Mi Familia Vota Education Fund is suing President Donald Trump and his political appointees for intimidating and threatening eligible voters wanting to vote and express support for certain political candidates and political beliefs. Among other acts, Mi Familia Vota said Trump has encouraged his supporters and white supremacists to serve as “poll watchers” to intimidate voters. They also accuse Trump of sending federal law enforcement agents to protests for causes he felt were hostile to him while ignoring demonstrations led by his supporters. (Newsweek, October 21, 2020, by Aila Slisco)
The complaint filed in federal district court reads in part, “This pattern of violently suppressing opposition, sabotaging a free and fair election, and rejecting a peaceful transfer of power has the purpose and effect of intimidating Americans from voting, trying to vote, helping others to vote, supporting or advocating for the election of Defendant Trump’s opponent, or exercising the right to speak, peaceably assemble, or petition the government for a redress of grievances, in violation of Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, 52 U.S.C. § 10307(b); Section 2 of the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3); and the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.” (Latin Life Denver, October 21, 2020)