To the editor:
I was horrified to see that — in this administration’s never-ending quest to make sure that “the wrong kind of people” don’t vote… They have now made it illegal for nonprofit organizations to go to swearing-in ceremonies for new citizens and register those new citizens to vote.
One of the most moving things I have ever done in my life was to go to a citizenship ceremony in Lowell, a decade or so ago. I was with some folks from the League of Women Voters (LWV), a non-partisan organization, which encourages people to vote and to educate themselves about our country and the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship.
There were people who had come from 40 different countries in Lowell that day, becoming new American citizens! The judge who was presiding had to beg people not to clap after each country’s emigrés were announced — ‘we’ll be here all day, let’s clap at the end,’ he said.
The families were so excited and happy, and proud. At the end of the ceremony, the other LWV members and I stood at tables in the halls and registered people to vote. I was so proud of my country then — I thought — this is what is best about this country — some of my ancestors came on the Mayflower, in 1620, and these folks’ vote is worth EXACTLY what my vote is worth.
And now it’s illegal for the League to do that.
Shame, shame, shame.
Shame on them. These are citizens, whether they’ve been citizens for five minutes or since birth, whether they just became citizens or their family goes back 10 generations in this land.
Sincerely,
Alexis Soule
Front Street