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As Early Voting Approaches, GA Faith Leaders Condemn Attempts to Purge Georgia Voters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, October 14, 2022

MEDIA CONTACT

Austin Schuler, aschuler@faithinpubliclife.org | 540-280-3393

As Early Voting Approaches, GA Faith Leaders Condemn Attempts to Purge Georgia Voters

Imam Trina Jackson, “As Muslims, we invite all people of good faith to seek justice with their hearts, speak out for justice with their mouths and do justice with their bodies in this election season”

Atlanta, GA –According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the eligibility of tens of thousands more voters has been contested under a provision of last year’s election law that allows any resident to challenge the qualifications of an unlimited number of voters within their county.

County election officials have so far rejected most voter eligibility challenges, including 22,000 in Gwinnett County; 15,000 in Forsyth and 1,350 in Cobb County this month. Across Georgia, about 65,000 voter challenges have been filed this year, with over 3,000 of them upheld.

Below are statements from Georgia faith leaders condemning the law and its impact on their congregations and communities. 

Imam Trina Jackson, Atlanta Unity Mosque

“This spate of targeted challenges against registered voters is an unmistakable attempt to interrupt and slow down the groundswell of diverse communities who are interested and invested in a Georgia with justice for all people and a true, participatory democracy. Islamic traditions teach us that we must struggle to do justice with our hearts, speak justice with our mouths and do justice with our hands. As Muslims, we invite all people of good faith to seek justice with their hearts, speak out for justice with their mouths and do justice with their bodies in this election season, so that every Georgian who is eligible to vote is free to participate in our democratic process as good and protected citizens, free from intimidation, suppression and violence.” 

Rev. Darci Jaret, Park Avenue Baptist Church

“The year is 2022, but in Georgia it feels like we are living in the civil rights era of the 1950s and 1960s. These ongoing voter challenges clearly target Black, Brown, and poor voters. They empower local election officials to practice bias and discrimination against every day people who only want to make their voices heard at the ballot box. We can’t afford to give discrimination a platform this election. As a Christian, I serve a God who constantly stands up for marginalized people and communities. As a white Baptist pastor, I will continue to speak out against racism and discrimination in all its forms, and that means protecting all Georgia voters, no matter their race or ethnicity. I implore all people of faith to take up the mantle of faith and justice and do the same.” 

Paul Burgess, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 

“Being a good steward of democracy is a faith value. There are responsible ways to do this, but the enthusiasm to police voter rolls shouldn’t outstrip the desire to ensure that everyone who is eligible to vote is able to participate in the democratic process. When political forces are so concerned with safeguarding democracy that the net result is unjustly preventing people from being a part of it, that’s voter suppression. Even if the intention behind it were honest, it practically functions as voter suppression so clearly that it’s disingenuous to continue to claim honest intent.” 

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Faith in Public Life is a national movement of clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice, equality and the common good. Together, with a network of over 50,000 leaders, they are leading the fight to advance just policies at the state and federal level that affirm our values and the human dignity of all.

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