“Voting Rights: The Struggle to Be Counted 1619-2014” is a 36-minute film documentary, written and produced by Phil Portlockandnarrated by his wife Pat Sloan. Through words, music, and vivid images, he tells the story of the historic, courageous and often brutal struggle by African Americans to obtain the unrestricted right to vote. Phil’s film begins with a moving pictorial tribute to Rep. John “Good Trouble” Lewis.
"Film is a response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 25, 2013, 5-4 decision in the Shelby vs Holder Voting Right case which struck down Sections 4-5 of the historic 1965 Voting Rights Act which has led to the enactment of voter suppression laws that deny millions of our citizens of color the right to vote to this very day.
"Frederick Douglass, the great abolitionist, orator, and newspaper publisher once said, “slavery is not abolished until the black man has the right to vote”. THIS IS THE CORNERSTONE OF EQUALITY.
"This is a story that all Americans need to know, but especially African Americans who continue to have their vote suppressed and denied by enemies of justice who view voting as a privilege for a few, and not a right for ALL. REMEMBER, A VOTELESS PEOPLE IS A VOICELESS PEOPLE!"