Mon 6/22 @ 1-5PM
On Thursday June 11, the FBI raided the offices of the nonprofit Ohio Organizing Collaborative, as well as the homes of some of its workers and volunteers, a dramatic but mysterious attack on the nearly 20-year-old grassroots organization that brings together ordinary people to work for racial, social and economic justice. One of its focuses is voter registration and turnout and protecting voting rights.
In that climate of federal intimidation, the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s Election Integrity Summit, in partnership with the Task Force for American Democracy, assumes heightened urgency and importance. They tell us that it “brings together nationally recognized legal leaders, election officials, academics, media voices, and civic organizations for an important nonpartisan conversation about protecting public trust in democratic institutions and free and fair elections.” The dramatic raids for yet unrevealed reasons seem designed to undermine public trust in free, fair elections, and intimidate and discourage people from doing organizing work.
Judge Michael Luttig will deliver a keynote address, and panel discussions will look at topics such as “election integrity, civic trust, the rule of law, media and public confidence, and the role of lawyers and community leaders in strengthening democracy at the local and national levels.”
The CMBA says that the event is aimed at “attorneys, students, educators, civic leaders, nonprofit professionals, and members of the public” —in other words, anyone concerned about attacks on the right to vote and access to the ballot.
Go here for more information and to register. It’s free to attend. It takes place at CMBA’s offices downtown.