“In democracy, the voters choose their leaders,” Georgia State Representative Tanya Miller (above) said. “In a democracy, the power belongs to the people.” Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice A woman holds one of the many signs opposing the special session at the Georgia State Capit ol this week. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice In the wake of high gas prices, the FIFA World Cup, and an impending framework agreement between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Georgia State Capitol was at the epicenter of the news cycle on Wednesday, June 17. What looked like hundreds and sounded like thousands of people gathered inside and outside of the Capitol to express their opposition to a special session that was called by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.  On the lower level of the State Capitol, Georgia Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock, a Democrat, held a morning press conference to express his disinterest in the special session. Warnock, a Savannah native, said he came home to Georgia from Washington, D.C. for the express purpose of standing with the people.  Chants of “No new maps” filled the rotunda as people waited for signs that read, “Free Fair Elections” Reject Racist Redistricting,” and “Protect Black Votes.”  Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice “I don’t like gerrymandering,” Warnock said. “There’s a reason why you can draw lines around districts full of Black voters. Today, much of the discussion will center around Black voters. This is about working-class people.”  Warnock said Kemp, who is in his second and final term as governor, called for the special session because his fellow Republicans do not want to be held accountable. “And we intend to hold them accountable,” Warnock said. “This should not be viewed in isolation.”  There have been similar special sessions called in the past, most recently in 2019 and 2023. The 2019 session lasted five days, and the 2023 session lasted nine days, respectively. This year’s special session will not last long as it was rescheduled due to the pressure put on by the people of Georgia. Many other politicians, including State Rep. Tanya Miller, the Democratic candidate for the upcoming election for Georgia Attorney General, and potential statewide elected officials such as Judge Penny Brown Reynolds and Nikki Porcher, both of whom were successful in their primary runoff election bids for Democratic nominations for Georgia Secretary of State and Georgia Labor Commissioner on Tuesday, gathered inside the Georgia State Capitol this morning in opposition of the special session and potential gerrymandering that could take place.  People like Dr. Marvin Broadwater, Sr. (above), a community activist, organizer, and military veteran, drove in from Columbus, Georgia, to witness the opposition this morning. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice “In democracy, the voters choose their leaders,” Miller said. “In a democracy, the power belongs to the people.” The politicians weren’t alone. People like Dr. Marvin Broadwater, Sr., a community activist, organizer, and military veteran, drove in from Columbus, Georgia, to witness the opposition this morning.  Broadwater registers voters in Columbus and believes voter education is key to informing the people about who is running for local and statewide office. He also believes in showing up. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice “Your politicians will not know what you think if they don’t see you when they deliberate,” Broadwater said. “We have to continue to protect our voting rights.”  Chants of “No new maps” filled the rotunda as people waited for signs that read, “Free Fair Elections” Reject Racist Redistricting,” and “Protect Black Votes.”  One of the speakers during the protests was Helen Butler, a longtime advocate for voting rights in Georgia and the Executive Director of the Coalition for the People’s Agenda, a local nonprofit. Prior to the rescheduling of the special session, Butler said that too often, the people don’t get to speak out. Today they did. “It’s time for the people to have their say,” she said. “They can tell their representatives what they don’t want.”  Apparently, that is a special session.  “When you play with the people, you always lose,” said Georgia State Representative Inga Willis. Willis attended one of the multiple press conferences held on the South Steps inside the Capitol. “We are here because we’re the voice of the people, and what’s at stake is the voice of the people. “I’m here representing thousands.”  Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Charlie Bailey also spoke. The rise in Democrats winning local elections in Georgia, including the cities of Athens and Columbus, where the first Black mayors, Dexter Fisher and Isaiah Hughley, were elected on Tuesday, gave the party momentum going into another crucial election season. Voting rights are on the table, said Bailey.  “The people of Georgia have risen up and said, ‘Not so damn fast.’ We get to decide who is going to represent us in these hallowed halls,” Bailey said.  The post ‘We intend to hold them accountable’: Georgia special session scrapped as people stand up in opposition appeared first on The Atlanta Voice. ...read more read less