legislation or two democrats to change their minds on the filibuster. there is also a lot of debate or pressure coming from outside the chamber as well. the president of the naacp, derek johnson, wrote a letter to all senators arguing, our democracy may be standing in its final hour. the bedrock of freedom in america lies in our sacred right to vote. without it, everything else crumbles. meanwhile, outside on the capitol steps, a group of protesters already on a hunger strike stood defiant with multiple warnings from police to stand down. some of those protesters were zip tied and arrested. joining me now from capitol hill is nbc news national political reporter sahil kapur, washington correspondent phil rucker and the president and ceo of the national coalition on black civic participation, melanie campbell. she marched for voting rights with martin luther king 3, mlk