Advancing Racial Justice Through the Power of Voting
America was built upon the idea of one person, one vote. Over the past century, Black Americans, LatinX Americans, and other voters of color have been disenfranchised from the most critical element of democracy — the right to vote. For decades, lawmakers and government institutions have been working to systematically dilute the voting strength of historically oppressed communities, as well as stripping their right to vote altogether. This is an intentional and targeted effort to strip the constitutional rights of people of color.
Peace & Conciliation Project invites the community to listen in on an informative discussion about active attempts at voter suppression, gerrymandering, and the responsibilities associated with a participatory government. This is your chance to hear from leaders actively working to protect your right to vote.
Meet the Panelists
Anthony Gutierrez directs all aspects of Common Cause’s Texas operation from legislative advocacy and media relations to grassroots organizing and coalition building. Prior to joining Common Cause in the summer of 2016, Anthony had been working in Texas politics for 15 years. That experience included nonpartisan work doing advocacy for Latino communities as well as partisan work as a staffer for the Democratic National Committee and the Texas Democratic Party. Anthony has also managed several successful political campaigns for candidates running for federal, state and local offices. Since 2011, he had been running a political consulting agency whose services included campaign management, media production and general consulting. Anthony is an El Paso native who received his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Texas – San Antonio.
Victoria Neave represents Texas House District 107, which includes parts of East Dallas, Mesquite, and South Garland. She was appointed Vice Chair of the House Committee on the Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence and serves as a member of the House Committee on Corrections. Rep. Neave is the Democratic Co-Chair for the bi-partisan Dallas Area Legislative Delegation. For her work in the 86th Legislative Session, Victoria was named one of the "Best Legislators" by the Texas Monthly, the "Best of 2019 Texas Legislature" by the Dallas Observer, and “Legislator of the Year” by the State Bar of Texas Hispanic Issues Section. Because of her work in the 85th Legislative Session, Victoria was named "Freshman of the Year" by the House Democratic Caucus, as one of the "Top 5 North Texas Legislators" by the Dallas Observer, as the "Public Elected Official of the Year" by the National Association of Social Workers, North Central Texas-Dallas Area Branch, and also received the “Hero in the Movement” award from the Dallas Fort-Worth Urban League Young Professionals.
Congressman Marc Veasey represents Texas’ newly drawn Congressional District 33 in the U.S. House of Representatives. Throughout his time in Congress, Rep. Veasey founded the first Congressional Voting Rights Caucus to address the immediate need to eliminate the barriers and discrimination too many Americans face at the polls. In the 114th Congress, he accepted his appointment as an Assistant and Regional Whip. In the 116th Congress, the Congressman was appointed to serve as a Whip for the Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce. Rep. Veasey is currently a member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, Congressional Black Caucus and the New Democrat Coalition. He also co-launched the Blue Collar Caucus with Congressman Brendan Boyle to find solutions to problems too many middle-class Americans are facing. The Blue Collar Caucus supports unions and focuses on addressing wage stagnation, offshoring, and job insecurity for those in the manufacturing and building trades.
Panel Discussion Moderated by Vanna Ngo, Peace & Conciliation Project Board of Directors