Join BVM in the fight for a cleaner & healthier Georgia

"The Block is Hot" Tour: Mobilizing Rural Communities for Environmental Justice Across Georgia [Black Voters Matter logo]( Hi Friend, "The Block is Hot" Tour: Mobilizing Rural Communities for Environmental Justice Across Georgia This week we are launching our "The Block is Hot" environmental justice tour. On this tour we will be visiting rural communities across Georgia to empower and mobilize them around environmental justice issues. From water pollution to high utility bills to rising waters and more, we're committed to fighting for a cleaner and healthier future for all. As part of our efforts, we'll be making multiple stops across Georgia in May and June. Let's come together to create change and ensure that Black communities have a voice in shaping environmental policy.  We invite you to join us for our first event on May 15th from 5-8pm ET at 40 Monroe St, Talbotton, GA.   Demanding Justice for the “Florida Fourteen” and all Black Floridians Last week, Black Voters Matter, along with several partners, held a rally in Tallahassee, Florida to demand that Governor Ron DeSantis and other Florida politicians prioritize the needs of the Black and marginalized communities in Florida over their own political ambitions.  The rally and occupation of the Governor’s office came in response to a series of repressive pieces of legislation that have been passed during this session such as HB999, the anti-diversity, equity and inclusion bill; SB7050, which increases fines on voting rights groups for registering voters and HB1521, the expansion of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.  We protested in Florida to send a very clear message to the Governor and the Florida legislature that we will not succumb to the repeated threats against democracy. Read our full statement below. [READ MORE](   Florida Voters: Make Your Voice Heard in the Jacksonville/Duval County Municipal Run Off Election Floridians! Did you know that early voting has already begun for the Jacksonville/Duval County Municipal Run Off Election? You can exercise your right to vote by casting your ballot early up until May 14th or on Election Day on May 16th to elect your next Mayor, City Council Member, and more. Your vote matters and can make a difference in your community. Make sure you are eligible to vote by checking your status below. Let's make sure our voices are heard and our communities are represented. [CHECK YOUR VOTER STATUS](   Take Action Now: Stop Georgia Power's Unfair Price Hike and Demand Affordable Energy for Black Communities Georgia voters, it's time to speak up! Georgia Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the largest generators of electricity in the nation, is unfairly raising your power bills again. Let's hold them accountable by urging the Public Service Commission to make Georgia Power share fuel costs and risk. Don't let them keep taking advantage of us. Join the fight for fair and affordable energy now! Take Action Now By Completing The Below Steps: - [Share a Comment by May 15th]( - Fill out the form with this info: - Docket Number: 44902 - Agenda Item: Fuel - Docket Date of hearing: 5/02/23 - Position: Oppose - Add a comment. Comments can be as long or as short as you want. The key for a good comment is to make it your own.   Remembering Brown v. Board of Education 68 Years Later: A Transformative Moment and a Promise Unfulfilled Today is the 68th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. The Supreme Court ruling that overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine in America’s public schools still stands as both a transformative moment in the country and a promise unfulfilled. In 1954, the case went before the U.S. District Court in Kansas, which agreed that public school segregation had a “detrimental effect upon the colored children” but still upheld the “separate but equal” doctrine. Following this, the Supreme Court ultimately ruled against school segregation on May 17, 1954. However, the Court did not specify how schools should be integrated. The decision fueled the Civil Rights movement in the United States, eventually leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968.  Access to truth, history and diverse voices in education today is in jeopardy, particularly given the rise in discriminatory bills being presented in states like Florida and Texas. To protect our democracy, we must be vigilant in our protection of public education, and young people are the key to winning this battle. Read our latest op-ed in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on this topic below ⬇️ [READ MORE](   Here’s How You Can Get Involved With BVM We are always looking for volunteers to help us build power in Black communities across the country! Join us by signing up today for an upcoming volunteer orientation. Thank you for helping to power our movement. [SIGN UP]( Join Us For JusticeAid 2023 Join us in NYC on May 22nd with [artists]( like Jazzmeia Horn at one of two JusticeAid Concerts benefiting BVM! Support our continued programming and initiatives across the country to build community power in our communities! [PURCHASE TICKETS NOW]( Unable to join us in NYC? [Donate here]( to help us continue our fight against voter suppression and health equity in our communities. [DONATE NOW]( JOIN THE MOVEMENT [Support voter engagement and capacity-building through our 501c3]( [Support voter mobilization and political advocacy through our 501c4]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Tumblr]( [Black Voters Matter logo]( Black Voters Matter Fund is dedicated to expanding Black voter engagement and increasing progressive power through movement-building and engagement. Working with grassroots organizations, specifically in key states in the South, BVMF seeks to increase voter registration and turnout, advocate for policies to expand voting rights/access, and help develop infrastructure where little or none exists to support a power-building movement that keeps Black voters and their issues at the forefront of our election process. For more information, please visit our [website](. Sent via [ActionNetwork.org](. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Black Voters Matter Fund, please [click here](.