NAACP Legal Defense Fund Settles Important Voting Rights Case and Allows Voter Education Effort to Continue
Today, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) settled Glasgow v. Allen, No. 2:08-CV-801-WKW, the lawsuit it filed against the Alabama Department of Corrections in federal court earlier this month on behalf of Reverend Kenneth Glasgow. Immediately after the lawsuit was filed, the parties began settlement discussions under which Reverend Glasgow last week resumed his non-partisan ministry to eligible voters currently incarcerated in the state's correctional facilities.
New York, NY (PRWEB) October 22, 2008 -- Today, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) settled Glasgow v. Allen, No. 2:08-CV-801-WKW, the lawsuit it filed against the Alabama Department of Corrections in federal court earlier this month on behalf of Reverend Kenneth Glasgow. Immediately after the lawsuit was filed, the parties began settlement discussions under which Reverend Glasgow last week resumed his non-partisan ministry to eligible voters currently incarcerated in the state's correctional facilities.
The lawsuit was filed after the Alabama Department of Corrections canceled Reverend Glasgow's ministry following the Alabama Republican Party's objection to his voter education activities.
"Now I can continue the ministry that God gave me: helping to give a voice to the voiceless by reaching out to people in Alabama's correctional facilities who are eligible to vote," said Reverend Glasgow. "The ministry is so critical because too many in Alabama's correctional facilities who are eligible to vote don't know it."
While incarcerated six years ago, Reverend Glasgow joined a prison ministry that addressed the importance of personal and civic responsibility and restoration as personal virtues and as cornerstones for one's community. He was struck by the prison ministry's focus on exercising the right to vote as a means to restore an him to his community and vowed to give back by starting his own ministry. Upon his release in 2002, Reverend Glasgow founded The Ordinary People Society, a not-for-profit organization in Dothan, Alabama. In 2004, the Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole restored Reverend Glasgow's voting rights.
"Today's settlement ensures the result that we sought and that Alabama's constitution and laws require -- eligible people in correctional facilities will be able to participate in Reverend Glasgow's ministry and learn about their voting rights prior to close of registration for the upcoming November 4 general election," said John Payton, LDF President and Director-Counsel.
Ryan P. Haygood, Co-Director of LDF's Political Participation Group at LDF who represented Reverend Glasgow added: "This significant development strengthens the integrity of Alabama's democratic processes by guaranteeing that eligible voters who seek to vote will have their voices heard."
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund was joined in the lawsuit by Herman Johnson, of Wiggins, Childs, Quinn & Pantazis.
ABOUT LDF
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) is America's legal counsel on issues of race. Through advocacy and litigation, LDF focuses on issues of education, voter protection, economic justice and criminal justice. We encourage students to embark on careers in the public interest through scholarships and internship programs. LDF pursues racial justice to move our nation toward a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all.
Media Contact: Mel Gagarin, (212) 965-2783 or mgagarin @ naacpldf.org
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