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Democracy Quote by John Lewis

“There have been efforts in recent years and as recently as this past election with it being a deliberate and systematic attempt to suppress the African-American vote. We had a case in some parts of Virginia where people tried to say to African-Americans, to would-be Democratic voters, you're not…” quote by John Lewis
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“There have been efforts in recent years and as recently as this past election with it being a deliberate and systematic attempt to suppress the African-American vote. We had a case in some parts of Virginia where people tried to say to African-Americans, to would-be Democratic voters, you're not supposed to vote on Tuesday, November 4th. You're supposed to vote on Wednesday, November 5th. They were saying, in effect, that there's going to be such a big turnout, such a massive turnout, and you don't want to stand in these long line.”

John Lewis

About This Quote

Source Speech: Voting Rights Advocacy, 2020

Efforts to manipulate voting dates aim to suppress African‑American turnout by creating confusion and discouraging participation.

In simple terms: Voter suppression uses misinformation to reduce turnout.

Key Takeaway

Stay informed and verify voting details.

Themes

civil rights voting political manipulation

Mood

determined hopeful

Type

activist educational

When to use this quote

  • community organizing
  • voter education
  • legal challenges
  • public awareness

Key Concepts

democracy social justice election law

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can communities counteract voting misinformation?
  • What safeguards protect voting integrity?
A Different Perspective

Misinformation can erode trust in democratic processes.

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