An excerpt from Heather Cox Richardson's essay from May 16, 2026. [View all]
Speakers united around the theme that those trying to gerrymander their way into control of Congress in defiance of voters had reawakened a movement. They think they can draw us out of power, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told an audience in Montgomery.
They do not know the sleeping giant that they just awakened. Because it is not a coincidence, and our whole country must understand, that it was not until voting rights were ratified in this country that we got the Great Society. Because when Black Americans have the right to vote and that vote is protected, our schools get funded. When voting rights are protected, healthcare gets expanded. When voted rights are protected, our country moves forward. And Montgomery, thats what theyre actually afraid of. Theyre afraid of us coming together. Theyre afraid of us protecting one another.
All of her essay at the link:
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/may-16-2026?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-restack-comment&r=lxca0&triedRedirect=true