PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The NAACP Virginia State Conference hosted a virtual voting rights symposium Monday night.
The symposium addressed critical issues surrounding voting rights and highlighted some of the challenges that Black voters face.
Additional topics such as the importance of civic engagement, the dangers posed by initiatives like Project 2025 and the essential role of voting in shaping a just and equitable society were also explored.
Speakers at the event included:
- Rep. Bobby Scott, 3rd Congressional District
- Ryan Snow, Counsel, Voting Rights Project, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
- Eric W. Claville, J.D., M.L.I.S., Policy Analyst and Executive Advisor to the President for Governmental Relations, Norfolk State University
- Stephanie A. Owens, NAACP National Grassroots Election Protection Sr. Advisor
- Tyler Sterling, NAACP National Campaigns Director Civic Engagement
“By being informed of what’s happening, by knowing your rights and executing your rights, and documenting when your rights have been abridged,” said Claville, “those are really your main tools you can use to combat any type of discrimination or intimidation you have, especially when voting.”