In a nation where voting rights face mounting challenges, a new campaign celebrates the Black women who stand at the forefront of democracy protection efforts. The Global Black Economic Forum and Election Protection have launched “Ojo Asé: Black Women Answering the Call,” an initiative recognizing 15 remarkable women who lead grassroots voting rights efforts in communities nationwide.
These women, nominated as Freedom Fighters by their communities, work tirelessly across five states to ensure democratic participation remains accessible to all citizens, particularly in areas where new legislation threatens to restrict voting access.
Frontline defenders in an ongoing struggle
The campaign emerges at a critical moment when state legislatures across the country have proposed or enacted hundreds of bills that voting rights advocates argue could limit ballot access, particularly in communities of color.
In Texas, where some of the most restrictive voting laws have been implemented, Tracy Groomes serves as an Election Judge in Guadalupe County near San Antonio. Her work focuses on creating welcoming environments where voters feel supported throughout the ballot casting process. Groomes has implemented training programs for poll workers that emphasize voter assistance without intimidation.
“The voting booth should be a place of empowerment, not fear,” notes campaign materials highlighting her contributions.
Also in Texas, Houston-based Shekira Dennis founded Next Wave Strategies to combat what she identifies as regressive voting legislation. Her organization has developed networks that monitor polling locations in predominantly Black and Latino neighborhoods, documenting incidents of voter confusion or deterrence.
Building sustainable protection networks
Michigan has become another critical battleground for voting rights, where Pontiac-based organizer Tameka Ramsey-Brown leads T.Ramsey & Associates. Her work connects historical struggles for ballot access with present-day challenges.
Ramsey-Brown has established voter education programs in three Michigan counties, reaching over 5,000 potential voters through community workshops that clarify registration requirements and voting procedures. These programs specifically target first-time voters and those who have been disengaged from the electoral process.
The campaign emphasizes that these women do not work in isolation but build sustainable networks that strengthen democratic participation beyond election cycles.
Legal expertise reinforcing grassroots efforts
In Washington DC, the campaign recognizes women providing legal expertise that reinforces grassroots organizing. Sonya Baskerville volunteers with the Lawyers’ Committee’s Election Protection hotline, offering real-time guidance to voters encountering barriers.
Sasha Hodge-Wren, who leads the Election Protection Hotline, has developed rapid response systems that connect voters with local legal resources when rights are threatened. During the last election cycle, her team fielded over 10,000 calls from voters seeking assistance with registration issues, polling place problems, and ballot questions.
These hotlines represent critical infrastructure in the voting rights ecosystem, providing immediate assistance while documenting patterns of voter suppression that inform future advocacy.
Representation transforms democratic institutions
The “Ojo Asé” campaign emphasizes that representation matters not just symbolically but substantively in democratic processes. When Black women participate in election protection, they bring perspectives shaped by communities often targeted by restrictive voting measures.
Rianne Henderson, Deputy Director of Count Us Indiana, has documented how diverse leadership in election administration correlates with more accessible voting processes. Her research shows that polling locations staffed by diverse teams report fewer incidents of voter challenges and higher satisfaction among first-time voters.
In Florida, Cecile Scoon serves as Co-President of the League of Women Voters. Her work connects contemporary voting rights struggles with historical movements, creating intergenerational approaches to civic participation.
Beyond the ballot box
The Freedom Fighters recognized by the campaign understand that voting rights extend beyond election day. Their work addresses structural barriers throughout the democratic process.
- Voter registration campaigns target communities with historically low participation rates
- Transportation networks help voters reach polling locations in areas with limited public transit
- Education initiatives clarify complex voting requirements that can deter participation
- Legal support addresses immediate challenges while building cases for systemic reform
- Community accountability ensures elected officials remain responsive to constituent needs
This comprehensive approach recognizes that meaningful democratic participation requires sustained engagement across multiple dimensions of civic life.
Historical context drives present action
Many of the women recognized by the campaign draw explicit connections between their work and historical struggles for voting rights. They see their efforts not as novel interventions but as continuations of long-standing movements for democratic inclusion.
This historical consciousness informs strategies that respond to contemporary challenges while honoring established organizing traditions in Black communities. Several of the Freedom Fighters incorporate cultural elements into their voting rights work, recognizing that democratic participation flourishes when connected to community values.
The campaign’s name itself reflects this cultural grounding. “Ojo Asé” draws from Yoruba spiritual traditions, invoking concepts of vision and manifestation that resonate in many Black American communities.
Measurable impact in contested spaces
The campaign documents concrete achievements by these Freedom Fighters, particularly in regions where voting rights face significant challenges.
In Houston, Dennis’s organization registered over 3,000 new voters in predominantly Black neighborhoods during the last election cycle. In Michigan, Ramsey-Brown’s education programs have resulted in measurable increases in voter turnout among young adults ages 18-25.
The Election Protection hotline managed by Hodge-Wren successfully resolved 87% of reported voting problems during the last major election, enabling thousands of citizens to cast ballots that might otherwise have been lost.
These metrics demonstrate that grassroots voting rights work produces tangible results even against significant structural opposition.
The path forward
As the “Ojo Asé” campaign celebrates these women, it also outlines ongoing challenges to voting rights and democratic participation. Restrictive legislation continues to emerge in state legislatures, while federal voting rights protections remain uncertain.
The Freedom Fighters emphasize that their work responds to immediate needs while building toward more comprehensive solutions. They advocate for federal voting rights legislation while creating community-based systems that can function even without additional governmental protections.
This dual approach reflects pragmatic assessments of the current political landscape while maintaining principled commitments to full democratic participation.
The campaign serves not only to recognize these women but to inspire others to join democracy protection efforts. By highlighting diverse approaches to voting rights advocacy, “Ojo Asé” creates multiple entry points for civic engagement.
As America approaches future elections, these women and their organizations stand ready to ensure that every eligible voter can participate fully in democratic processes. Their work represents not just protection of existing rights but expansion of democratic possibilities.
The Global Black Economic Forum and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law initiated the campaign as part of broader efforts to strengthen democratic institutions through diverse leadership and community-centered approaches.
