Voting rights community event kicks off in Mobile [Video]

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – The Holiday Inn in downtown Mobile was the venue for an annual community summit highlighting voter rights.

“We started this event last year to bring the community together to talk about issues,” said Deanna Fowler, Executive Director of Alabama Forward.

Entitled ‘Democracy: Now or Never,’ the event was hosted by the organization, Alabama Forward.

“We’re a network of groups that do civic engagement and voting rights work,” Fowler explained. “So really protecting access to the ballot, expanding access, making sure that we do everything that we can so that all Alabamians have a chance to have their voices heard.“

Day one included several panel discussions. Some of the topics within the first hour were the Allen v. Milligan Supreme Court case, which led to the creation of Congressional District Two, efforts to increase voter turnout, and voter suppression tactics involving absentee ballots and intimidation.

Several local and state …