Friday, April 22, was a red-letter day for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

That’s when Gov. Terry McAuliffe removed the rusty shackles of discrimination from more than 200,000 men and women in Virginia, restoring their constitutional right to vote.

At some point during their lives, these men and women had broken the law and been found guilty of committing a felony. But they have since completed their sentences and finished all supervised probation and parole. 

Yet, while living, working and paying taxes alongside others in their return to society, they continued to be punished by not being able to fully participate in the democratic process. They could not vote, could not serve on a jury or run for and hold elective office. The penalty for their crimes amounted in many cases to a lifetime ban on voting. Their branding as felons continued.

It is important for Free Press readers to understand that this disenfranchisement was not by accident. We have only to look at the racist history of this state and the writings left by many of its evildoers to realize that Virginia’s abrasive laws were designed to keep African-Americans in subjugation while retaining power for white people who have been in control of the government since Virginia was a colony.

 “This plan, will eliminate the darkey as a political factor in this state in less than five years, so that in no single county will there be the least concern felt for the complete supremacy of the white race in the affairs of government,” said Carter Glass, a Lynchburg newspaperman and politician who had a major impact in the adoption of poll tax and literacy test requirements in the state’s Constitution in 1902.

Almost immediately, the number of African-Americans able to vote in Virginia plummeted at the time from 147,000 to 21,000.

Until Gov. McAuliffe acted, an estimated one in five African-Americans in Virginia were unable to vote because of felony convictions. That’s 20 percent of the state’s black population.

While it took a federal act in 1965 to eliminate the poll tax, no Virginia governor, legislature or politician has had the will to abolish this remaining vestige of discrimination until last week, when Gov. McAuliffe did it by executive order.

We applaud this gutsy governor who showed he isn’t afraid to stand up for what’s morally and legally right, knowing that elements of evil lurking in the Commonwealth would howl.

As if on cue, state Republican leaders have accused Gov. McAuliffe of political shenanigans and demanded that he call a special session of the state legislature. They also insist he provide to them a detailed accounting of each of the 206,000 people whose rights were restored. 

We hope Gov. McAuliffe laughed like we did.

It is clear the state Constitution gives the governor broad clemency powers, including the discretion to “remove political disabilities” when it comes to people with felony convictions. The governor also can reduce or eliminate fines and penalties, issue pardons and reprieves in criminal cases and commute sentences, all of which require him to report the particulars of the cases to the General Assembly.

But Gov. McAuliffe shrewdly did none of those things. He didn’t alter, eliminate, waive or change fines and penalties that felons may still owe. He did not pardon or commute anyone’s sentence.

What he did was to remove “political disabilities,” which requires no reporting or accounting to the legislature.

He stands on the pillars of truth and right — along with an authority to take this incredible step to reduce oppression and promote democracy that likely will withstand any court challenge.

Only three other states have laws like Virginia’s that amount to a lifetime ban on voting rights for felons. More than 30 states have automatic rights restoration for felons who complete their sentences.

We urge those who believe in the fairness of what Gov. McAuliffe has done to publicly stand with him.

And we urge people of conscience, who see the rantings of the Republican challengers as part of the hateful continuum that seeks to hold us back in Virginia, to withhold any campaign contributions and votes that would help return those people to office in 2017.

It’s about time Virginia stood up for what’s right.

And those for whom the fundamental right of democracy has been restored, we say: Don’t hesitate. Register now and exercise your right to vote.

There’s a primary election June 14, and a presidential election Nov. 8. Your vote and your voice are important.

Gov. McAuliffe, thank you for truly believing in democracy.