Progressive National Baptist to Hold Voting Rights Press Conference with Political and Religious Leaders

WASHINGTON - Aug. 1, 2015 - PRLog -- The 54th Annual Session of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, Inc. (PNBC) led by its President, Dr. James C. Perkins, will convene the week of August 2-7, 2015 at the Dallas Hyatt Regency Hotel, 300 Reunion Blvd. in Dallas, TX. Throughout the week, the denomination will focus on restoring voters’ rights, which will culminate in a press conference on Thursday, August 6 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency, Room Shawnee Trail #362. PNBC will announce their support of the Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2015 (VRAA) and will kick-off a nationwide voter registration campaign. Joining PNBC for the press conference will be Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Dr. Raphael Warnock, Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA; Dr. Frederick Haynes, Pastor of Friendship West Baptist Church in Dallas, TX; and Dr. John Mendez, Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC.

August 6, 2015 marks the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which in recent years has been weakened by the Shelby County vs. Holder Supreme Court ruling. PNBC will utilize the press conference to call on all lawmakers to support the VRAA, which seeks to restore the damage done by the Supreme Court.

In addition, PNBC will announce a nationwide voter registration campaign. Dr. James C. Perkins, PNBC President, states, “The Annual Session will be the beginning of efforts to restore the voting rights that were eviscerated by the Shelby County vs. Holder Supreme Court ruling. PNBC is galvanizing member churches all across the country to work to end voter intimidation, voting suppression, and suspicious practices. In addition, we are embarking upon a nationwide voter registration campaign with a special focus on communities that have been hit the hardest by voting discrimination.” PNBC will announce an ambitious target goal for registering voters before the 2016 election.Over 5,000 delegates representing over 2,000 churches and an estimated membership of 1.5 million people in the United States will attend the Annual Session.

PNBC is also issuing a challenge to all presidential candidates to speak to issues of voter suppression and voter intimidation. PNBC recently commended Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton on her call for automatic voter registration and urges all candidates to follow suit by addressing voting rights during the debates.

PNBC was the convention-denominational home and platform for Dr. King, who addressed every Annual Session of the Convention. PNBC was founded in 1961 to give full voice, sterling leadership and active support to the American and world fight for human freedom. The denomination’s history is rooted in advocacy for social justice, full voter registration, education and participation in society, and economic empowerment and development for all people. For additional information, visit www.pnbc.org.