Civil Rights leader Rev. William Barber II testifies against voter ID law

Civil Rights leader the Rev. William Barber II took the stand in a Winston-Salem federal courtroom Friday to denounce the process that led to the state’s voter ID law.

Much of last week’s testimony from the plaintiff’s witnesses focused on changes — and attempted changes — to the state voting law since Republicans took control of the legislature in 2011.

Barber echoed concerns that measures including the photo ID requirement are targeted to weaken minority voting. 

With a tone calmer than the rhetoric he’s known for from political rallies, Barber denounced the legislature for placing a photo ID referendum on the ballot in 2018 even though their first attempt was found to be unconstitutional.

In an interview outside the courthouse, Barber vowed to continue to fight for expanding access to voting.

“It is disheartening," he says. "But it’s not the kind of disheartening that you go somewhere ‘I give up and quit.’ No. What they’re doing, in the words of Frederick Douglass, only intensifies and emboldens our agitation.”

Defense attorneys did not cross-examine Barber.

Earlier in the week, defense attorneys pointed out the range of photo identification allowed and the exceptions for voters who can’t get one.