Filibuster: 1890 - 1963 - 2022

In 1890, the filibuster was used to block legislation to protect the right of Black Americans to vote.

Fast forward 132 years, and the filibuster is once again being used to block legislation to protect the right to vote of people of color.

Abolish the Jim Crow filibuster. pic.twitter.com/S1tDJIbb5P

— Robert Reich (@RBReich) January 15, 2022

“I think the tragedy is that we have a Congress with a Senate that has a minority of misguided senators who will use the filibuster to keep the majority of people from even voting.“ - MLK

59 years later, we are facing the same tragedy. pic.twitter.com/xEgLTTgVTC

— Charles Booker (@Booker4KY) January 13, 2022

July 5, 1963: William Workman of the State, a South Carolina newspaper, asked King if he would be support a national referendum on President John F. Kennedy's civil rights bill.

Well, this would certainly be all right with me, because I think the vast majority of people in the United States would vote favorably for such a bill. I think the tragedy is that we have a Congress with a Senate that has a minority of misguided senators who will use the filibuster to keep the majority of people from even voting. They won't let the majority senators vote. And certainly they wouldn't want the majority of people to vote, because they know they do not represent the majority of the American people. In fact, they represent, in their own states, a very small minority. . . . I think this is true throughout the South

Full 30-minute video is here.

The same Senators who will tweet their support for MLK Jr on Monday and share his quotes about injustice and faith will do whatever they can prevent a vote in support of fairness and equity in voting.

— WS Mom (@momster2613) January 14, 2022

Martin Luther King Jr.’s family is calling for no celebration of #MLKDay without action on voting rights legislation.

When you see Republicans, Sinema, and Manchin celebrating MLK Day on Monday, just remember that they are BETRAYING his legacy. pic.twitter.com/ZE3gzi0i89

— Brave New Films (@bravenewfilms) January 14, 2022

The comma after “Republicans” is doing a lot of work in that sentence.

Not sure Sinema and Manchin deserve it.

— 🏳️‍🌈 Pam 🏳️‍🌈 (@pm_mcdaniel) January 15, 2022

👀@CNN oops. pic.twitter.com/xHlS2NHVR7

— Daniel J. Trujillo (@Djtrujillo10) January 14, 2022

It seems more like "There, I fixed that for you".

— Andre CCV (@asoutlaw) January 14, 2022