Rabbi Jonah Pesner Speaks at Voting Rights Rally Outside the U.S. Supreme Court

On Wednesday, October 15, Rabbi Jonah Pesner spoke at a major rally outside the United States Supreme Court as justices heard oral arguments in Louisiana v. Callais, a landmark voting rights case focused on racial gerrymandering, Louisiana's Congressional map, and the future of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Below are photos from the rally and a transcript of his remarks.

Good morning, my voting rights family! I'm Rabbi Jonah Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism - the largest and most diverse denomination in Jewish life. Just a few miles up Massachusetts Avenue is our Center, where the Leadership Conference for Civil Rights, now led by Maya Wiley, some 60+ years ago in our conference room at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism drafted the Voting Rights Act of 1965. So - it is personal to the Jewish community, which marched in Selma with Dr. King and Rabbis Heschel and Hirsch and so many more.

My Jewish family is in the house. We are here today as we begin the new cycle of reading our Torah scripture. This week we read the Book of Genesis, including the story of the first creation of the first world and the first births of the first lives. And yes, the first murder because of resentment and jealousy and hate: Cain, who rose up and struck his brother Abel. And God, the Holy One, said, "Cain, the voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the Earth."

Today, the voices of three other brothers cry out from the earth: Andrew Goodman, James Cheney, and Mickey Schwerner.

Everybody say, "Andrew Goodman, James Cheney, and Mickey Schwerner" May their memories be for a blessing, because they gave their lives for the rights of all of us - Black white, brown, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, all of God's creatures - to vote.

Everybody say, "Vote!"

Because my voice is my vote and my vote is my voice.

So on this morning, as our sister Janai prepares to argue on behalf of all of us before the Supreme Court of the land, let's take a moment as the luminaries of our movement did and let us pray. Will you pray with me?

Eloheinu Velohei Avoteinu Veimoteinu.

God who is the God of our mothers and our fathers. God who has spoken to us throughout the millennia through the voices of Dr. King and Rabbi Heschel and Goodman, Cheney, and Schwerner. God who was there in Selma and God who was there in Mississippi Summer. God, be here today with us.

Enlighten these nine justices to see what we see. That our voices are our votes, and our voice matters so that we can be the multi-racial, inclusive democracy that will make us all proud to do your work. God keep us strong.

We don't just take the sixty-year view of marching. We have marched since we marched out of slavery in Egypt. For 3,000 years, we have marched. And God, we'll march for 3,000 more years if that's what it takes to bring about justice and mercy and walk humbly with your name.

Amen.