Local Voices: News, Culture & Community
- Mayor Van Johnson stressed exercising First Amendment rights and seeking redress, criticizing the U.S. Supreme Court for gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
- Dr. Patricia Harris urged change to make the United States work for children, schools, the community, and elderly residents.
- Organizations in attendance included Black Voters Matter, Color of Change, and Savannah Building Futures Inc.
- The 2026 Georgia General Primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19.
- Speakers and groups called for accountability and continued civic engagement to protect voting access and representation.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) –
Voters from Chatham and surrounding counties gathered Saturday afternoon to express the importance of casting a ballot in the upcoming Georgia election. Multiple speakers took the stand with words of encouragement as the group chanted and waved signs in solitude.
“We’re here to exert our First Amendment rights, to peacefully assemble, and certainly to request re-dress from our government. We recognize the historic, unprecedented, and in my mind, malicious action of the U.S Supreme Court… essentially gutting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which makes it harder for people to select their representatives.” said Savannah’s Mayor Van Johnson.
“The United States of America is changing and we need to change with it to make it work… not only for us as adults, but for our children, for our schools, for our community, for our elderly people…” said Dr. Patricia Harris, a partner of Black Voters Matter.
Along with Black Voters Matter, multiple other organizations were in attendance including Color of Change and Savannah Building Futures Inc.
The 2026 Georgia General Primary election will be held on Tuesday, May 19th.
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