March 27, 2001

The Honorable John Lewis

U.S. Congressman

100 Peachtree Street

Suite 1920

Atlanta, GA 30303

Honorable Sir:

On behalf of the millions of voiceless Americans confused by Election 2000, we turn to your honorable office to speak to the need for election reform. It is now or never for many of us who have watched our people struggle to get the Voting Rights Act and the meager protection it afforded only to learn it comes up short in assuring access to ballots that count. Election 2000 drove home the meaning of the republic form of government and our position as second class citizens under it. A white American actually wrote a letter to the editor of the Atlanta Journal Constitution in which he applauded the Supreme Court decision to prevent mob rule. Sir, we are the mob of which this writer so disrespectfully spoke. The writer rhetorically asked, "Did they really think we would allow blacks and other riffraff to elect the president?" What does this attitude say about democracy in America? Democracy is nonexistent when choosing national leadership. Black people are still three-fifths of a citizen. It is time our elected representatives speak to the dichotomy between what we are taught to believe and reality - America is not a democracy.

Election reform can fundamentally change this nation and make democracy, the equality Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke about, a reality. Election reform of the sort necessary to make this happen means we repeal Article I Section 2 of the Constitution and abolish the Electoral College, which flows from that first law of the land. A repeal of all slave articles in the Constitution, not already expressly repealed, should be a part of this fundamental reform package.

Black Agenda Two Thousand Political Action Committee (BATT-PAC) seeks to abolish the Electoral College to make one-person, one-vote democracy a reality by repealing Article 1 Section 2 and to improve the black human condition via a long overdue reparations for slave descendants. Though the issues facing black people are multi-faceted, we believe institutionalized racism is the common denominator. American institutionalized racism is based in law, which shapes mindsets that in turn dictates outcomes in the American marketplace for goods and services. The law must be changed; it is past time that our elected representatives recognize this and speak to an agenda that seeks to end institutionalized racism.

Educating the electorate is tremendously important. Just as elected officials are not speaking to the problem of institutionalized racism, many people do not understand the linkage between slavery, our current socioeconomic and political condition and black disenfranchisement during Election 2000. Officials skirting around the 3/5ths Compromise and what it signifies today hurt black people. If we do not talk about the problem, we will never solve it. Classes are in session. BATT-PAC is ready to teach the lessons elected officials, prospective candidates and the electorate need to understand in order to respond to questions from the media and be prepared for the challenge of securing election reform that makes democracy an American reality. We hope you will become a part of the BATT-PAC effort. We are at your service.

Respectfully,

Dot Smith

Secretary-Treasurer

CC: Rep. Cynthia McKinney

U.S. Senator Zell Miller

U.S. Senator Max Clelland

Secretary of State Cathy Cox