Friend, Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights leader, a powerful voice for working people, and an unwavering champion for voting rights for every American, regardless of color.
Each time I read his 1957 "Give Us The Ballot" speech, I’m reminded how far we’ve come and how much work lies ahead of us to protect and preserve the sacred right of voting.
We’ve witnessed the dismantling of the 1965 Voting Rights Act nationally, and the systematic attack on voters in our state by extreme lawmakers and recent Ohio Secretaries of State who have worked diligently to quiet the voices of people of color.
But as your next Secretary of State, I will dedicate myself and this office to growing the vote in all areas of the state for all Ohioans, and we will honor Dr. King's legacy by "giving the ballot" back to the people.
Dr. King and countless other civil rights leaders paved the way for the very freedoms Republicans are trying to dismantle today.
We must honor their legacy and fight to protect the progress they dedicated their lives to securing.
In solidarity,
Allison Russo
