4/14 Warned to Hold Back on Jan. 6
Dear All,
Hundreds of companies and corporate executives—including Amazon, BlackRock, Google, and Warren Buffett—have joined the fight against “any discriminatory legislation” that increases barriers to voting. The statement, which ran as a two-page advertisement in today’s New York Times, “represents the broadest coalition yet to weigh in on the issue, coming after few big companies spoke up before a restrictive voting law passed in Georgia last month.” But there are notable name brands that refused to sign this particular statement. They include Coca-Cola, Delta, Home Depot, JPMorgan Chase, and Walmart. Leadership at some of these businesses have recently put out statements on voting issues or have done internal outreach to employees. While some see the larger campaign against voter suppression as a sign that corporations are ignoring Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s warning to “stay out of politics,” some in the U.S. Senate are seeking to punish businesses for supporting voting rights. Senators Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, and Josh Hawley introduced a bill to “end MLB’s special immunity from antitrust laws,” specifically mentioning the league’s decision to move the all-star game from Georgia. It looks like the threats aren’t ending anytime soon. In other Capitol Hill-related news, today reports broke that the Capitol Police “were instructed by their leaders not to use their most aggressive tactics to hold off the mob” during the attack on the Capitol on January 6th. Additional details of the failures in preparation and response on January 6th were revealed in a scathing new report by the agency’s internal investigator. Here is today’s update: |
National Update
Reuters: “U.S. Senate to consider hate crimes bill in potential filibuster test.” By Makini Brice and David Morgan. (April 14, 2021) “The U.S. Senate will take up hate crime legislation on Wednesday intended to combat violence against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, in a potential first major test this Congress of the Senate procedural tool known as the filibuster.” NPR: “What We Know About The Suspect Who Planted Bombs Before The Capitol Riot.” By Tim Mak. (April 14, 2021) Politico: “Prosecutors: Oath Keepers appeared to stash Jan. 6 firearms at suburban Comfort Inn.” By Kyle Cheney. (April 13, 2021) Washington Post: “Stacey Abrams’s fight against voter suppression dates back to the Revolution.” By Karen Cook Bell. (April 13, 2021) TIME: “Corporations Struggle to Back Voting Rights and Protect the Bottom Line.” By Philip Elliott. (April 13, 2021) FiveThirtyEight: “It’s Not Just Georgia: More Than A Dozen Other States Are Trying To Take Power Away From Local Election Officials.” By Nathaniel Rakich. (April 13, 2021) NBC: “Top private law firms plan ‘SWAT teams’ to fight voting restrictions in court.” By Jane C. Timm. (April 12, 2021) Washington Post (Opinion): “Corporations can’t just bemoan voter restrictions after they become law.” By Jennifer Rubin. (April 12, 2021) |
State Updates
Arizona
Bloomberg: “Arizona Says Keep Your Money, Zuckerberg: Ballots & Boundaries.” By Alex Ebert. (April 13, 2021) Georgia CBS 46: “Fulton County commissioners take legal action against voting law.” By Mea Watkins. (April 13, 2021) NPR: “‘Emancipation’ Moving Production Out Of Georgia Due To New Voting Laws.” By Anastasia Tsioulcas. (April 12, 2021) Michigan The Guardian: “Michigan executives sign letter opposing voting restriction efforts.” By Sam Levine. (April 14, 2021) The Detroit News: “GOP leader sticks with Michigan voting plans despite opposition of GM, Ford.” By Jordyn Grzelweski and Beth LeBlanc. (April 13, 2021) Pennsylvania WITF: “Taxpayers footed Pa.’s bill for election lawsuits. Costs went into the millions.” By Julia Agos. (April 14, 2021) York Daily Record: “Elections in Pa.: Directors, county officials describe ‘breaking point,’ need for reform.” By Teresa Boeckel. (April 12, 2021) |
Social Media
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