Schakowsky Statement on Letter to Secretary Kerry Ahead of Dominican Republic Elections
Today, Representative Jan Schakowsky released the following statement after sending a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry to urge the Department to press for fair elections in the Dominican Republic on May 15th:
“I sent a letter to the Secretary of State John Kerry along with 21 of my colleagues voicing our concerns about the arbitrary barriers the Dominican Republic is placing on Dominicans of Haitian descent to prevent them from voting,” said Rep. Schakowsky. “Dominicans of Haitian descent make up a significant portion of the population, but this year’s voter registration is significantly lower than past years, raising concerns that they may be prevented from registering and voting. In light of recent actions taken by the government to harm Dominicans of Haitian descent in the Dominican Republic, I am very concerned that their voices are being silenced. As this crucial election nears, I urge the State Department to press for fair elections in the Dominican Republic.”
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