By Christopher Rhodes
A group of students and activists recently demonstrated at Morehouse College to protest Georgia’s restrictive voting laws. The demonstrations, timed to coincide with a high-profile visit from the Kamala Harris campaign, come as Georgians and the rest of the nation will decide the outcome of the presidential election over the next two weeks.
Protests against ‘dehumanizing’ voting laws
Students and organizations shine light on voting laws
The protest was organized by Get Free alongside other organizations including Collective Renaissance Guild, Georgia ADAPT, New Disabled South and the Atlanta NAACP. According to NBC News, Matthew Johnson, a leader of the group Faith in Public Life Action, spoke to the protesters about instances in 2020 when concerned individuals passed out food and water to “people standing in line five, six, seven hours to vote.” In addition to the food and water ban, the groups hoped to highlight other provisions of the Georgia law, such as a ban on public officials sending out absentee ballot request forms unless solicited by voters, limiting the use of ballot drop boxes, and allowing for registered voters to be removed from voting lists.
Campaigning and voting ramp up in Georgia
The protest on Saturday was timed to coincide with a high-profile visit to Georgia by the Harris campaign. The vice president appeared at a Saturday rally to drum up support for Harris as she races toward the finish line of the 2024 presidential race and encourages her supporters to engage in early voting. Harris will return to Atlanta on Thursday for a campaign event that will also feature former President Barack Obama and music legend Bruce Springsteen. Meanwhile, the Harris-Walz campaign’s Homecoming Tour will visit Morehouse on Saturday as part of its outreach to HBCUs.
