Interview with Professor Rodolfo de la Garza
Teagle student Peter Garcia had the opportunity to interview Columbia professor Rodolfo de la Garza on Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, on "language minorities," and on the importance of voting. Below is an excerpt.
View the full interview
A selection of memorable lines:
"Section 5 gave life to the Voting Rights Act."
"They used Section 5 to stop states from creating barriers to minority involvement."
"The question is, Is it [the Voting Rights Act] still necessary?, not Is it constitutional?"
"It is a horrible embarrassment that we are becoming less democratic as a nation."
"People have to recognize that voting is a communal act ... It's a celebration of nationhood."
For more information of Professor de la Garza, please visit:
His faculty profile at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
His contribution to the New York Times "Room for Debate"
The book he co-edited, The Future of the Voting Rights Act
A selection of memorable lines:
"Section 5 gave life to the Voting Rights Act."
"They used Section 5 to stop states from creating barriers to minority involvement."
"The question is, Is it [the Voting Rights Act] still necessary?, not Is it constitutional?"
"It is a horrible embarrassment that we are becoming less democratic as a nation."
"People have to recognize that voting is a communal act ... It's a celebration of nationhood."
For more information of Professor de la Garza, please visit:
His faculty profile at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
His contribution to the New York Times "Room for Debate"
The book he co-edited, The Future of the Voting Rights Act
