{"id":16722,"date":"2012-03-11T17:31:39","date_gmt":"2012-03-11T22:31:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/?p=16722"},"modified":"2014-07-14T13:05:59","modified_gmt":"2014-07-14T18:05:59","slug":"naacp-leader-photo-id-lawsuit-carries-on-140-years-of-voting-rights-struggles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/2012\/03\/naacp-leader-photo-id-lawsuit-carries-on-140-years-of-voting-rights-struggles\/","title":{"rendered":"NAACP Leader: Photo ID Lawsuit Carries on 140 Years of Voting Rights Struggles"},"content":{"rendered":"

With its challenge to Wisconsin\u2019s voter ID law, the NAACP is carrying on a struggle for voting rights that dates back to the post-Civil War era, James Hall, president of the Milwaukee branch of the NAACP, told the Law School\u2019s Mike Gousha and an audience of more than 100 during an \u201cOn the Issues\u201d session last week.<\/p>\n

Hall, president of the organization since January 2011, emphasized the importance of voting and the long history in America of disenfranchising minorities and low income people by use of rules about voting. \u201cThere is so much repeating history,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The NAACP suit against the law, passed by the Wisconsin legislature in 2011 and requiring people to present an acceptable form of photo identification at the polls, led to a Dane County judge putting a halt to enforcement of the law through a temporary injunction a week ago. More legal action in that suit and other challenges to the law is expected in advance of the statewide election on April 3.<\/p>\n

Hall, a practicing lawyer whose NAACP position is unpaid, said there were fewer than 20 prosecutions for voter fraud in Wisconsin in recent years. \u201cWhy, all of a sudden, this move to require a photo ID?\u201d Hall said. \u201cCertain types of people don\u2019t have that.\u201d Many of them are African American, he said. \u201cIn fact, it is a disenfranchisement law.\u201d<\/p>\n

The law was supported generally by Republicans and opposed by Democrats. Supporters said it was a sensible way to reduce chances of voter fraud, while opponents said its practical effect would be to put up barriers to voting for many low income people who don\u2019t have drivers licenses.<\/p>\n

Hall told Gousha that the civil rights organization, founded in 1909, remains very relevant. \u201cacross the country and particularly here in Milwaukee.\u201d He said the city has some of the largest disparities in the country between African Americans and whites when it comes to income, employment, incarceration, and educational achievement.<\/p>\n

Milwaukee and its leaders have not responded with the intensity that is needed to deal with the problems facing many black people in Milwaukee, Hall said. He said, \u201cNo, there is not the sense of urgency we would like.\u201d He said the NAACP wants to work together with people from throughout the Milwaukee area in solving problems. \u201cIt is in our enlightened self-interest to address these disparities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Eckstein Hall session may be viewed by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With its challenge to Wisconsin\u2019s voter ID law, the NAACP is carrying on a struggle for voting rights that dates back to the post-Civil War era, James Hall, president of the Milwaukee branch of the NAACP, told the Law School\u2019s Mike Gousha and an audience of more than 100 during an \u201cOn the Issues\u201d session 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