RESTON, VA — A Reston town hall held in honor of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis focused on protecting voting rights, encouraging voter registration and building support for constitutional amendments that speakers said would strengthen Virginia's democracy.
Hosted July 17 by Herndon-Reston Indivisible at United Christian Parish, the "Good Trouble Voting Rights Town Hall" brought together elected officials, civil rights advocates and community members to discuss challenges facing voting rights and ways residents can become involved ahead of November's elections.
The event was inspired by Lewis, the longtime Georgia congressman and civil rights leader whose call to make "good trouble" continues to motivate voting rights advocates. Organizers said the evening focused on protecting "this fundamental constitutional right for everyone." The event featured U.S. Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-11th), Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, Del. Karen Keys-Gamarra (D-Reston), retired U.S. Space Force Col. Bree Fram and ACLU of Virginia Executive Director Mary Bauer.
Patch previously reported that organizers planned the town hall to commemorate Lewis' legacy while encouraging civic participation and public discussion about voting rights.
Speakers also pointed to a series of recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that they said have weakened federal voting protections. According to the Associated Press, the court's conservative majority ruled this year that Louisiana's second majority-Black congressional district was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, a decision legal experts say significantly narrowed the reach of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
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The ruling followed earlier Supreme Court decisions in 2013 and 2021 that had already reduced key protections in the landmark civil rights law, the Associate Press reported the Louisiana decision is expected to reshape congressional redistricting nationwide by making it more difficult to challenge maps that dilute minority voting strength, prompting concern among voting rights advocates that additional states could redraw districts in ways that reduce minority representation in Congress.
Bauer said legal action alone would not be enough to protect democracy and urged Virginians to become actively involved.
"Dissent is patriotic," Bauer said. "This administration is trying to intimidate people into silence. ... But if you look around here, you're not being silent, and the good people of Virginia are not being silent."
She argued that recent Supreme Court decisions weakened key protections in the federal Voting Rights Act and highlighted three constitutional amendments expected on Virginia's November ballot, including one that would automatically restore voting rights to people convicted of felonies after they have completed their sentences.
Bauer said roughly 300,000 Virginians remain disenfranchised under the state's current system, which requires individual restoration of voting rights.
She also described ongoing litigation challenging Virginia's felony disenfranchisement system, noting a federal judge ruled earlier this year that the commonwealth violated the Virginia Readmission Act by permanently stripping voting rights from many people whose offenses would not have been felonies under common law.
"Virginia will be a leader," Bauer said. "We can protect people here in Virginia. We can stand up for the marginalized and use our voices as loudly as we can to make sure that Virginia stands up to tyranny."
Walkinshaw said protecting the integrity of elections would require continued civic engagement and organizing.
Recalling Lewis' account of hearing about the Montgomery Bus Boycott as a teenager, Walkinshaw said people often never know how their actions may inspire others.
"You don't know and will never know the impact that your efforts might have on someone else," Walkinshaw said. "All of our efforts matter, especially right now, this effort to protect our voting rights is absolutely critical."
He said members of Congress have been preparing for potential election-related disputes ahead of November while working to ensure election results are respected.
"Our responsibility as citizens mis to be prepared to do everything in our power to prevent that, to ensure that every single American who's eligible to vote has the right to vote, can register and cast their ballot in November," Walkinshaw said.
Keys-Gamarra discussed Virginia's history of voter suppression, tracing it from Reconstruction through Jim Crow laws and emphasizing the significance of the constitutional amendments approved by the General Assembly for voter consideration.
She urged residents to educate neighbors about the proposed voting rights amendment as well as amendments addressing reproductive rights and marriage equality.
"Some people spoke up. They got into good trouble, and they changed some things," Keys-Gamarra said. "It's up to us to stop it and make sure we get the word out to pass these constitutional amendments."
Retired U.S. Space Force Col. Bree Fram said Lewis' career demonstrated that expanding voting rights requires broad coalitions across communities.
"Patriotism is not something that is jingoistic," she said. "It is saying we can be better, and here's the work that we need to do to be better."
Fram was one of the highest ranking, openly transgender officers in the U.S. military, until the Trump administration ended her service last year.
She encouraged attendees to do more than attend demonstrations by helping register new voters, particularly in marginalized communities.
"Go out and get people registered to vote," Fram said. "Because if they're not registered, they can't make a difference."
Anne Alston shared her personal experience registering to vote after passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, recalling growing up in the segregated South where Black residents faced barriers including poll taxes and literacy-style tests.
"I voted in every election I was eligible to vote in since 1965," Alston said. "People don't understand how important that is. I'm not going to hang around and let that happen again if I can."
Alcorn reminded attendees that Virginia currently has multiple secure voting options, including early voting, absentee voting and Election Day voting, and cautioned against allowing misinformation to discourage participation.
"We have really good, fair, open elections right now in Virginia," Alcorn said. "Part of the intention of the other side is to scare people from voting. It's very important as we talk to members of the public that they understand there are lots of ways you can vote."
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