News
Martin Luther King III, Arndrea King, Rev. Al Sharpton to Visit Capitol Hill and Meet with TX State Legislatures at MLK Memorial
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FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY
July 27, 2021
Contact: Richard Carbo, [email protected] (King Family)
Rachel Noerdlinger, [email protected] (Rev. Sharpton)
**MEDIA ADVISORY**
Martin Luther King III, Arndrea King, Rev. Al Sharpton to Visit Capitol Hill and Meet with TX State Legislatures at MLK Memorial
Civil rights leaders to urge Congress to pass voting rights legislation ahead of nationwide March On for Voting Rights
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, July 28, 2021, Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King and Rev. Al Sharpton will visit Capitol Hill to urge congressional leaders to pass federal voting rights legislation. In addition, the civil rights leaders will visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial to meet with Democratic members of the Texas Legislature who are in Washington, D.C., to prevent the Texas House of Representatives from passing legislation that would restrict access to the ballot. The visit comes ahead of a nationwide March On for Voting Rights scheduled for Saturday, August 28, 2021.
The meetings taking place on Capitol Hill will include House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Lindsey Graham. Additional meetings to be added.
In June, the Drum Major Institute, March On, the National Action Network, Future Coalition, and SEIU announced March On for Voting Rights, a mass mobilization that will take place on August 28, 2021, the 58th anniversary of Dr. King’s peaceful and historic March On Washington—this time, to demand that King’s “I Have a Dream” vision be deferred no longer. The purpose is to demand that legislatures across the country end their push for restrictive voting laws and that Congress pass the For the People Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Restoration Act, which will ensure free, fair access to the ballot for every American voter. Marches will be held across the country including Atlanta, Houston, Miami and Phoenix, where voting rights are under attack, and in Washington, D.C., where Congress is debating voting rights legislation and D.C. statehood. More information about the march and a list of additional locations is available at https://marchonforvotingrights.org/.
The time and location of a media availability will be announced at a later time.
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Your coverage is invited:
WHO: Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King and Rev. Al Sharpton
WHAT: Capitol Hill visit to urge Congress to pass voting rights legislation
WHEN: Wednesday, July 28, 2021
10:30 a.m. – Sen. Joe Manchin
11:00 a.m. – Sen. Lindsey Graham
2:30 p.m. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi
*Requests for interviews should be made to [email protected].
WHERE: U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C.
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WHO: Martin Luther King III, Arndrea Waters King and Rev. Al Sharpton
WHAT: Meeting with Texas State Democratic Delegation
WHEN: Wednesday, July 28, 2021
1:00 p.m.
WHERE: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
Washington, D.C.
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About the Drum Major Institute
The Drum Major Institute advances the core mission of our founder, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to assure that the arc of the moral universe continues to bend toward justice. Dr. King’s legacy and voice are as important today as they were upon our founding 60 years ago. To meet this historic moment, we are lending our unique ability to facilitate dialogue and collaboration to support the countless courageous acts of individuals and organizations across the nation and the world to ensure that the vital conversations that are now starting will sustain and advance far beyond this moment in time—and lead to tangible lasting outcomes. We encourage all people to embrace their role in the King legacy, take action in their community and strive to build the Beloved Community. Learn more at www.drummajorinst.org.
About National Action Network
National Action Network is one of the leading civil rights organizations in the Nation with chapters throughout the entire United States. Founded in 1991 by Reverend Al Sharpton, NAN works within the spirit and tradition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to promote a modern civil rights agenda that includes the fight for one standard of justice, decency and equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, criminal record, economic status, gender, gender expression, or sexuality. For more information, visit https://nationalactionnetwork.net/
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About March On
March On is a political organization composed of women-led political activist groups that grew out of the women’s marches of January 21, 2017. They have come together as a united force to take concrete, coordinated actions at the federal, state and local levels to impact elections and move the country in a progressive direction. For more information, visit wearemarchon.org.
About Future Coalition
Founded by youth activists for youth activists, Future Coalition is a network and community for youth-led organizations and Gen Z and young millennial leaders from across the country that came into being as a project of March On in the fall of 2018. Future Coalition works collaboratively to provide young people with the resources, tools, and support they need to create the change they want to see in their communities and in this country. For more information, visit futurecoalition.org.
About SEIU
Service Employees International Union is an organization of 2 million members united by the belief in the dignity and worth of workers and the services they provide, and dedicated to improving the lives of workers and their families and creating a more just and humane society. For more information, visit https://www.seiu.org/.