Gareth Fenley on Georgia Politics

Gareth Fenley, who works as a Coordinator for the Economic Justice Coalition and the Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda, drops by to talk about voter engagement in the state of Georgia. Recall that Georgia became the center of attention during the past election cycle. The state turned from red to blue, as they elected a Democrat for the White House and shifted the balance of power in the U.S. Senate.

Much of this shift in political direction is the result of record turnout among minority groups in the state. These groups persevered through an environment that was designed to suppress their vote. The stunning success of minorities in this past election was based on the work of individual people, working through volunteer organizations to overcome difficulties and get out the vote. Does this mean that the fight for voting rights is over? Unfortunately, no. Far from it. The process of voter suppression continues, and in the wake of the 2020 election, many state legislatures are actively trying to change the rules to reassert mechanisms of voter suppression. So the work of organizations such as the Economic Justice Coalition and the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda remains critically important in preserving our democracy.

Gareth shares some of the lessons she’s learned during the 40+ years of advocating for voting rights, especially throughout the American South. She is an expert on organizing people at the ground level toward making a positive change in our democracy.