On March 25, 2021, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 22, a law that restricts voting rights by increasing voter ID requirements, limiting ballot drop boxes, and condensing the timeline for run-off elections.

In an act of bravery, Georgia State Representative Park Cannon attempted to knock on the door and ask the Governor why it was being signed in private, with only a small group of white men there to witness. For that act, she was arrested and is being charged with two felonies.

Among the most egregious parts of the legislation is that it makes it a crime to serve food or water to people standing in line to vote. A crime. To give someone water.

Faith traditions throughout the world hold the act of serving food and water to others as sacred, as part of their obligation to God, to the community, to their neighbor, and the least among us. This is also true for Christians, the professed faith of those who passed the law, for whom Jesus is the Living Water.

“...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,”

Matthew 25:35

In a democracy, voting is a sacred act because it uplifts the voices of those who bear God’s image and upholds our human dignity to those who we elect. Therefore, we, the undersigned, in defiance of these harmful voter suppression laws pledge to:

• Serve food and water to those who are thirsty, including people standing in line in Georgia or other states that move forward with voter suppression laws. We understand that this faithful witness may violate ordinances of the state, but do so because of our religious convictions.

• Advocate with other people of faith to pass state and federal voting rights, declaring that the vote is a sacred part of our democracy.

• Stand with those leaders like Rep. John Lewis, the Rev. Joseph Lowery, Coretta Scott King, and all who have bled for the right to vote.  

“...a vote is a kind of prayer for the kind of world we desire for ourselves and for our children. And our prayers are stronger when we pray together.”

Rev. Dr. Sen. Warnock