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Civil rights group marks MLK Day with call for 'Trump card' national ID
A prominent civil rights group is marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day by pressing President Trump to honor his promise to create a national photo ID card for citizens.
Martin Luther King III, the oldest son of the iconic civil rights leader and a co-chairmen of the Drum Major Institute, met with Trump two years ago on MLK Day. During that meeting, the then president-elect endorsed the idea of a national photo ID. This year, the group is calling on Trump to follow through.
William Wachtel, co-founder of the Drum Major Institute, said the group sees the issue as critical to ensuring King's work to remove barriers to voting.
[...] The idea has invited controversy in the past, in particular over privacy concerns. In 2013, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) introduced a measure, the Protect Our Privacy Act, attached to a Senate immigration bill. The Paul amendment sought to prevent the creation of a national ID card, citing worries that it would make it easier for the government to track people. Wachtel sought to ease concerns about such an ID, saying it would not be mandatory and would only be an option for those who sought it.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by DutchUncle on Monday January 21 2019, @07:23PM (2 children)
I believe that folks in hourly wage jobs have more trouble getting to the state DMV two counties over during banker's hours, especially if they don't drive and the DMV is on some highway with no sidewalks. On the other hand, my father, a lawyer born and raised in New York City, NEVER DROVE and NEVER HAD A DRIVER'S LICENSE, and would have had a problem showing ID to vote. (He had to get a special ID from the NY State Sheriff's Dept. when security was increased at NY federal courthouses.)
(Score: 3, Touché) by Runaway1956 on Monday January 21 2019, @09:22PM
Two counties over? Where are you located, that some counties don't have a DMV office? All of the offices that I know of are located in downtown areas, accessible to wheelchairs, or whoever might come along. The hardest thing about getting to a DMV is learning where it is located. More conspicuous signage would help, for those of us who don't carry a surveillance device on our persons all the time.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday January 22 2019, @09:47PM
And yet hourly white folks seem to manage it just fine. What innate disability are you claiming black folks have that prevents them doing the same?
My rights don't end where your fear begins.