Rock the Vote co-founder honored with Goodman Award

LOS ANGELES (Press Release)—Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice, presented Rock the Vote and its Co-Founder Jody Uttal with the first-ever Andrew Goodman Award on Sunday, May 18.

As part of its ongoing work to promote and protect voting rights, Bend the Arc partnered with The Andrew Goodman Foundation, named for the young Jewish volunteer who was murdered alongside two fellow activists—James Chaney and Michael Schwerner—by the Ku Klux Klan for their efforts to register Mississippi’s black voters during the Freedom Summer of 1964. The murders of Goodman, Chaney and Schwerner captured the nation’s attention and their work and sacrifices contributed to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Goodman’s murder, and the award honors those who embody his dedication to social justice and equality.

“Fifty years ago this summer, college students, organizers and voting rights activists from all over the country flooded into Mississippi, and they changed history,” said Stosh Cotler, CEO of Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice. “They taught us that activism by ordinary citizens matters. We’re so proud to honor Jody Uttal and Rock the Vote with the Andrew Goodman Award—their tireless work to expand the electorate and engage young voters keeps alive the legacy of volunteers like Andrew Goodman, and is critical to upholding our basic right to vote.”

The Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted critical provisions of the Voting Rights Act, leaving voters vulnerable to discrimination at the ballot box. The Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 (VRAA), which will modernize and strengthen the landmark Civil-Rights era law, is currently under consideration in Congress. Bend the Arc is part of the national coalition of groups fighting to pass the VRAA.

“Andrew Goodman is proof that young people are powerful,” said Jody Uttal, co-founder of Rock the Vote. “Rock the Vote believes that empowering young people to make their voices heard keeps our democracy strong. We’re deeply humbled to accept the Andrew Goodman award, which reminds us how people sacrificed to make sure future generations could vote, and we’re honored that Bend the Arc has recognized our work.”

Bend the Arc organized 26 national and local Jewish organizations to sign onto a letter delivered to Members of Congress urging them to protect voting rights. The group is also gathering signatures from voters across the country to petition lawmakers to support the VRAA. In February, Bend the Arc brought the message of voting rights deep into the Jewish community by organizing twenty rabbis in ten states to deliver sermons about the importance of protecting the right to vote. Fresh off a national organizing call with Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bend the Arc will spend the summer mobilizing Jewish voters to visit the offices of their members of Congress and deliver the message that standing up for voting rights is a priority issue for the Jewish community.

“My brother Andrew lost his life in the Voting Rights Movement,” said David Goodman, president of The Andrew Goodman Foundation. “Fifty years later the right to vote is under attack again, and it’s inspiring to join with Rock the Vote, Bend the Arc and others who are working to ensure that all American citizens have access to the ballot. Andrew would be proud to lend his name to an award recognizing work that makes our democracy more inclusive.”

The Award was presented on Sunday evening at Bend the Arc’s annual gala in Los Angeles. The event, which also honored environmental activist and community leader David Nahai, drew national and local leaders including State Assembly Member Richard Bloom, City Attorney Mike Feuer, City Controller Ron Galperin, City Councilman Mike Bonin, and Former City Controller Wendy Greuel.

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Preceding provided by Bend the Arc