Description: On Monday, September 13th, 2021 The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s ALC Voting Rights Braintrust consisted of two panels. Panel I will brought together legal and policy experts to discuss the nuts and bolts of current legal and legislative efforts to strengthen voting rights at the federal and state levels. The panel also included a candid discussion of intent, strategy, obstacles, and hurdles being encountered, and prospects for success. Panel II brought together visionary leaders and influencers in the Fight for Voting Rights. Panelists discussed what the plethora of state legislation rolling back Voting Rights in 2021 is revealing about who we are as Americans. They also discussed how corporate America, civil society, and media and social influencers can work together to galvanize widespread support to pursue immediate reforms while not losing sight of the wholesale transformation needed in the long term.

This impactful conversation was held at the Annual Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Legislative Conference. The Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) is CBCF’s leading public policy convening on issues impacting African Americans. ALC 50, the second Annual Legislative Conference held in a virtual format, will reach, engage, educate, and mobilize an even larger portion of the global Black community.

The event was a two-part 90 minutes virtual panel discussion entitled:

“Winning the Fight for Voting Rights”

Honorary Host:

• Rep. Terri A. Sewell (AL-07)

Honorary Co-hosts: 

• Sen. Raphael Warnock (GA)
• Rep. G. K. Butterfield (NC-01)

The Voting Rights Leaders Apart of this Conversation:

• Michelle Obama (Special Guest), Former First Lady
• Stacey Abrams (Special Guest) Chair, Fair Fight Action
• Angela Rye (Moderator) Principal & CEO, Impact Strategies
• Marie Nelson (SVP, ABC News)
• Sherrilyn Ifill (Panelist) President, NAACP Legal Defense Fund
• John C. Yang (Panelist) President & Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC)
• Cliff Albright (Panelist) Co-Founder, Black Voters Matter Fund
• David Clunie (Panelist) Executive Director, Black Economic Alliance
• Eric Holder, Jr. (Panelist) Former U.S. Attorney General, Chair, National Democratic Redistricting Committee
• Mark Pedowitz (Panelist) Chairman & CEO, CW Television Network
• Jalen Rose (Panelist) Former NBA Player & Celebrity Spokesperson, More Than a Vote