Raphael Warnock: We Are Witnessing an Assault on Basic Voting Rights

You have called the Supreme Court's You have called the Supreme Court's recent ruling on voting rights recent ruling on voting rights recent ruling on voting rights Jim Crow in new clothes. Your parents Jim Crow in new clothes. Your parents Jim Crow in new clothes. Your parents and grandparents grew up in the in the and grandparents grew up in the in the and grandparents grew up in the in the Jim Crow South. So, can you can you tell Jim Crow South. So, can you can you tell Jim Crow South. So, can you can you tell us a bit about what voting rights means us a bit about what voting rights means us a bit about what voting rights means to you from a family perspective? to you from a family perspective? to you from a family perspective? >> Yes, >> Yes, >> Yes, you know, I talk a lot about voting you know, I talk a lot about voting you know, I talk a lot about voting rights because rights because rights because you know, for me voting rights is not you know, for me voting rights is not you know, for me voting rights is not just one issue alongside all the other just one issue alongside all the other just one issue alongside all the other issues we fight up issues we fight up issues we fight up and struggle and debate about in our and struggle and debate about in our and struggle and debate about in our democracy. It's the very house democracy. It's the very house democracy. It's the very house in which we live. It's the framework in in which we live. It's the framework in in which we live. It's the framework in which we get to fight for the things which we get to fight for the things which we get to fight for the things that matter. that matter. that matter. And so, I'm a child of the South. And so, I'm a child of the South. And so, I'm a child of the South. My my mother grew up in Waycross, My my mother grew up in Waycross, My my mother grew up in Waycross, Georgia, literally picking somebody Georgia, literally picking somebody Georgia, literally picking somebody else's cotton in the 1950s. else's cotton in the 1950s. else's cotton in the 1950s. And because of the arc of progress in And because of the arc of progress in And because of the arc of progress in this country uh over the last 60 years this country uh over the last 60 years this country uh over the last 60 years uh I often say the hands that used to uh I often say the hands that used to uh I often say the hands that used to pick somebody else's cotton got to pick pick somebody else's cotton got to pick pick somebody else's cotton got to pick her son to be a United States Senator.

her son to be a United States Senator. her son to be a United States Senator. And so, this this story of of fighting And so, this this story of of fighting And so, this this story of of fighting for voting rights doesn't feel distant for voting rights doesn't feel distant for voting rights doesn't feel distant to me. to me. to me. We We've only been a democracy in a real We We've only been a democracy in a real We We've only been a democracy in a real sense since 1965. sense since 1965. sense since 1965. And what it it seems to me we are And what it it seems to me we are And what it it seems to me we are witnessing in real time witnessing in real time witnessing in real time is an assault on those basic voting is an assault on those basic voting is an assault on those basic voting rights. rights. rights. Uh and it's been stepped up over the Uh and it's been stepped up over the Uh and it's been stepped up over the last few years. But, let me let me be last few years. But, let me let me be last few years. But, let me let me be really clear. Sure. I I don't separate really clear. Sure. I I don't separate really clear. Sure. I I don't separate this this this right now right now right now black voters black voters black voters are at the center of the debate that are at the center of the debate that are at the center of the debate that we're hearing. I think that the Supreme we're hearing. I think that the Supreme we're hearing. I think that the Supreme Court has has committed violence against Court has has committed violence against Court has has committed violence against our whole our whole our whole the ways in which ordinary people can the ways in which ordinary people can the ways in which ordinary people can have a voice in our system. And the same have a voice in our system. And the same have a voice in our system. And the same the same Supreme Court that has gutted the same Supreme Court that has gutted the same Supreme Court that has gutted Section 2 Section 2 Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act gutted Section of the Voting Rights Act gutted Section of the Voting Rights Act gutted Section 5 in 2013 5 in 2013 5 in 2013 is also the same Supreme Court is also the same Supreme Court is also the same Supreme Court responsible for Citizens United. And so responsible for Citizens United. And so responsible for Citizens United. And so whether we're talking about black voters whether we're talking about black voters whether we're talking about black voters or white or white or white working-class voters, ordinary people, working-class voters, ordinary people, working-class voters, ordinary people, the voices of the people are being the voices of the people are being the voices of the people are being squeezed out of their democracy. And as squeezed out of their democracy. And as squeezed out of their democracy. And as someone who whose parents someone who whose parents someone who whose parents uh lived through that that ugly history, uh lived through that that ugly history, uh lived through that that ugly history, I take deep offense and I'm very I take deep offense and I'm very I take deep offense and I'm very concerned about our our country.