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Press release/statement

Dēmos President Taifa Smith-Butler: Today’s Results Show the Real Power in Our Communities

In the face of anti-voter restrictions, Black and brown voters across Georgia showed they would not be deterred from making their voices heard. 

NEW YORK, NY — Dēmos President Taifa Smith Butler issued the following statement in response to the results of the 2022 Georgia Runoff Election:

“In the face of anti-voter restrictions, including a shortened early voting period for the runoff and limited access to vote-by-mail, Black and brown voters across Georgia showed they would not be deterred from making their voices heard. 

This election is a testament to the hard work of a multiracial coalition of organizers and advocates across Georgia who knocked on doors and made calls to voters to help them navigate the barrier-ridden path to casting their ballots.

“This election is a testament to the hard work of a multiracial coalition of organizers and advocates across Georgia who knocked on doors and made calls to voters to help them navigate the barrier-ridden path to casting their ballots. They did this in the face of anti-government extremism threatening to rip our rights away and destroy our democracy. We know anti-democratic forces are fighting tooth and nail to take our right to vote away by pushing for anti-voter legislation and for restrictions to voting access through state-level cases and in the Supreme Court. But today’s results show the real power in our communities.

“States like Georgia are a bellwether for the rest of the country. If we can fight anti-democracy laws there, we have a blueprint for building an inclusive democracy nationwide. Instead of fighting to protect what we have, we can fight for the democracy and economy we deserve.  

“Elected officials must counter these anti-voter bills and tactics with ones that expand – not restrict – voting access to bring forth a just, inclusive, multiracial democracy. We at Dēmos won’t be backing down.”