Rally in Elmwood Park raises awareness for felon voting rights
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Rally in Elmwood Park raises awareness for felon...
Virginia is one of two states restricting felons for life from voting.In November when you head to the polls to vote for your candidate of choice, you won’t run into a convicted felon casting a ballot who hasn’t gone through a long process of getting rights restored.
Virginia is one of two states restricting felons for life from voting.
Kembra Smith Pradia has served time and is now serving as a voice.
“I’m a national public speaker, finished undergrad, done a year of law school, I’m married, living a successfully life, productive citizen, paying my taxes, I’m still unable to vote,” Pradia said.
She and many others rallied in Elmwood Park Sunday to raise awareness on the issue.
Delegate Onzlee Ware has proposed legislation to restore voting rights for non-violent felons.
“For me as a delegate to get the ball rolling is to start with the non-violent felonies and let’s see how that works and then further expand the legislation,” Ware said.
He says if you pay your debt to society you should have a voice.
“It’s important because you’re really not an American if you don’t have the right to participate in the electoral process.”
Ware says many people at the rally can’t vote for him, but they will be heard in Richmond.
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Reader Reactions
tired. You sound like a very bitter person. I asked the question what must I do to earn your forgivness . you didnt answer. I take it back . I dont want forgivness from holier than thou people like you anyway. You also said you dont care 10 to 50 . So you are saying a 10 year old should be able to make adult decissions . Lol . Why dont we let them vote,get married,buy alcohol,cigs,guns. Thank you for showing everyone how ignorant and close minded people can be. And im sure you dont have a problem forgiving your perfect self.
I don’t care if your 10 or 50, my son or daughter. You made the decision to break the law (violent or not) it’s still a FELONY, YOU pay the consequences. No more excuses, no more feeling sorry for the criminals, I support rights for the victims. I’m tired of the criminals trying to make the law abiding world feel sorry for them. P.S. I have forgiven people in my past for mistakes they have made, including myself (BTW, I’m not a felon). However, consequences are consequences and the debt must be repaid to society as a whole, regardless of forgiveness.
To General: Right on!!!
Once you are a convicted criminal, you lose your rights, thats all it is to it. Dont try to get all these people back in the voting field so they can vote for the Marxist party that we have in DC anymore. Simply put, no debate.
Have you never forgiven someone in your life ? If it was your son or daughter would you feel the same way ? Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. If someone proves themself they should be given a second chance not have to pay for it the rest of their lives.Bad enough that employers dont want to give us a second chance .Would you rather the Govornment take care of us using your tax dollars . I commited a felony when I was 18 .39 days after my 18th birthday. It was not a violent crime nor were drugs involved . I made a stupid mistake of stealing cars with my friends just to ride around in . In Febuary it will be 17 years since my felony . I haven’t had so much as a speeding ticket since then . I learned my lesson so what must I do to earn yours and everyone elses forgivness?
all readers of this article should investigate further on what WSLS didn’t report by doing a google search on “Kemba Smith president Bill Cinton” and her own foundation website:
http://www.kembasmithfoundation.org/
The disturbing part about this story is that it always gets turns around to the problems with the law, felon’s rights, instead of people taking personal responsibility. Strict laws are put in place to deter you from hanging out with drug dealers and harming all those affected by drugs. Ms Smith chose the wrong path, But it’s always nice to get a pardon from the President. Instead of trying to gain felon’s voters rights, talk to the kids about not dating known drug dealers. Bill will not be there for the next soon to be felon.
Personally I dont think any rights should be restored automatically without the person proving themselves to be a productive citizen in the community! I can say that because I was convicted of a felony, therefore I am a felon!!!!! But, since my conviction, I have had ALL of my rights granted back to me! I have proven myself to be a valuable member of my community, and have proven myself tenfold in the years that have passed since I was convicted! (Teenage years) A lot of people love to hold grudges or pass judgement on people that have made mistakes at one time in their life, and try to hold it over their heads for eternity! Really people! I realize that 80% are repeat offenders, but what about the ones that arent? If you noticed, Mr Ware asked for NON VIOLENT offenders to have their voting rights restored, not rapists, murderers, and pedophiles! Most of you people on here commenting must be perfect or incapable of ever commiting a crime! (Or so you think) And if so, good for you, but just remember your comments if you do fall off your heavenly perch and actually do fall back to earth! People do change, and yes, believe it or not, people do make mistakes!
Ms Pradia is the exception to the rule, and I respect her for being a good citizen. Unfortunately not all felons are created equal. Becoming a felon, means that you have broken the social contract whatever the law broken might have been. I guess disfranchisement is only taught in the 2nd year of law school?
Our system is flawed enough as it is. I don’t want someone who can’t even run their own lives to be able to vote someone into office that will try to run mine. While we’re at it, I don’t believe people on welfare should be able to vote and should have random drug tests done while on gov’t assitance. I’m tired of the criminals given more rights than the victims. All these civil liberties types need to give it up and start looking at the rights of the law abiding citizens (victims), and leave the felons where they belong…in the dust.
Oh, well bless their little felonious hearts…
When I was “little more” than a kid I knew better than to break the law, much less commit a felony. I also knew the consequences, per the constitution, for committing a felony.
This has little to do with letting felons vote, and more to do with getting democratic votes. Its absurd. Blacks vote majority democrat. Thats what this is about, and nothing more.
Should we go ahead and let the felons carry guns also? After all they were only kids when they committed felons, right?
Also, saying it is majority blacks isnt prejudice. It is statistically correct.
Some of these “morons” as they were refered to were little more than kids when they made a huge mistake. They have paid thier debt to society. So why is it so hard to let them cast a vote for what they believe is right. The only ones who would vote are the ones who learned a lesson while incarcerated. As far as the comment that it is the only way blacks can get votes is very prejiduce I am a white person and I see nothing allowing felons to vote would hurt.
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