Civil rights groups make urgent plea for voting rights in DC, ahead of midterm elections

WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of protesters are rallying on the National Mall in support of voting rights and racial justice ahead of the midterm election. The event Friday (Aug. 28, 2026) follows a Supreme Court decision allowing Southern states to redraw their congressional maps in a way that civil rights groups say restricts voting rights and erodes representation for Black voters. The “Defend the Vote” March on Washington echoes the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 march. Organizers Rev. Al Sharpton and Martin Luther King III plan to stress the consequences of the Supreme Court’s decision. Speakers include Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.