Yolanda Renee King is only 13-years-old, but growing up hearing about her grandfather’s impact on civil rights history, she chose to follow a similar path, championing fair voting and other essential rights. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s only granddaughter, Yolanda, reportedly continues the leader’s lasting legacy by speaking out on the issues she believes in.
The middle school student balances school with civil rights activism, speaking out on civil rights issues at various events and rallies. According to ABC News, Yolanda was with dozens of activists near the White House last week who were reportedly detained for “obstructing traffic.”
The young teen’s father, Martin Luther King III, and others were asking Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and Freedom to Vote Act to the U.S. President, ABC News reported, which could make voting more accessible to the public.
Yolanda Renee King reflects on grandfather Martin Luther King’s legacy as she pushes for federal voting rights: “It’s sad and disappointing that we are still facing the same issues that we did 58 years ago.” https://t.co/Re1nO8tpR5
— ABC News (@ABC) November 8, 2021
The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act passed by the House of Representatives in August 2021 “outlines factors courts must consider when hearing challenges to voting practices, such as the extent of any history of official voting discrimination in the state or political subdivision.”
While the Freedom to Vote Act “declares that the right of a U.S. citizen to vote in any election for federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence.” The bill, which also seeks to make Election Day a federal holiday, was introduced in September 2021 but has yet to be passed by U.S. Congress members.
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“They blocked these bills again, and it’s really frustrating,” Yolanda told ABC News about the proposed legislation, adding, “It’s sad and disappointing that we are still facing the same issues that we did 58 years ago. We really need to make more progress. And while I think about how much of an honor it is for me to be doing what my grandfather and family did, it’s concerning that we’re battling the same issues that they did.”
On her personal view of activism, the dedicated teen shared, “I do consider myself an activist. Anyone who uses their platform for good, that’s what activism is all about,”
There’s no doubt that her grandfather would be immensely proud.
