Black Lives Matters asks Reynolds to remove restitution requirement from felon voting amendment

FOR MORE TRAINING FOR POLICE, BUT HE SAYS THAT WOULD REQUIRE MORE FUNDING. BLACK LIVES MATTER IS PUSHING FOR EVEN MORE CHANGE THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION. ��vlog’S MARCUS MCINTOSH SPOKE WITH SOME ACTIVISTS WHO MET WITH THE GOVERNOR THIS AFTERNOON. ♪ DES MOINES BLACK LIVES MATTER WERE ABOUT 50 STRONG. AND AS THEY MARCHED FROM THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE CAPITOL TO GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS' FIRST-FLOOR OFFICE, THEIR DEMANDS WERE NOT HARD TO HEAR. [DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING] >> LET THEM VOTE. LET THEM VOTE. MARCUS: ABOUT 50 OR SO DES MOINES BLACK LIVES MATTER MEMBERS MADE THEIR DEMAND HARD TO IGNORE. THE NEXT FIGHT IN THE BATTLE IS TO RESTORE VOTING RIGHTS TO FELONS. >> WE BELIEVE IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR TIME TO GET THEIR VOTING RIGHTS BACK. MARCUS: A FEW OF THE MEMBERS CONTINUED THAT CHORUS WHEN THEY MET WITH GOVERNOR REYNOLDS FOR ABOUT 35 TO 40 MINUTES FRIDAY AFTERNOON, AND CAME OUT OF THE CLOSED DOOR MEETING FEELING ENCOURAGED. >> KIM REYNOLDS ABSOLUTELY WANTS TO PASS AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO HELP US STOPGAP THIS ISSUE WE ARE HAVING RIGHT NOW. MARCUS: WE SPOKE OFF CAMERA WITH A STATE LEGISLATOR WHO WAS IN THAT MEETING, AND WERE TOLD THE GOVERNOR MADE NO GUARANTEES, BUT URGED MEMBERS OF DES MOINES BLACK LIVES MATTER TO LET THE PROCESS PLAY OUT, SOMETHING TH SAY THEY HAVE AND WILL CONTINUE , TO DO. >> WE NEED TO TALK TO OUR LEGISLATORS, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS ALL THAT POLITICALLY , CORRECT JAZZ, SO THAT IS WHAT WE’VE BEEN DOING. WE HAVE BEEN SHOWING UP HERE EVERY DAY. MARCUS: THEY SAY THEY WILL CONTINUE SHOWING UP AND SPEAKING OUT. THERE MAY BE SOME SKEPTICISM WHEN IT COMES TO THE STATEHOUSE. BUT THE FEELING IS, AFTER HELPING CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM BECOME REALITY, THEY HAVE THE POWER AND PERSISTANCE TO PUSH FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. >> I DONT NECESSARILY BELIEVE IN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, BUT I BELIEVE IN THE FOLKS WHO SHOW UP EVERY DAY. [LAUGHTER] -- [APPLAUSE] MARCUS: WE WERE TOLD THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES, BUT COUL

Updated: 9:37 PM CDT Jun 12, 2020

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Black Lives Matters asks Reynolds to remove restitution requirement from felon voting amendment

Updated: 9:37 PM CDT Jun 12, 2020

Editorial Standards ⓘ

The Des Moines Black Lives Matter group took to Twitter on Friday night to voice their perspective of the meeting that occurred with Gov. Kim Reynolds. One of their demands during their protests has been to return voting rights to felons. On June 4, Reynolds signed a constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights to felons, but it requires the felon to pay restitution before they can vote. Right now, Iowa is the only state where all convicted felons lose their voting rights unless they apply to the governor."During our meeting with the Governor, she assured us that her office will have an executive order drafted by the time we meet on Monday," the BLM group wrote in a statement. "The language in this executive order is extremely important to ensure that every Iowan is guaranteed the right to vote. We will not accept anything that would require extra stipulation for disenfranchised Iowans. This executive order must restore voting rights to all Iowans, no matter their past felony convictions or outstanding payments." Primarily, the group is asking for the governor to not require restitution to be paid in order to vote. "However, it is an attempt to carry out the legacy of racist Jim Crow laws, while still appeasing calls for change," the BLM group wrote. "We reject any attempt for change that will continue to disenfranchise (Black and Indigenous People of Color), as has been done since the passage of the 15th Amendment."

DES MOINES, Iowa —

The Des Moines Black Lives Matter group took to Twitter on Friday night to voice their perspective of the meeting that occurred with Gov. Kim Reynolds.

One of their demands during their protests has been to return voting rights to felons. On June 4, Reynolds signed a constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights to felons, but it requires the felon to pay restitution before they can vote.

Right now, Iowa is the only state where all convicted felons lose their voting rights unless they apply to the governor.

"During our meeting with the Governor, she assured us that her office will have an executive order drafted by the time we meet on Monday," the BLM group wrote in a statement. "The language in this executive order is extremely important to ensure that every Iowan is guaranteed the right to vote. We will not accept anything that would require extra stipulation for disenfranchised Iowans. This executive order must restore voting rights to all Iowans, no matter their past felony convictions or outstanding payments."

Primarily, the group is asking for the governor to not require restitution to be paid in order to vote.

"However, it is an attempt to carry out the legacy of racist Jim Crow laws, while still appeasing calls for change," the BLM group wrote. "We reject any attempt for change that will continue to disenfranchise (Black and Indigenous People of Color), as has been done since the passage of the 15th Amendment."

Des Moines Black Lives Matter calls upon Governor Kim Reynolds to sign an executive order restoring voting rights to Iowans with felony convictions immediately.
— DSM Black Liberation Movement (@DesMoinesBLM)

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Black Lives Matters asks Reynolds to remove restitution requirement from felon voting amendment

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