Former gubernatorial candidate and voting rights activist Stacey Abrams (D) went viral on social media for her response to a GOP senator’s request to list all the provisions she objected to in the recent controversial Peach State vote.
During a Tuesday hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Voting Rights, the Republican Sen. John Kennedy
John Neely Kennedy MORE (La.) Asked Abrams if she believes the bill on Georgia has been signed by the government. Brian Kemp
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp tears up Home Depot boycott: ‘This insanity must stop’ Religious leaders call for Georgia’s Home Depot boycott Trump: GOP candidates must embrace ‘make America big’ agenda they want to win MORE (R) last month is ‘racist’.
“I think there are provisions of it that are racist, yes,” she replied.
Kennedy asked the former Democratic governor in Georgia to give him a ‘list’ of the provisions you objected to. ‘
Abrams, who founded the voting rights group Fair Fight Action, went on to list the components of the bill that she said would place unfair disadvantages on certain sections of the population, including voters in minority groups and low-income residents.
‘It shortens the federal expiration period from nine weeks to four weeks. It limits the amount of time a voter can request and return an absentee ballot application, ‘she began before commenting on the provision requiring voters to show a photo ID when participating in the absentee ballot.
Abrams added that this provision would make Georgia “only the fourth state in the country that requires voters to jeopardize their identity” before being interrupted by Kennedy.
“What else?” he asked.
The former Georgia state representative has continued to list other provisions she opposes, including limiting the number of polling stations and banning “near-total votes.”
‘This means that if you come to a district and you stand in line for four hours and you get to the end of the line and you are not there between 17:00 and 19:00, you have to start again. start, ‘she added.
‘OK. What else? Is that all? said the Louisiana senator.
“No, it’s not,” Abrams replied before laughing quickly. “No, sir.”
Abrams pointed out that the law allows the areas to shorten voting windows, which she says could have an effect on voters who cannot vote during office hours. ‘
She then began to move on to another provision before Kennedy interrupted, ‘OK. I get the idea. ”
Several Twitter users praised Abrams for her handling of Kennedy’s questions, with former Secretary of State Jason Kander (D) writing that Abrams’ “professionalism never goes at the expense of passion. ”
If you even look at this testimony for a few minutes, you will see @staceyabrams do what she does best:
Conduct a convincing and serious argument without alienating viewers who do not yet agree with her.
Her professionalism never goes at the expense of passion. https://t.co/ZkPpSKFEtf
– Jason Kander (@JasonKander) 21 April 2021
Do. Not. Come. For. Stacey. Abrams. https://t.co/5Vjk0i4Lhn
– Steven Pasquale (@StevePasquale) 21 April 2021
The interaction took place during the same trial in which Abrams received a hefty exchange with GOP Sen. John Cornyn
John CornynOvernight Health Care: Johnson & Johnson break seen as ‘responsible’ in poll | Women acting more than men for COVID-19 vaccines that Cornyn keeps Biden Medicaid-named Stacey Abrams: Parts of new legislation in Georgia have more racist intentions (Texas), who asked her if she believed the Georgia legislature “made deliberate efforts to suppress the minority vote,” to which Abrams replied, “Yes.”
“The state of Georgia has targeted communities that have used these resources to their advantage for the first time,” Abrams said, referring to the increase in voting power in the 2020 election.
Cornyn interrupts Abrams, accusing her of filibustering, claiming she believes voter laws are racist.
Abrams pushed back, saying she supports voters’ laws, but that the way Georgia legislation is targeted will disproportionately affect communities of color.