VOTING RIGHTS: THE STRUGGLE TO BE COUNTED

An unexpected benefit of our recent move to a retirement community, just a couple of miles south of our old house:  Our next door neighbors, Phil Portlock and Pat Sloan. 

It is not just that Phil and I are both lifelong Washington baseball fans, but our lives have so many parallels and one-degree of separation connections in many social justice spaces.  

Last week, Bobbi and I attended a Zoom special viewing of Phil's and Pat's 36-minute film, “VOTING RIGHTS: THE STRUGGLE TO BE COUNTED”, tracing the long and often brutal struggle by African Americans to gain and maintain the unrestricted right to vote.  A moving pictorial tribute to Rep. John Lewis introduces the film.  The film may be viewed here (https://youtu.be/QRiEkdWHMNE?si=CXvUR72e1_XNdhfJ), and I urge people to view it as an important summary of a vital portion of American history -- things we cannot forget as we face the challenges ahead.   

The September 17 viewing included a useful and inspiring  discussion with Phil and Pat.  Fortunately, they are hosting a reprise this coming Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7:30 pm EDT.  People can join the Zoom Meeting at 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85479677611?pwd=Vnes9cre8M0yUYYiMmP9grpx9ccqGk.1

Meeting ID: 854 7967 7611

Passcode: 339991