Beyonce & Solange Sign Mom Tina Lawson’s Letter To Pass The HEROES Act Against Voter Suppression: Our Voices Have Power

Beyonce & Solange Sign Mom Tina Lawson’s Letter To Pass The HEROES Act Against Voter Suppression: Our Voices Have Power

Tina Lawson is teaming up with her two famous daughters, Beyonce and Solange, to get people out to vote. Beyonce used her “Humanitarian Award” acceptance speech at the virtual 2020 BET Awards to urge her fans to vote Sunday (June 28th).

Beyoncé's speech.pic.twitter.com/R64H80AqtA

— Yoncé Vocals? (@YonceVocals) June 29, 2020

Ahead of her speech, she posted an open letter written by her mother, Tina Lawson, to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Charles Schumer, urging the senators to pass the HEROES Act. She added the caption,

“I am proud to stand with my mother, @mstinalawson and the Mothers of The Movement to send this open letter to senators calling for the passing of the Heroes Act. This bill would help provide funding to ensure that our vote is protected this election cycle. Read the letter and add your voice with ours. Together we can be the change we want to see in the world. Sign the petition today by clicking the link in my bio. #ANDSTILLIVOTE

The HEREOS Act stands for (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions.). The bill was introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it’s having on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals and businesses.  The HEROES Act sets to help,

“Americans, in particular the ‘disproportionately impacted Black and Brown communities,’ safely exercise their right to vote in this year’s elections.”

The letter is co-signed by Tina Lawson’s daughters, Beyoncé and Solange, alongside other female celebrities, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Regina King, Halle Berry, Jada Pinkett Smith, Whoopi Goldberg, and Kerry Washington. Also, Shareeduh McGee Tate (matriarch of the George Floyd family), Tamika Palmer (mother of Breonna Taylor), Gwen Carr (mother of Eric Garner), Kadiatou Diallo (mother of Amadou Diallo), Sybrina Fulton (mother of Trayvon Martin), Maria Hamilton (mother of Dontre Hamilton), Wanda Johnson (mother of Oscar Grant), Rep. Lucy McBath (mother of Jordan Davis) and Geneva Reed-Veal (mother of Sandra Bland) signed the letter as well.  It reads,

“We are concerned Black women. Many of us are mothers of Black sons and daughters — some of whom have lost our children — and we have a vision for a new America.This past month has culminated in a moment of reckoning for the country. As members of the Black community, we are hurting, we are angry, and we are anguished by the repeated assaults of Black bodies, brought to light once again by the recent murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor at the hands of what has for too long been incorrectly coined ‘justice.’ But even in this moment, when we feel despair and deep exhaustion, we remember one essential truth: our voices have power.”

The letter states that 76 percent of Americans recognize that “racism is a big problem” in their respective countries, adding that this is a 26 percent increase from five years ago.

Tina Knowles

She continues that in order to “create a democracy that truly represents us all,” everyone must be able to vote in the upcoming election without any “unnecessary roadblocks to the ballot.”  Using the example of in Milwaukee, where reportedly 70 voters contracted COVID-19 on Election Day, after being forced to stand in line for hours at limited polling places, due to not being offered absentee ballots in the mail.

In Pennsylvania, many voters did not receive their mail-in ballots, as well as Georgia, voting machines broke down and voters also had to stand in line for hours.  In Kentucky, only one polling place opened. Tina Lawson wrote,

“Chaos at polling places in recent primaries has demonstrated that elections officials are unprepared to hold safe and accessible elections this year.”

She continues,

“This is modern-day voter suppression plain and simple. Voters in all these states risked their health, and that of their communities, simply to make their voices heard. People should be able to exercise their constitutional right to vote and stay healthy, even during a pandemic. We should not have to choose between public health and a functioning democracy” 

This isn’t the first time Beyonce has used her platform to support important causes. She recently called on her fans to sign a petition aimed at justice for George Floyd.

Beyonce will also be releasing her visual album “Black Is King” via Disney Plus, July 31st.

What are your thoughts on Tina Lawson’s open letter? Let us know in the comments!