With just over a month until Election Day, the Hip Hop Caucus plans a virtual tour with rallies in Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Virginia to mobilize voters.
Nationwide—Hip Hop Caucus, the political arm of Hip Hop, is taking its message to the streets between now and Election Day: “We will not let our Democracy die. The Hip Hop community will vote this November”.
The Hip Hop Caucus’ 2020 Respect My Vote! Campaign is the longest running, most successful Hip Hop voter mobilization campaign. This year’s campaign theme is “The Year of Truth,” and is focused on ensuring communities are able to vote amidst the COVID-19 crisis, formerly incarcerated people exercise their right to vote, and young people are inspired to vote on issues such as racial justice and climate justice.
“2020 is the year of truth. There has never been a more critical time than now for young Black, Indigenous and People of Color to vote,” said Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., the President and Founder of Hip Hop Caucus. “Our democracy only works if we all participate. The Hip Hop community holds great power in our cultural expression, and we must bring that force to the polls. We will not let our democracy die.”
In addition to addressing COVID-19 safety concerns, the campaign is equipping voters with response strategies to combat voter suppression and is helping voters request and return mail-in ballots. The campaign is also debunking the myth that people convicted of a felony permanently lose their right to vote by educating the public on voter laws by state.
The campaign is focused on mobilizing the vote in five key states: Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Virginia, and will make two stops in each location for its 2020 virtual tour and running an extensive digital engagement campaign. The digital engagement campaign includes a multi-platform strategy to reach voters in its target states, including digital ads targeting young millennial and Gen Z voters. The events on the virtual tour will include a lineup of speakers, artists and performers including Dr. Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated 5, who will address the issue of felony disenfranchisement and ensure formerly incarcerated persons are aware of and exercise their voting rights in this crucial election.
Salaam will ask voters to sign a Respect My Vote! petition to end felony disenfranchisement, calling for everyone with a record to be able to vote, and will direct people to the Respect My Vote! website where returning citizens can find out what their voting rights are in their state.
“Voting is not only the pillar of our democracy, but it is a symbol of our humanity. Allowing formerly incarcerated individuals the right to vote helps restore the humanity to those of us who were relegated to second class citizens through the criminal justice system,” said Dr. Yusef Salaam.
“This is Jim Crow’s lasting legacy at the ballot box,” continued Salaam. “We won’t let the system take our voices any longer. I am happy to work with the Hip Hop Caucus to bring awareness to disenfranchisement. It is time to eliminate such racially biased obstacles to voting once and for all.”
2020 Respect My Vote! National Tour: The Year of Truth Campaign Events and Dates:
National Tour: https://respectmyvote.com/2020-tour/
Florida
- Voter Registration State Virtual Rally :: Friday, October 1
- GOTV State Virtual Rally :: Wednesday, October 28
Georgia
- Voter Registration State Virtual Rally :: Thursday, October 2
- GOTV State Virtual Rally :: Thursday, October 22
Michigan
- Voter Registration State Virtual Rally :: Thursday, October 13
- GOTV State Virtual Rally :: Thursday, October 29
North Carolina
- Voter Registration State Virtual Rally :: Tuesday, October 6
- GOTV State Virtual Rally :: Tuesday, October 20
Virginia
- Voter Registration State Virtual Rally :: Thursday, October 8
- GOTV State Virtual Rally :: Tuesday, October 27
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About Hip Hop Caucus: Established in 2004, Hip Hop Caucus is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership and partnership network, Hip Hop Caucus addresses core issues impacting young people, underserved, and vulnerable communities. Hip Hop Caucus programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders. Learn more at HipHopCaucus.org and follow @hiphopcaucus on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
About the Respect My Vote! Campaign: Initially launched in 2008, the campaign received participation from influential voices in Hip Hop culture such as T.I., 2 Chainz, Keke Palmer, Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Simmons and Amber Rose amongst many others.
This campaign has focused on long-term goals such as establishing voting as part of young people’s civic lifestyle and motivating young people to be voices and activists for justice, equity, and sustainability. For more information about the Respect My Vote! campaign, to sign up to volunteer, and to get informed voting laws by state, please visit www.respectmyvote.com.
