Submitted by Patricia Evans, ALNAACP Communications Chairperson
Alabama NAACP President Benard Simelton speaks out as civil rights groups, including the Alabama NAACP, file a lawsuit against state officials. The lawsuit challenges a new policy that purged over 3,000 voters from the rolls, which Simelton calls ‘highly unethical’ and a direct attack on the voting rights of naturalized citizens. (Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
The Alabama State Conference of the NAACP, Alabama Coalition of Immigrant Justice, League of Women Voters of Alabama, League of Women Voters of Alabama Education Fund, and several individuals affected by the latest suppression of voting rights, have filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Steve Marshall and Secretary of State Wes Allen. The groups and individuals are represented by the Campaign Legal Center.
Last month, Secretary of State Wes Allen hurled the state’s latest attempt to derail voters by introducing a new policy to purge non-citizen and naturalized voters from the voter rolls. Since then, more than 3,000 people have been removed from the rolls. All the plaintiffs involved believe this policy unfairly targets those naturalized citizens and is suppressing their voting rights.
“The state of Alabama, along with other states are so determined to undermine the election process, that they would deny those who became citizens through marriage, as well as those who passed civic tests, the right to vote. A purge is highly unethical, especially at this time when we are so close to the November 5th election. It is highly unethical,” said Benard Simelton, president of the Alabama NAACP.
“We want Alabama to stop playing these games and playing with the lives of Alabamians,” added Simelton.
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