Civil-Rights Advocates Deliver Valentine's Day Cards and Paper Roses to Congressional Net Neutrality Champions
WASHINGTON — The Voices for Internet Freedom coalition delivered Valentine’s Day cards to 53 members of the Black, Hispanic and Asian Pacific American Caucuses today for supporting a resolution of disapproval — introduced by Rep. Mike Doyle (D–Pennsylvania) — to overturn the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to eliminate its Net Neutrality rules last December.
The Voices coalition wanted to express appreciation for the members of the Tri-Caucuses who have stood up for the digital rights of communities of color. The cards thank these members and note why Net Neutrality is a critical racial-justice issue.
“A free and open internet has given communities of color the power to express ourselves without asking permission from gatekeepers and the power to innovate and organize on behalf of our communities,” said Erin Shields of the Center for Media Justice. “In light of the Trump administration’s move to attack immigrants, wage war on the poor and implement policies favoring the wealthy and elite, an open internet matters more than ever in our fight to keep our communities safe.”
However, the Voices coalition remains troubled that 36 members of the Tri-Caucuses have yet to support the resolution.
The coalition also delivered paper roses to several congressional members who are Net Neutrality champions. The roses were made of comments submitted by Net Neutrality supporters to the FCC. Rep. Mike Doyle and Sen. Ed Markey (D–Massachusetts) received roses for introducing a resolution of disapproval — using the Congressional Review Act — in the House and the Senate in an effort to save Net Neutrality. Last December, the FCC voted to eliminate its open-internet rules to allow big broadband companies to block, throttle and discriminate against online content.
The Voices for Internet Freedom coalition is led by the Center for Media Justice, Color Of Change, Free Press Action Fund, the National Hispanic Media Coalition and 18 Million Rising.
