Des Moines BLM organizers left disappointed after meeting on felon voting rights
Des Moines Black Lives Matter took to the Statehouse on Monday after the Iowa Legislature failed to vote on a constitutional amendment to restore felon voting rights.
Restored felon voting rights are among demands made by Des Moines BLM to Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa lawmakers.
Organizers met with Reynolds to discuss granting voting rights to felons in Iowa who have completed their sentences.
On Friday, Reynolds met with Des Moines BLM organizers and encouraged them to let the legislative process play out.
Jaylen Cavil, who attended the Monday meeting with Reynolds, said there were “a whole bunch of words” and “no action.”
“It was extremely disappointing,” Cavil said. “Obviously, we are feeling a little bit optimistic after our meeting on Friday. We were expecting to see some language (on an executive order) when we walked in their today.”
The group said it plans to form a coalition of activists invested in the issue to craft an executive order to present to the governor.
Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, who attended Monday’s meeting with Reynolds, said the meeting was productive.
“We have a commitment from the governor to have an executive order by the summer, by the fall before the election,” Abdul-Samad said.
Abdul-Samad said he is confident that change will come in due time and he is confident the passion and impatience of the young people involved will lead to felons getting the right to vote.