The Workers Circle and JALSA file amicus brief against voter intimidation

The Workers Circle and the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action filed an amicus brief today in support of Mi Familia Vota Education Fund’s lawsuit against President Trump and top administration officials for “violently suppressing opposition, sabotaging a free and fair election, and rejecting a peaceful transfer of power.”

Our amicus brief and motion provide historical context for why this pattern of actions may cause voters of color and other minority groups to feel intimidated.

This history includes, without limitation, the obvious and extensive history of disenfranchisement of enslaved people and post-Reconstruction Jim Crow laws and other efforts by state actors and vigilantes, often in collaboration, to instill fear in Black communities to deter them from voting and other activities related to voting such as registration drives and peaceful voting rights demonstrations. Because of the violent history of voter suppression in our country against the Black community, under the circumstances of the 2020 election, all minority voters may feel intimidated because the President has issued statements targeting a variety of racial and ethnic groups, which may incite extremist groups to take violent action on Election Day at the polls.

The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction restraining President Trump, Attorney General Barr, and Acting Secretary Wolf of the Department of Homeland Security, from continuing to engage in this unconstitutional and illegal intimidation.  Section 11 of the Voting Rights Act makes it illegal to intimidate voters.

Ann Toback, CEO of the Workers Circle said, “The long and violent history of intimidation of voters of color, in particular, by state and vigilante actors, is the necessary backdrop against which to understand the Trump Administration’s violent suppression of peaceful protests, hateful threats, calls to white supremacists and undermining of mail-in voting. It’s voter intimidation and we must do all in our power to stop it.”

“Sadly voter suppression is not an historical issue. It remains an insidious and very current crisis in our country. Every eligible voter should be able to vote, and every vote should and must be counted in this election. No one should face racist threats or violence for participating in our democratic process,” said Cindy Rowe, Executive Director, Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action.

A preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for Thursday, October 29 and the Plaintiffs are seeking an injunction ordering the Defendants to cease all intimidation efforts in the lead up to Election Day.

Ryan Spiegel of the law firm Paley Rothman is serving as pro bono counsel for the Workers Circle and the Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action in this case.

A telephonic hearing on this motion for a temporary restraining order has been set for Thursday, October 29 at 4:00 PM ET. Toll Free Number: 888-204-5984, Access Code: 6935067.