The U.S. is a signatory to the U.N. Human Rights Resolution, which establishes precedent for treating all of us with dignity. The extension of rights to good lives to all of us would give more stability to the society as a whole.

Panelists made a plea to all of us who care to keep up the pressure, and lend support to our world by – most especially – continuing to vote for leaders who keep striving to bring rights into actual existence over years of resistance.

If Justice Thurgood Marshall was an “activist” because he upheld civil rights based on the federal constitution, Elena Kagan was indeed fortunate to have a mentor who was a brilliant jurist who understood the federal constitution, civil rights and voting rights.

By Nahal Zamani, Advocacy Associate, ACLU Human Rights Program

December 3 marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day where we mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. To mark the occasion, we’re taking the opportunity to look at the past year and see how we’re faring in light of the anniversary.

Sen. Leahy gave a speech this week discussing the Supreme Court, the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, and this Term’s most important case — challenging the constitutionality of a key provision in the Voting Rights Act.

“Voters who are in line before their local polling place closes must be allowed to vote,” says Lillie Coney of EPIC and the National Center for Voting Integrity. “Walking toward the line at the time the polls close does not count. If there is a line after 4PM typically it will only get longer, so it’s best to get in line now for the duration.”

Links to a lot of the sites with good information about this, along with updates about the Voter Suppression Wiki and Twitter Vote Report.

What to do to prepare for the polls tomorrow. Have you stored the election protection hotline numbers on your cell phone yet? And much more … complete with video.

Links to voting rights and election protection suitable for printing out, at work or at home. Includes Asian-language and Spanish links, information for voters with disabilities, and resource information for citizen journalists including a first-draft instruction page for Twitter Vote Report.

The WSJ attempts to gin up faux outrage by falsely claiming liberal DOJ politicization of the civil rights division by whining about the DOJ actually following its own guidelines for a change. It is to laugh.

Great progress so far, working on the report, recommendations emerging. Another conference call today at 8 PM Eastern/5 PM Pacific. Media blitz expected on Wednesday. Please join us!