Statements
GEORGIA MUSLIM VOTER PROJECT JOINS LAWSUIT AGAINST NEW VOTER SUPPRESSION LAW
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 30, 2021
PRESS CONTACT:
Stephanie Jackson Ali
secretary@gamvp.org
Georgia Muslim Voter Project (GAMVP) has joined a lawsuit to block the state’s new voting law (Senate Bill 202), which would cause massive voter suppression and undermine our election integrity.
The new law will dismantle local control of elections, impose burdensome voter ID requirements, create barriers to voting by mail, and block access to dropboxes except in a limited window. The law is so extreme that simply offering food or water to someone standing in line to vote would mean criminal repercussions.
“This law is an attack on Muslim, Black, and brown Georgians, who showed up to vote in historic numbers in 2020 and are now being punished for it,” said Shafina Khabani, Executive Director of GAMVP. “Georgians were able to vote in record-breaking numbers in 2020 due to safe and secure options to cast their ballots in a global pandemic. Rather than further expand this access, our lawmakers have instead chosen to perpetuate lies of voter fraud to make it harder for people to have their voices heard. This is a willful attempt to leave people of color and immigrant voters in particular out of our democracy.”
Majida Abdul-Karim, Board Chair of GAMVP, said, “The passing of SB 202 into law and the other 51 proposed bills up for possible legislation are a direct assault on the civil liberties and voting rights of Muslims, Black people, immigrants, and other marginalized communities. GAMVP will continue to fight for equity and access against repressive and egregious laws that act to subvert voter rights of those in our community, and for citizens in Georgia.”
This sweeping overhaul of Georgia elections rules was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp just one hour after it passed the General Assembly, a clear sign that its supporters knew it did not have public support. Six other white lawmakers watched Kemp sign the voter suppression law under a painting of a slave plantation.
“Georgia lawmakers had the chance to do right by their voters — and they chose not to do so,” added Khabani.
GAMVP is proud to be represented by the Southern Poverty Law Center and joined by the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Latino Community Fund of Georgia, Women Watch Afrika, and Delta Sigma Theta Inc. in this lawsuit to protect our civil and voting rights.
Georgia is home to an estimated 150,000 American Muslims, including at least 71,000 registered Muslim voters. GAMVP will continue to advocate for all Muslim, Black, and brown Georgians and our place in our democracy.
For more information, please contact Stephanie Jackson Ali; secretary@gamvp.org.
ABOUT GAMVP: The Georgia Muslim Voter Project is a nonpartisan and nonprofit organization that educates and engages Muslims in Georgia about civic engagement. Since its founding in 2015, GAMVP has registered and turned out Muslim voters in record numbers all across the state.