over six weeks now. that s what it takes. it s not going to just take one event. we re talking about state s rights extremists, trying to take away what 46 million people use, expanded opportunities to voting rights. this is not jim crow. this is an attack on native and asian and white and gay and straight. this is an attack on disabled people and older people. that s why people are marching. that s why they re standing. we re nationalizing texas. like selma was nationalizing 65. but, listen, the president has to ask. this is the fdr, he s got to go to the well of the congress. and i know he s talking to he s got to come here and talk to people, a diverse crowd of people in texas, in west virginia, and then and in arizona, and then go to the well of the congress. and it s not just voting rights. we need to stop that filibuster. it s always been ugly. we need to pass the voter restoration act when it s ready, because it s not even written.
infrastructure of the democracy. and to get an infrastructure bill that fixes bridges but then you abandon the infrastructure of the democracy, which is voting, the bridge to all the other policies is backwards. and lastly to do an infrastructure bill in your last segment with all white people in the room right. and then try to make the voting issue just a black issue, no, it s not just a black issue, it s an american issue. that s why you saw a diverse group of folk marching with us and on saturday we ll show up in austin and nationalizing texas to say pass this protection. it s a diverse coalition of people fighting for this. but then i look at folks like senator manchin, who is a hold-up on ending the filibuster and who s been you know, he and sinema quite frankly have been hold-ups on some of those issues. manchin was in your neck of the woods for a fund-raiser hosted by some wealthy republicans.
i have to tell you one of the challenges, i think, people attach this story to the big lie and say that s what fed into the voter suppression. a lot of us have been dealing with voter suppression a long time way before trump. what do you expect this march to accomplish to help further move this struggle along? i think a big reason that this march is happening in texas is that you re absolutely right, voter suppression existed long before this current attempt. in fact texas has become over the years the toughest state in the nation in which to vote. as bishop barber has reminded us, that is connected to the fact that we still have a $7.25 an hour minimum wage, the fact that we are the least insured state in the united states of america, and the fact that so many millions of texans were eligible to vote in 2020 and yet could not very often because of those voter suppression obstacles placed in the way. and now there are new elections bills pending in texas that
remind your parents to pack an emergency supply kit. making a plan might feel like homework, but it will help you and your family stay safe during an emergency. this morning bishop william barber joined by former congressman beto o rourke kicked off the poor peoples campaign march for democracy in georgetown, texas, demanding federal action on voting rights among other things. over the next four days, the selma-to-montgomery style voting rights march will make its way 27 miles across the state to austin for a rally on saturday at the state capitol.
i d like to know which it is. hard eye roll. plus marchers send a message in texas about our fragile democracy and the responsibility of our elected leaders to defend voting rights. two of the organizers, bishop william barber and former congressman and presidential candidate beto o rourke will join me next. and simone biles decision to pull out of the olympic competitions this week to focus on her own mental health triggered conservatives, of course, who could not wait to attack this legendary athlete. the reidout continues right after this. ntinue s right after this fine, no one leaves the table until your finished. fine, we ll sleep here. it s the easiest because it s the cheesiest. kraft. for the win win. [sfx: radio being tuned] welcome to allstate. [band plays] a place where everyone lives life well-protected.