Chairman Monestime helps mark 50th anniversary of Voting Rights Act

(MIAMI-DADE, FL) – Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Jean Monestime is helping mark this week’s 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act by urging residents to remain vigilant in protecting and exercising their right to vote.

Signed on Aug. 6, 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the height of the Civil Rights movement, the landmark piece of federal legislation prohibited racial discrimination in voting.

“The Voting Rights Act was a great victory for civil rights that aimed at overcoming persistent racial barriers that had prevented people in many states from freely exercising their Constitutional right to vote,” Chairman Monestime said. “In light of judicial and legislative setbacks to the Voting Rights Act and voting rights around the country, it is critically important that we remain vigilant to ensure full access to the polls and that the hard-won gains of 50 years ago are not diminished.”