Restoring Your Rights

This episode of Southern Gumption details the fight to restore voting rights for formerly incarcerated individuals across the South. We are joined by Sheba Williams of No Left Turns and Kristie Puckett of Forward Justice to unpack the systemic racism embedded in felony disenfranchisement and its enduring impact on Black communities. The conversation explores legal battles like Forward Justice’s 2022 lawsuit, which temporarily restored voting rights to over 55,000 North Carolinians, and highlights the challenges of navigating evolving laws and policies. Through personal stories, such as Sheba’s own journey to reclaiming her vote, this episode highlights the resilience of those fighting for justice and the transformative power of civic engagement in empowering communities.

Southern Gumption is hosted by Andy Li (he/him/they/them), presented by Southern Coalition for Social Justice, and produced by Earfluence.