Republicans restrict Georgia election law: ‘blatant racism’

A few months after the Democrats won the US presidential election, Republicans are trying to make drastic changes to the electoral laws. A selection of new measures: Voting by mail and the right to vote early in the weekend will be restricted and the number of ballot boxes will be reduced. All of the proposals have one thing in common: They mainly affect the black voter.

“Unashamedly racist,” Iconic Baptist Church pastor Timothy MacDonald calls the new electoral laws. His church is located in Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, which surprisingly went to the Democrats in November. There, too, the Republicans are trying to amend the electoral laws.

The priest organizes events on the Sundays before the elections under the slogan Souls for opinion polls, With all attendees going to the polls together after the service. Thanks to this event, he regularly reaches 100 percent turnout among the pioneers of his church. If Americans are not allowed to vote on Sunday, so will it be Souls for opinion polls Also, he could no longer continue.

I haven’t seen it since the fifties

MacDonald explains that not being able to vote on Sunday is not the only measure that makes voting more difficult for black voters. “As for voting by mail, they want to ask for proof of identity, which is something that many African Americans don’t have and have to pay for. Plus, they want to reduce the number of ballot boxes in black quarters. Which is frustrating. They know that, which is why.” Their desire to implement it. It is pure discrimination and racism. “

The new bills come after Trump’s persistent and unfounded allegations that he lost the election due to “widespread voter fraud.” “This bill aims to restore our voters’ confidence,” said Representative Barry Fleming, the initiator of the bill in Georgia.

But according to MacDonald, the law has nothing to do with restoring trust. “In the United States, and especially in the South, we have a history of voter suppression, especially the African American electorate. They are doing everything they can to prevent such a rise again. We haven’t seen such legislation, this kind of repression, since the 1950s.” “.

Candy in a jar

McDonald’s father took him to a polling station when he was a little kid to show how hard it was to vote. “Before my dad could vote, he had to guess how many candies are in the jar. These were tests that they only use with African Americans.”

MacDonald says the Republicans are now trying to secure their power “by suppressing our vote”. “We will use our people and they will vote and we will win. We have to show that we can defeat them in their game, despite the obvious racism.”

Watch the report by Georgia correspondent Lucas Wagmeister here: