Don’t turn back clock

Recently, I received a flood of emails encouraging me to sign a petition to protest the massive and various attempts to suppress the votes of ordinary people who are considered the so-called 99-percenters.

I don’t mind signing the petition because I feel that the right to vote is America’s most important tool to remain free. We must not let America turn back the clock on that fundamental right.

However, I think that our time would best be used organizing and ensuring that we are in compliance with these new state laws, especially if we don’t want to lose our voting rights and allow conditions to develop that will create more difficulties in holding on to this most vital right.

I feel that all voting-rights groups should put maximum pressure on our courts and elected officials to reverse already-damning action and prevent any future antics of this sort. In fact, I can’t think of a more pressing need to call in the National Guard than to protect and assist our right to vote.

Voter suppression can lead to the destruction of what makes America great. Not doing so may tend to embarrass America, but I think that all legitimate journalists should cover it completely and show such coverage to the whole world.

If such an effort by those tasked with watching our government doesn’t work, we should be ready to die to reflect our love for freedom—as many before us have done—to earn it. JAMES MITCHELL

Little Rock