In the News

Standing beside Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, NAACP President and CEO Cornell William Brooks spoke of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday in primarily spiritual terms Monday at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in North Little Rock.

The NAACP announced on Monday an increased commitment to restore voting rights it says were "gutted" by a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down the portion of 1965 Voting Rights Act that mandates only the federal government can change voting-rights laws in certain states -- usually those with a history of racial discrimination.

"We took notice that this presidential election was the first without the full protection of the Voting Rights Act," he said. "We took note of the fact that one out of 10 African Americans does not possess a government-issued ID. We took note of the fact that all across the country there are state legislatures that are engaged in a Machiavellian frenzy of voter disenfranchisement, honoring concealed carry permits but not college IDs."

In total, 33 states have laws requiring increased identification to vote. Arkansas' voter ID law was struck down in 2014 by the Arkansas Supreme Court because it placed new restrictions on voting that weren't listed in the state's constitution, according to the court.

Another voter ID bill was introduced last year by State Rep. Mark Lowery, R-Maumelle, but it died in committee.

The NAACP and other advocacy groups say voter ID laws target minority groups.

On Monday, NAACP officials announced a series of demonstrations it plans to stage at the nation's Capitol in April. The groups also called for the passage of federal legislation to restore the rights they feel were compromised by the Supreme Court's 2013 ruling.

Brooks, however, only briefly discussed that matter in front of the packed sanctuary in North Little Rock. Instead, the Methodist minister said he opted to capture the essence of what made King's words so powerful because those in attendance "weren't looking for a political speech."

He also briefly spoke about the Black Lives Matter movement, unrest between police and blacks and discrimination against Muslims.

Before Brooks spoke, Hutchinson welcomed him to Arkansas. During a short speech, the governor recalled watching King speak from his childhood living room.

Hutchinson again alluded to the need to make the third Monday of January solely a celebration of King's accomplishments. Earlier this month, he called on the Arkansas Legislature to revisit the state's observance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday in 2017. The state currently celebrates Robert E. Lee's Birthday on the same day.

"Dr. King's legacy is so distinct, so important to our country that it deserves all the recognition our state and our country can bring on a day such as this," Hutchinson told crowd. "Let's keep it special. Let's keep it unique."

Also in attendance were U.S. Rep. French Hill, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Courtney Hudson Goodson and several state legislators.

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