FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2020
Contact: Alaina Berner
ON NATIONAL VOTE EARLY DAY, NAACP AND PARTNERS HOST STAR-STUDDED “BLACK THE VOTE, OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT” HOMECOMING CELEBRATION
With Less Than 15 Days Until Election Day, Star-Studded Virtual Event Will Encourage Black Voter Turnout on Election Day and Include “Non-Contact” Community Canvassing to Mobilize Black Voters
BALTIMORE – The NAACP and National Vote Early Day, the Collective Education Fund’s Vote to Live Campaign, Divine 9, Push Black, and Woke Vote announced today the Black the Vote, Our Lives Depend On It Homecoming GOTV Kick-Off event will take place on National Vote Early Day, October 24, 2020.
The star-studded event is hosted by actor Terrence Jenkins, better known as Terrence J, and includes speeches and performances from celebrities, politicians, and activists in the Black community. This event is part of the NAACP’s “Black Voices Change Lives” campaign to encourage Black voter turnout in the November election.
“There is nothing more impactful than when a community can come together around a common cause, especially at a critical time to harness the power of our collective voices to achieve the change our country desperately needs. That is what the Homecoming is all about, and that is what voting is all about,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson. “We are proud to stand with some of the most influential voices in the Black community during this time to mobilize our communities and urge people to have a plan to vote early or be ready to vote on Election Day. It is the only way we can achieve meaningful change.”
“This election has created a level of energy within the Black community that we have not seen since the historic election of President Barack Obama. However, a pandemic and other attempt at voter suppression means we have to do even more to turn out community out to vote, said NAACP Cleveland Branch President Danielle Sydnor. “I’m excited to lead in an organization that commits to activism even in the face of obstacles. The kick off of the GOTV program is just what we need to carry us through Election Day!”
“Homecoming is a tradition. It’s about people sharing important moments with people who have become family,” said Dejuana Thompson, Creator of Woke Vote. “Excited to join our NAACP family and other organizations for our own Homecoming as we share in the tradition of getting out the vote and celebrating our culture.”
“Voting this November is the most important thing we can do right now. As we’ve seen over the last few years, our lives depend on the policies enacted by local and federal governments,” said NAACP Civic Engagement Director Dominik Whitehead. “This Homecoming event is a bold statement that the Black community is aware of the power of our vote, and we are ready to use it to drive the much-needed change our communities deserve. We need to vote now, vote early, and vote often, because our lives depend on it.”
Notable guests for the “BLACK THE VOTE, OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT – HOMECOMING” event will include:
- Senator Elizabeth Warren
- DJ D-Nice
- Brandee Davis
- MAJOR
- Captain Kirk of The Roots
- Jekalyn Carr
- MC Lyte
- Mykal Kilgore
- The Walls Group
- Women’s National Basketball Players Association
- Mr and Miss FAMU
There will be performances by acclaimed artists including Tank and the Bangas. The event takes place in two parts with a rally and a tailgate. The rally kicks off the event from 12 pm – 2 pm ET and includes performances, community mobilization discussions, and celebrity messages. The tailgate from 3 pm – 7 pm ET includes no-contact canvassing events, socially distanced community engagement tailgates, and literature drops in Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, and North Carolina.
For the past three months, the NAACP has led the “Black Voices Change Lives” campaign to recruit and mobilize the black community to register to vote and turn out to the polls in November. The Homecoming event reinforces the months of mobilization and education initiatives encouraging volunteers to reach out to their neighbors and friends through calling, texting, or canvassing to provide information on the election. Volunteers can also opt to offer voter protection at voting sites or volunteer to be a legal captain. To volunteer for the campaign, click here.
The “BLACK THE VOTE, OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT – HOMECOMING” is available live on the NAACP’s YouTube page. For more information on the “Black Voices Change Lives” campaign, visit the website.
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About NAACP
Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons.
In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP.
NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization, and shares our commitment to equal rights.
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