As Alabamans head to the polls to vote for their next senator on Tuesday, many on social media are pressuring voters “to be on the right side of history.”
https://twitter.com/TwitterMoments/status/940585891361411072
Democrat nominee Doug Jones is running against Republican nominee Roy Moore for the seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Session. Leading up to the election, it seemed like Moore would have the election on lock, just like his predecessors did in a state has solidly voted Republican for the last two decades.
However, in November, the Washington Post published a report in which multiple women said Moore sexually assaulted them when they were underage. The allegations caused a massive divide in the Republican Party, as GOP politicians had to choose to publically continue to support Moore or denounce the former judge; President Donald J. Trump eventually endorsed him. Even 60 Alabama pastors signed a letter saying Moore was unfit to be a senator.
Even if Moore wins, the victory is neither sweet nor without complications. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) wrote a letter calling on Congress to implement protections for interns should Moore win.
In response to concerns over the significant threat #RoyMoore poses to young people participating in the US Senate Page Program, I wrote a letter to @SenateSAA to determine what preventative steps are being taken to protect Pages from predatory conduct. https://t.co/Jun5xsrMy7
— Rep. Gwen Moore (@RepGwenMoore) December 11, 2017
Meanwhile, others on social media are calling on voters to remember great historical feats in Alabama that gave people more rights and protections, not made them feel less safe: like the creation of the Voting Rights Act, the Montgomery bus riots, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s walk in Selma. Director Ava DuVernay, Channing Tatum, and many other media personalities and activists are are highlighting past wins while calling attention to the detrimental effects Moore’s policies would have on the state.
https://twitter.com/ava/status/940608013013884928
Alabamians – please get out and vote this Tuesday Dec 12th in the special Senate election for #DougJones. Watch & share this video w/ local Alabamians & legendary civil rights leader @RepJohnLewis: https://t.co/t3zhv8r7zr #RightSideOfHistory
— Channing Tatum (@channingtatum) December 11, 2017
Alabamians – please get out and vote this Today Dec 12th in the special Senate election for #DougJones. Alabama stand up for justice. Pls be a leader in our country Today: https://t.co/ZEoeGehAVi… #RightSideOfHistory
— Danielle Brooks (@thedanieb) December 12, 2017
Dear Alabama,
— Jeffrey Wright 🥜 (@jfreewright) December 12, 2017
Please vote for the candidate whose surrogates don't have to defend him by describing a visit to a brothel trafficking girls. Vote for the candidate who prosecuted the killing of girls. Vote Doug Jones!
Find your polling station here: https://t.co/jFALAFo6vM https://t.co/r5B8W8KOhV
https://twitter.com/politvidchannel/status/940623474111811584
Dear Alabama,
— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) December 12, 2017
Roy Moore said getting rid of all the Amendments after the 10th would "eliminate many problems."
The 15th gave the right to vote to African Americans.
The 19th gave the right to vote to women.
Today, vote against the man who would take away your right to do so.
https://twitter.com/ErickaAndersen/status/940547849229684739
Dear Alabama, just know that tomorrow's vote is not between a Democrat or Republican. It's between a guy with a proven track record of public service on the right side of history, and someone who is a bully, predator and a grand-standing religious extremist. #ALSen #DougJonesAL
— Asha Dahya (She/Her) (@Ashadahya) December 12, 2017
Dear Alabama,
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) December 12, 2017
Plan to vote for Roy Moore? Here’s 3 reasons it could hurt you financially:
1. 183K Alabamians will lose healthcare
2. Make under $75K? Moore/GOP will shift tax burden from billionaires/corporations to you
3. Businesses could go elsewhere to avoid controversy
Dear Alabama,
— Peter Morley (@morethanmySLE) December 12, 2017
I am a #cancer survivor & live w/#Lupus #DougJones is a healthcare advocate:
💪 #ACA
💪 #CHIP
💪 #WomensHealth
Please #VoteDougJones for my health & yours!#RightSideOfHistory pic.twitter.com/RKmeXSqJzT
On the opposite, far-right end of the spectrum, some users rallied against the allegations against Moore, calling them fake and encouraging voters to not fall for “media hysteria.”
https://twitter.com/Tarleton_exe/status/940634198670565376
Dear Alabama: If you think lesbians holding hands on a Starbucks coffee cup is America's worst problem right now, then definitely vote for Roy Moore. #ALSen
— Marie Connor (@thistallawkgirl) December 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/thebradfordfile/status/940583390847356928
The New York Times reports that the race between Jones and Moore is close with neither holding a clear lead as voters line up at polling stations, which close at 8p.m.