Just as the rally to protest the state's voter ID Law that has been wending its way through the courts was about to get underway, Allentown NAACP executive Linda Renick got the word over her cellphone that Governor Tom Corbett had withdrawn the state's appeal of Pennsylvania's voter ID law.

This might have been the occasion for jubilation among the small group assembled - there were no regular citizens attending the May 8 rally on Payrow Plaza at the intersection of North New and East Church streets at Bethlehem City Hall. Pedestrian traffic was sparse and none stopped to hear what was going on. Motorcycles and buses occasionally drowned out the speaker's voices.

But Renick's news brought only smiles from rally leaders; no congratulatory hugs or hi-fives.

Expense cited

Buried in the news of a tactical victory was the strategic intent of the dovernor and the Republican Pennsylvania state legislature to rewrite the law to get around Commonwealth Court Judge Bernard L. McGinley's objections. McGinley issued an order Jan. 17, 2014, permanently blocking the controversial photo identification law; Corbett dropped the state's appeal of that decision citing the expense of continuing.

Reportedly, the governor said he would work with the legislature to develop a law that would survive legal challenges.

At the beginning of Pennsylvania's defense of PA's voter ID law (which proponents touted as necessary to prevent voter fraud) the state stipulated or admitted that it had no specific cases of voter fraud to bring before the court.

Casey pleased

At least one Democratic political leader was quick to support Corbett's decision.

U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) said, "I'm pleased that Governor Corbett has agreed to forego further appeals of the current Voter ID proposal. I called on Governor Corbett to drop his Administration's appeal because implementing this law would have prevented eligible Pennsylvanians from exercising their right to vote. Make no mistake, Voter ID cannot be retooled or tweaked in a way that would make it fair to those who would be denied access to the ballot. Voter ID is a scheme whose very premise is flawed."

Others quiet

National Republican leaders kept quiet about the decision.

Neither Rep. Charlie Dent's (R- PA) nor Senator Pat Toomey's (R-PA) website's had statements as of May 11 regarding Corbett's decision to drop the appeal the law.

The attendees were mostly from the Bethlehem Chapter of the NAACP led by Esther Lee and from the Allentown Chapter of the NAACP led by Dan Bosket with a few people from Lepoco (Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern) Peace Center and other supporters.

Walt Garvin, chair of the Northampton County Democratic Committee, also attended.

"Confusion discourages voters," said Nancy Tate of Lepoco. "Our country cries out for more justice and more access for all citizens in the election and governing process. We cannot abide the cynicism, distortions and chicanery that result when dollars and those who toss around millions have so much more power to determine the outcome of elections than do average people."

Gerrymandering

Tate also decried the gerrymandering that carves out political bases that effectively guarantee that incumbent politicians stay in office.

"Locally, we know all too well how voting districts are distorted by gerrymandering," she said.

For example, U. S. Representative Charlie Dent's (R-PA) 15th Congressional District stretches in long line along I-78 from Hersey near Harrisburg to the Delaware River south of Easton.

It's not just a Republican phenomenon. U. S. Representative Matthew Cartwright's (D-PA) 17th Congressional District runs from South Bethlehem north through the Poconos to Carbondale.

Greater justice

Tate also called for greater justice for African-Americans and other minorities who go to prison due to "criminalization traps" that disproportionately imprison minorities. She said the effect on voting rights is compounded by the fact that prisoners are counted by the census as being part of the communities where they serve time, "even though they cannot vote anywhere."

"We need justice that engages, informs, encourages, and expands voting rights and voter participation," said Tate.

Esther Lee, president of the Bethlehem Chapter of the NAACP and matriarch of the Civil Rights cause in the Lehigh Valley, spoke to the small group of partisans.

Lee urged support of U. S. Senate Bill 1945 and House Bill 3899 "to update and modernize the provisions in the 1965 Voting Rights Act which was struck down by the U. S. Supreme Court."

Also attending the short rally were NAACP Easton Chapter President Bonita Crowe, executive director of the Bethlehem YWCA Stephanie Hnatiw, Will Alexander, the exalted ruler of Bethel Lodge 1284 in South Bethlehem.

No political leaders attended, though Lee said Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez had planned to attend but was detained at a meeting.