In January, there was a violent coup attempt. Congress and the courts are still hashing out the details of that terrible day, but this much is certain: it was bloody and it failed.
But the threat to American democracy has only grown since then. North Dakota's own senators want us to forget that it happened, turn a blind eye to the investigations, and ignore the frightening laws have been passed in its wake.
Vote counting is being turned over to partisans.
Astoundingly gerrymandered maps are being passed in swing states. (Texas and Wisconsin in particular can only superficially be referred as democracies).
Dark money is raining down upon our elected officials.
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We need real laws passed at the federal level in order to protect us from the death of democracy. Passing laws at the federal level isn't new, nor is the fight against it by those who want power held only by the privileged few. "States Rights" has been the cry of the rich and powerful since the Civil War. It was disingenuous then, and it's disingenuous now.
It's time for our elected officials to take the side of Lincoln and Grant, not Lee and the KKK.
It's time to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act.
Adrienne Larsen lives in Fargo.
This letter does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Forum's editorial board nor Forum ownership.
