REV. DALE B. SNYDER SR. of Bethel AME Church, in the Hill District, says “don’t be caught sleeping at the bottom of the boat;” urges everyone to vote on November 5. (Photo by J.L. Martello)
More than 30 organizations metaphorically held hands and announced collectively that they’re “stronger together,” and with that in mind, they’re coming together to make sure everyone who is of age to vote in the Pittsburgh region will indeed vote on November 5.
The organizations, such as the Black Political Empowerment Project, League of Women Voters, Voter Empowerment, Education & Enrichment Movement, John Lewis Transformative Justice Coalition, Just Harvest and others, said they would be having voter education “blitzes,” and we’re not talking about the Steelers defense here.
These organizations are headed to Homewood, to the Hill, the North Side, West End, even the Pittsburgh International Airport, as the big day, Election Day, is now less than 50 days away.
Pastor Dale B. Snyder of Bethel AME Church, in the Hill District, said the African Methodist Episcopal Church, in general, has been doing voter engagement “since 1787. We started with the Free African Society.”
MIN. TERRI GRIFFIN
LORRAINE CROSS
The Free African Society was founded in Philadelphia by Richard Allen and Absalom Jones. Allen later started the African Methodist Church, in Philadelphia.
“Our 38 churches surrounding Allegheny County all the way up to Erie have been doing phone banking (in their Get Out The Vote campaign),” Rev. Snyder said during the collective organizations’ news conference, Sept. 16, in the Hill District. “If you get a call from our phone bankers, be gentile, be nice, they’re just trying to make sure that you’re registered, if you need voter ID or if you need a ride to the polls.”
Reverend Snyder added: “There’s a storm going on, don’t be in your house sleeping while voting is taking place…it’s a big storm raging on the ocean, and I’m encouraging you to exercise your right to vote. Don’t be caught sleeping at the bottom of the boat.”
The U.S. is less than 50 days away from making history by electing the first Black woman president, Kamala Harris, or having the second person to serve as president for two non-consecutive terms, in Donald Trump. The first and only person to pull off the feat was Grover Cleveland, who was U.S. president from 1885-1889, and 1893-1897.
Since Pennsylvania is an important swing state in this year’s election, it’s being courted by the two presidential candidates harder than Barack courted Michelle.
But who will get Pennsylvania’s “ring?” Pennsylvania will say “I do” to whom? Kamala or The Donald?
The collective organizations stressed that they are non-partisan, and they are not to endorse or sway people to vote for a particular candidate—only that it is important to just vote.
TIM STEVENS
TIM STEVENS, WITH THE B-PEP SIGNS…
“Issues of climate change, the attack on women that we thought we resolved 50 years ago, in terms of what women must do, what they feel they need to do, and how they choose to raise their families and to create families,” is what B-PEP Chairman and CEO Tim Stevens said were just some of the issues voters must think long and hard about when they go to the polls to choose their candidate.
B-PEP, as per usual, is planning to have its voter empowerment signs all throughout the city.
“None of us standing here has seen a moment that is more important than the one coming up on November 5,” Stevens said on Sept. 16. “If you want your right to vote, which some people have attempted to deny Black and brown and young people and others…if you want to decide what presidential candidate, what senate candidate, what congressional candidate…what we ask is for people to vote their interests. We’re not going to tell you who to vote for, but we’re going to ask you to look at what you need in your life, your family’s life, your community’s life…who is going to meet our needs, aspirations and concerns. And don’t let anyone tell you your vote does not count.”
YVONNE RAINEY
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