FAITH LEADERS BLOCK ENTRANCE AT SENATOR JOE MANCHIN’S OFFICE TO DEMAND END TO FILIBUSTER

FAITH LEADERS BLOCK ENTRANCE AT SENATOR JOE MANCHIN’S OFFICE TO DEMAND END TO FILIBUSTER

Left to Right: Jeffery Compton, Jamel Lewis, Renaldo Pearson, Katonya Hart, Rev. Stephen A. Green, Bob Doyle, Anthony Davis, Jr.

Charleston, WV — November 5, 2021, a coalition of West Virginia Faith Leaders, Community Organizers, and Activist from across West Virginia and the country held a nonviolent demonstration blocking the entrance of Senator Joe Manchin’s Charleston office to demand that he unrigs the filibuster in order to advance freedom and democracy saving legislation. Namely, the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Supporters included representatives from Charleston Black Ministerial Alliance, Rise Up West Virginia, Charleston NAACP, and Actions on Race Matters in WV.

“As a constituent, I am deeply frustrated because we have consistently reached out to Senator Manchin on multiple occasions — even at his yacht in DC — to speak with us, to no avail”, said, Katonya Hart of Actions on Race Matters in WV, “Today, we escalated that request by showing up at his office to make him hear us through nonviolent resistance.”

“This historic moment facing our democracy requires strong moral action,” said Rev. Stephen A. Green, Faith for Black Lives, New York. “Today, we risked arrest with West Virginia faith leaders, community organizers and allies to ask Senator Joe Manchin III to end the filibuster to protect Voting Rights now. We will be back to continue escalating actions in the near future.”