Contrary to much of the negativity being spread by some traditional media sources, and blather from black Republican tokens, black American Democrats continue our relentless pursuit of the ballot box, with efforts to turn out our voters across the nation. Souls to the Polls operations are still underway: from Minnesota, to Ohio and Illinois, to Georgia, North Carolina, Florida and more.
NPR: After Sunday Service, Georgia Churches Get Souls To The Polls
The Piney Grove church is in an area that is 55 percent African-American and therefore one part of Georgia that could help Nunn win the Senate seat this November. That’s if people turn out to vote.
Former first lady Rosalynn Carter joined the congregation yesterday to help rally churchgoers to the polls and work to “help make Martin Luther King’s dream become a reality in our state.” “We can do it, if we all work together, if we all go to vote, if we can be sure that all of our friends and relatives and neighbors go to vote, and vote early,” Carter said.
Sunday voting caused some controversy in Georgia. Republicans grumbled about it giving Democrats a boost. But Flippin says it’s only fair that black voters get a chance on Sundays to mobilize. “Many of our people still do not have professional jobs that they can take off or go into work late. You know, most corporations – they allow you to come late or come early on Election Day. Well, if you’re working in a factory or job like that, they can’t take off,” says Flippin. Piney Grove worshippers loaded up on two church buses and, with a caravan of cars following, drove to the voter registration and elections office in Decatur to vote.
The spiritual home of Daddy King, and MLK Jr. continues to mobilize with “SOULS TO THE POLLS!”- Ebenezer Votes!
In keeping with its tradition of activism, Ebenezer will do its part to ensure that every person takes advantage of their right to vote.
Ohio: 10 churches plan ‘souls to the polls’. Ministers offer vans to get out early vote
The Rev. Cedric Brock, president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, along with top officials from the NAACP and the Toledo United Labor Council, announced that 10 churches will carry “souls to the polls” on Sunday, which is the only Sunday allocated for early voting this year. Mr. Brock, pastor of Mt. Nebo Church, said the mission is totally nonpartisan. “As pastors, we don’t tell anyone how to vote,” Mr. Brock said. He said anyone seeking to campaign won’t be allowed to do so on the bus or distribute literature on the bus.
But the effort to turn out the central city vote will clearly benefit Democratic candidates and levies on the ballots, as African-American voters vote overwhelmingly in favor of both of those. Also on Friday, Nina Turner, the Democratic Secretary of State candidate, held a news conference at the Lucas County Early Vote Center, 1946 N. 13th St., to promote early voting. And later that day, the Toledo branch of the NAACP held its Freedom Fund dinner. State Rep. Alicia Reece (D., Cincinnati,), president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, spoke about what’s known as the Voter Bill of Rights movement aimed at protecting voting rights by amending the state constitution. They also highlighted the importance of getting out to vote.
Mr. Brock said many churchgoers in the black community do not have cars. He said that’s why black churches have vans. His church has four vans. “We bring them to church in the vans,” he said. “Many of our citizens ride TARTA buses.”
Maryland: NAACP hosts Early Voting ‘Souls to the Polls’ march
Leonardtown, MD — It was a first for what the organizers hope will be a regular event every two years. On Sunday the St. Mary’s County Branch of the NAACP held a “Souls to the Polls” event at Miedzinski Park on the Governmental Center grounds in Leonardtown. After food and socializing, some electioneering by candidates, a call to action by NAACP Vice President Janice Walthour and prayers from the ministers in attendance, the crowd marched over to the Early Polling place to cast their vote.
Among the attendees was a bipartisan group of candidates, including Democrats John Bohanan, Roy Dyson, John Alonzo Gaskin, Shane Mattingly, Francis “Jack” Russell and Len Zuza and Republicans Christy Kelly and Deb Rey. “I know you are here because you know the significance of voting,” Walthour said, noting the nationwide attempts to restrict the early voting gains made in many states, including Maryland.
“We believe there is power to the people,” Walthour declared, citing the organizations long-standing educational efforts on the importance of elections and advocacy of the effects of elections on the minority community. She called the rally and march the first step in the process.
The Obama Diary “Souls to the Polls” post is chock full of tweets and graphics. #SoulsToThePolls
Florida: Sunday events draw young black voters to the polls
This event, with food trucks, high-energy gospel music, and 10 buses lined up to take voters to the polls, was aimed at blacks ages 18-35 to instill a new tradition of early voting in off-year elections, said McRae, who estimates that 2,000 young black people at the event and in his church have voted early this year.
At the same time as McRae’s event, members of the Central Florida Urban League Young Professionals were making voting early a social event. About a dozen of them met at the Hiawassee Public Library, voted and then went out to dinner together. The organization, which caters to college-educated blacks under the age of 50, started in 2006, but this was the first time they had held an early-voting event. Voting early means nothing can happen on Election Day to prevent you from voting, said Lashae Reaves, president of the group. “As young professionals, life is busy. You can’t always get to the polls on Election Day,” said Reaves, 30, who works in financial services.
Florida:Clinton To Lead “Souls To The Polls” For Graham
Former President Bill Clinton will appear Sunday at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee to lead a “souls to the polls” rally for Democrat Gwen Graham.
Graham is challenging two-term Republican Congressman Steve Southerland in a 14-county North Florida district that includes areas such as Tallahassee and Panama City. Southerland, who is from Panama City, is expected to do well in the conservative western part of the district, while Graham hopes to roll up big vote totals in the east, especially in her home county of Leon, which is a Democratic stronghold.
The Clinton visit to historically black Florida A&M also will come as Democrats try to boost turnout among African-American voters. Clinton has been campaigning for Democratic candidates this year — and is in demand where President Barack Obama is not. In the past week, Clinton has been to Arkansas, New Hampshire and Louisiana; in the coming week, he’ll be in Michigan and Kentucky.
North Carolina: ‘Souls to the Polls’ event Sunday for early voting
DURHAM –
Local clergy and community members have organized a “Souls to the Polls” event Sunday in Durham, the only Sunday during the shortened early voting period this year. Election Day is Nov. 4. “Souls to the Polls” is the term used in previous years when church groups went to vote together on Sundays. The N.C. General Assembly passed legislation that changed the early voting time frame, which is today through Nov. 1 this year.
Illinois :
Community members rally to get out the vote and to vote “YES” on the Illinois Minimum Wage Increase ballot question. This program was recorded by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).
A must read from Nia-Malika Henderson in WaPo: Five myths about black voters
Myth No. 1: Black voters vote for candidates because they are black
Myth No. 2: Black leaders know what black voters think
Myth No. 3: Candidates who distance themselves from Obama risk losing black voters
Myth No. 4: There is a huge, ginormous, midterm drop-off among black voters
Myth No. 5: Blacks could support Republicans because they are socially conservative
These are her main points. I don’t want to copy too much of it, so give it a click.
It isn’t just black people fighting back for the right to vote. In Georgia, Moral Monday Georgia, New Georgia Project, and the NAACP have formed a multicultural coalition and are continuing to fight back.
Eight activists arrested during ‘voter suppression’ protest at the Gold Dome
With eight days left until Election Day, voting rights activists remain concerned over the status of tens of thousands of unprocessed voter registration applications that could affect Georgia’s gubernatorial and U.S. Senate races. The fate of those applications, which were submitted by New Georgia Project, are now in a judge’s hands as the nonprofit awaits a decision.
Instead of waiting for the court’s decision, dozens of activists this afternoon took their fight to Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s office. Approximately 10 people, who were delivering a letter from Moral Monday Georgia to the secretary of state’s office regarding the voter registration applications, staged a sit-in protest inside his office that led to eight arrests.
We will fight for the right to vote, and keep getting souls to the polls.
Cross-posted from Black Kos
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