Power of the Sister Vote National Voter Crusade Launches As Polls Open in Georgia

Pin It

Atlanta, GA – As early voting started in Georgia Monday Oct. 17, civil and women’s rights organizations launched an aggressive four week long get-out-the-vote mobilization initiative urging women to vote early or on Nov. 8, 2016. Black women leaders from across the state of Georgia have joined together to organize the first stop of the Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) National Power of the Sister Vote ‘STATE OF EMERGENCY’ Voter Crusade.

“Black women will play a major role in the outcome of this election,” said Helen Butler, executive director, Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda (GCPA ) and convener, GA BWR . “In 2012, black women voted at a higher rate than any other group. In Georgia, Black women are the largest voting block in over 125 cities so it makes sense that the Power of the Sister Vote National Crusade starts here.”

The Georgia Coalition for the Peoples’ Agenda and Georgia Stand-Up are among the groups partnering with the Black Women’s Roundtable, the women and girls arm of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation. The coalition’s stop in Georgia will include daily phone banking, debate watch party and discussion, an issue forum, and door-to-door canvassing in Atlanta metro communities.

Black Youth Vote! will coordinate an HBCU event, Sisters Can We Talk Politics Session, on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Atlanta University Center featuring Love and Hip Hop’s, Yandy Smith, and Tamika Mallory of the Justice League NYC among the speakers.

On Thursday, October 20, 6-9 PM, an intergenerational and diverse group of women’s organizations from across Georgia will gather at The King Center on Auburn Avenue for a major Power of the Sister Vote Forum and Rally. The event is open to the public with a special appeal to millennial women led by popular youth activist, Mary Pat Hector.

“My generation is really concerned about issues that impact us directly like student debt and issues that impact the broader community including criminal justice reform and economic justice,” says Hector, director, Youth Move, National Action Network and a campus leader at Spelman College. “We know the importance of this election and we expect a strong voter turnout from the women of Spelman College and the Atlanta University Center overall.”

Deborah Scott, executive director, Georgia Stand-Up, comments, “It is imperative that Black Women stand together and vote for our daughters, our granddaughters and all the sisters who fought, struggled, organized and died for the right to vote. We are sounding the alarm, the bell is ringing and we will Stand-Up and Vote! We will Stand-Up and Vote in honor of our Sisters, Ella Baker, Fannie Lou Hamer and Rosa Parks!”

The Georgia stop of the voter crusade will culminate this weekend with a massive neighborhood canvass in the Metro Atlanta area encouraging women to get their families to the polls. According to Butler, their goal is to make at least 40,000 voter contacts in the final four weeks of the election.

“Black women are a powerful force when it comes to getting our families and friends out to vote and we are the ‘secret sauce’ to who gets elected to the White House, Congress, state and local elections” said, Melanie L. Campbell, national convener, Black Women’s Roundtable. “The Census confirms that Black women have been the most consistent voting bloc as a demographic since 2006. In both 2008 and 2012, Black women redefined voting history by becoming the largest demographic group to cast ballots in an election. We want to make sure Black women continue to make history with turnout.“

“When Black women show up great things happen. We are a force for change and we must exercise our power,” adds Georgia Coalition of Black Women founder, Rita Jackson Samuels .

For more information, contact GCPA at (404) 653-1199.

8-11 PM
Presidential Debate Watch Party
Co-Hosted By Spelman College Student Government Association, NAN Youth Move
Location: Spelman College
Lower Manley Student Center
Feat. Yandy Smith, Love & Hip Hop and Tamika Mallory, Justice League NY

Thursday, October 20
Power of the Sister Vote Forum* & GOTV Rally
6 PM – 9 PM
The King Center
440 Auburn Avenue, NE
Atlanta, GA 30312

Saturday, October 22
Power of the Sister Vote Canvass Day***
10 am – 2 pm
Various Communities Across GA

Sunday, October 23
Protect Our Vote Sunday*
Green Pastures Christian Ministries
Apostle Collette L. Gunby, Senior Pastor
5455 Flat Shoals Parkway
Decatur, GA 30034

Pin It