cases where those incarcerated were subjected to unjust sentencing and in some cases “sentencing that just didn’t make much sense.”
“Today is not about any political party. It’s not about any candidate. Its really about restoring dignity to those who deserve that dignity,” said Rasoul who referred to McAuliffe’s actions as both “political and principled.”
Rasoul read from an article featured in the Washington Post regarding the governor’s actions and their historic implications that stated:
‘“The racists who rewrote the Virginia Constitution in 1902 made no bones about their objectives. Poll taxes, literacy tests and the disenfranchisement of felons were all granted as constitutional cover.”’
Rasoul continued with statements made by Democratic State Senator Carter Glass, a key draftsmen of the U.S. Constitution who during that time said: ‘“To eliminate the darkie as a political factor in the state and ensure the complete supremacy of the White race and all the affairs of government was in fact at the heart of drafting that constitution.”
In keeping with the state’s “dark racial history,” Virginia is one of 4 states in the country with the highest qualifications regarding rights restoration. Currently 38 states have automatic rights restorationfor ex-offenders.
Among those states is North Carolina where 64-year-old Alvin Crutchfield, a Roanoke native lived upon his release from prison.
“In North Carolina my right to vote was automatically restored and when I moved back to Virginia I was deprived of that right,” said Crutchfield.
“I tried several times to have my rights restored and the last road block I experienced was the stipulation that I had to pay all past fines plus interest which amounted to over $8,000. I work hard all of the time but I really don’t have that kind of money set aside,” Crutchfield added.
In addition to voicing his support for the governor’s measures, Eddie Seay, with Your Vote, Your Voice, informed the attendees of various voter registration measures he and his organization were conducting in order to “expand and energize the electorate.”
He spoke of voter “hubs” set up at 622–11th Street, NW and in southeast and also mentioned canvassing efforts launched throughout the neighborhoods to inform people of their voting rights.
“We’ll be doing this every week from now until the Supreme Court session on this matter happens,” he added.
“People shouldn’t be punished forever for a mistake they made in the past.”
“Loosing something of value is very different from loosing something taken for granted,” said Brenda Hale, president local NAACP.
“Too many people take their right to vote for granted and don’t show up during elections. But when you have an ex-offender that has lost the right to vote, trust me they feel different about it… there’s a passion,” said Hale making an extremely valid point.
Democratic chair Stephen Niamke went personal with the issue telling how his father, an ex-offender always talked about getting his voting rights back.
‘I’ll always remember going to vote but my father couldn’t go, my mother voted and he told me how embarrassing it was. My father wasn’t an emotional man but he was emotional about that particular issue… it meant something to him!”
Niamke posed the question as to why Democrats have not organized fund raising campaigns to assist ex-cons with rights restoration.
Responding to several extremely helpful questions from Brenda Hamilton, City Clerk of Court, Rasoul covered a range of issues surrounding the governor’s order.
One point covered how the order (until signed into law) only applied to those ex-offenders of the past. A new order has been and must be signed monthly for anyone released since the order went into effect.
He also explained how anyone affected under the order, once cleared, only has to follow routine registration guidelines from that point on.
Continuing to prove himself as no average politician, Rasoul closed the session with a strong, heartfelt summation.
“This issue is not about anybody but you as an ex-offender devoid of rights. So even if they say the system doesn’t work for them. It’s not about Democrats or Republicans. It’s not about politicians. It’s not about votes for anybody–but about being empowered and reclaiming the right to choose whether or not you want to go out and vote.”
