Submitted to the Beloit Daily News Letters to the Editor, June 11, 2020

Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy --

We support the editorial written by Dorothy Harrell, President of the Beloit NAACP and a League of Women Voters member. The LWV is a non-partisan organization working to uphold democracy and voting rights. George Floyd is one in a list of far too many Black lives extinguished by police brutality. We deplore such violence and stand with the peaceful protesters locally and across the nation.

As the National CEO of LWV, Virginia Kase, stated “Speaking out is an important first step, but this moment requires more than words – it requires us to change.” She stated we must remain “dedicated to work focused on dismantling racism within our electoral system: People Powered Fair Maps, voting rights restoration for formerly incarcerated people, combating unfair voter purging, fighting voter ID laws and polling place closures.”

Our local League was recently awarded one of 50 national LWV Diversity, Equity and Inclusion grants for $500 to work with the local NAACP, Janesville LWV and other groups at a workshop to join together to develop a plan to work on common goals, particularly to strengthen voter rights. As a result of this workshop, we will educate citizens about their voting rights, so they can become more involved in this effort and hold government accountable. As the last April primary demonstrated, Wisconsin was not perfect in voting process, particularly with the absentee process, and we must work vigilantly together. We welcome your participation.

Susan E. Adams, Ph.D

President, Beloit League of Women Voters