Every senator who protects the filibuster is guilty of protecting a Jim Crow relic that was used to block civil rights legislation for decades. There’s simply no way to get around its sinister legacy.
In the 20th century, the filibuster was used to block over 200 anti-lynching bills and held up the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act for 60 days. Over and over again, it’s been a weapon wielded by segregationists and white supremacists. We can’t let the filibuster continue to block the voting and civil rights of Black and brown Americans in the year 2021—which it’s currently poised to do unless we get rid of it.
I hope senators like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are acutely aware of this history as they continue to express support for the filibuster. I am urging them and the rest of the Senate to have courage and get rid of the filibuster as soon as possible. A minority of senators shouldn’t be allowed to stop the progress the majority of Americans voted for.
Dolores Bornstein
Santa Cruz
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