#TalkRadio – October 22: I’ll Rise And Vote Episode 5: Early Voting, 100% Justice for Ahmaud Arbery, and TJC Voter Activations in Savannah, Brunswick, Pittsburgh, and Pennsylvania

SPEAKERS:

Philadelphia City Commissioners’ Chairman, Omar Sabir
Chairman City Commissioner of the County of Philadelphia; Founder of “Vote Philly Vote”; and, Former senior staffer in the Office of Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes

Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Esq.
As Commissioner of Harris County Precinct One, Ellis has played a critical role on the Court by securing misdemeanor bail reform, flood equity guidelines, stronger worker protections and economic opportunity provisions, funding for indigent defense and COVID-19 recovery funding, including direct relief for residents, small businesses, emergency rental assistance, shelters for those experiencing homelessness, as well as other innovative programs, including providing computers to low-income students, among other achievements. Before serving as a County Commissioner, Ellis was elected to Houston City Council and served three terms before being elected to the Texas Senate in 1990. For 26 years, he represented Texas’ 13th state senate district and he passed over 700 pieces of legislation. On November 8, 2016, Ellis was elected county commissioner and sworn into office on January 1, 2017. As County Commissioner, Ellis prioritizes inclusive economic growth that uplifts low income communities, ensures access to parks and green-space in under-served neighborhoods, advances criminal justice reform that protects the rights of all people, and provides safe, affordable transportation options. Following Hurricane Harvey, Ellis successfully advocated for equitable investment in flood control infrastructure and disaster recovery in vulnerable communities through a $2.5B bond approved by voters in 2018. He is an avid art collector and cycling enthusiast. Commissioner Ellis is married to Licia Green-Ellis and has four children.

Gerald Griggs, Esq.
Civil Rights Attorney, President, Georgia State NAACP,  Georgia Based Activists

INTRODUCTION:

Hi Igniters For Change! The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, October 22nd, 2024, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled “I’ll Rise And Vote Episode 5: Early Voting, 100% Justice for Ahmaud Arbery, and TJC Voter Activations in Savannah, Brunswick, Pittsburgh, and Pennsylvania”, will be live with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. and will feature special guests Commissioner Omar Sabir; Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Esq.; and, Gerald Griggs, Esq.  “Weeks before Election Day this year, the vast majority of voters across the country are going to be able to cast their votes early in person or by mail in most states. The map [linked here: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/map-early-voting-mail-ballot-states/] has more information about early voting options. Alabama became the first state to begin sending its mail votes on Sept. 11. It’s one of 10 states that will begin sending mail ballots to voters more than 45 days before Election Day. Minnesota, South Dakota and Virginia began early voting on Sept. 20. Military and overseas ballots must be sent 45 days before Election Day, so they’ll be mailed on Sept. 21. Each state determines its own voter registration deadlines…The first days of early voting in Georgia shattered records, state election official Gabriel Sterling said on X [Twitter]…Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia offer early voting options to all voters…Three states do not offer early voting and require an eligible reason to vote by mail, which means not everyone in these states has an option to vote on any day but Election Day.” (Source: “Map shows which states offer early voting and mail-in ballots for the 2024 election”

Updated on: October 17, 2024 / 9:28 AM EDT / CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com/news/map-early-voting-mail-ballot-states/)

“Millions of Americans have already cast their ballots in the 2024 election, although the results of early voting only offer a peek into how candidates are performing in what’s expected to be one of the closest elections in history…Preliminary polling has shown that Vice President Kamala Harris is well ahead of former President Donald Trump among voters who turned out early, but the lead is hardly indicative of who is ahead overall. Democratic voters are typically more in favor of early voting than Republicans, and Trump has repeatedly claimed, without merit, that mail-in voting options invite the chance for election fraud. But this fall, Trump and the GOP switched course, encouraging voters to turn in a ballot in any way they can, although Trump has still described early voting as ‘stupid stuff.’…Two key swing states—Georgia and North Carolina—saw a record turnout on their first day of early voting this election cycle. Over 310,000 votes were cast in the Peach State on Tuesday, and by Friday, over 1 million voters had sent in their decision either in person or by mail. In North Carolina, election officials said more than 353,000 ballots were cast on the first day of early voting on Thursday.

Some states—Alabama, Mississippi and New Hampshire—don’t offer any form of early voting unless a voter has an excuse, such as military deployment. In places like North Dakota and Pennsylvania, early voting is set up by county officials, not at the state level…According to NBC News, which uses the firm TargetSmart to collect voter data, nearly 14.5 million people have cast a mail-in or in-person ballot in the 2024 election as of Monday. Of those voters, 46 percent are Democrats, while 29 percent are registered Republicans. A quarter of early voters are not affiliated with either major party. Nearly an equal amount of registered Democrats and Republicans have voted early in several key battleground states. In Georgia, 49 percent of all early votes have come from Republicans, while 46 percent have come from Democrats. The gap was similar in Nevada (40 percent Democrat, 35 percent Republicans) and North Carolina (36 percent Democrat, 33 percent Republican) as of Monday. In Arizona, registered Republican voters are slightly outperforming Democrats, 44 percent to 35 percent. Democrats are well ahead in Pennsylvania (67 percent to 27 percent), Minnesota (54 percent to 36 percent) and Wisconsin (40 percent to 19 percent)…How Does This Year Compare to 2020? The 2020 presidential election, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saw a record number of early voters, and Democrats turned out in much higher numbers than their Republican counterparts…By November 1, 2020, 93 million ballots had been cast, according to McDonald. The 2020 election went on to experience the largest increase in voting between presidential elections in U.S. history, with 17 million more people casting a ballot than in 2016.”(Read more and see the source: “What Early Voting Polls Say About the 2024 Election”, Published Oct 21, 2024, Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/2024-presidential-election-early-voting-harris-trump-1972555)

TJC will be joining Black Voters Matters in Pittsburgh on October 28th for a GOTV Block Party.

Saturday, October 26th & Sunday, October 27th  is the Savannah, Georgia “I’ll Rise And Vote” Voter Activations- Go Vote with the Transformative Justice Coalition, Black Voters Matter, League of Women Voters US, and the Hip Hop Caucus! On Saturday, October 26th, join TJC and partners at Savannah State University for a Homecoming Parade, Community Grillouts, Music, & Rides To The Polls. The Parade starts at 9:00 AM and the Community Grill outs and Rides to the Polls begin at 2:00 PM. On Saturday, October 27th, join TJC and partners for a day of Souls To The Polls and Votercade Of Churches and Early Voting from 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM. 

On Thursday October 24th & Friday October 25th 2024, Plan to Join TJC as We Demand Justice for Ahmaud Arbery. His Killers are appealing their hate crime convictions and We won’t stand for it!!

“The three men convicted of killing Ahmaud Arbery will be back in Glynn County Superior Court next week to argue that they deserve a new trial. All three filed motions for new trials in January 2022 within 30 days of being sentenced following their November 2021 convictions for killing Arbery in February 2020. More than two years later, they will be back in court for a hearing before Judge Timothy Walmsley at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The routine motions filed on behalf of Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan said that the defendants should be acquitted and discharged because the state did not prove guilt, among other claims. 

“Father and son Greg and Travis McMichael, both White men, are serving life sentences in state prison without the possibility of parole for chasing Arbery, a Black man, in a truck as he jogged through the Satilla Shores neighborhood in southern Glynn County on Feb. 23, 2020, which culminated in Travis McMichael pulling the trigger and fatally shooting the unarmed Arbery twice with a shotgun. Bryan is serving a life sentence in state prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years for following the McMichaels in his truck during the chase, at one point blocking Arbery’s progress, and filming the incident, a video that sparked national outrage and cries of racial injustice when it was released publicly. All three men were later convicted of federal hate crimes for interfering with Arbery’s rights to use a public street and kidnapping. For those convictions the McMichaels were sentenced to life in federal prison and Bryan to 35 years in federal prison.” (Source: “Convicted Arbery killers to argue motions for new trial” By MICHAEL HALL, Oct 19, 2024, The Brunswick News, https://thebrunswicknews.com/news/local_news/convicted-arbery-killers-to-argue-motions-for-new-trial/article_7a384ca6-8d4f-11ef-a91a-7fcb864a6037.html)

Igniting Change will also allow guests to give their media scorecards on the new weekly segment called “Election 2024 and Race Media Report Card”. Over the years, Igniting Change has pointed out the many failures and misadventures of the U.S. media’s coverage of racial issues. This journalistic incompetence reaches a new high during political contests, especially during presidential elections. From misguided headlines which thoughtlessly give credence to racial attacks, to the lack of fact checking, and the treatment of racial slurs, tropes, and stereotypes as fair commentary, this period has reeked of abysmal journalism. We will discuss some of these matters and what is necessary to be done to make the overall media more competent. 

QUESTIONS:

• [Daryl and Barbara will give their sympathies and regards to everyone suffering from the impact of Hurricane Helene; our thanks to all the FEMA workers and volunteers who have been assisting families with needs; and, we call on political candidates to stop spreading lies about what help is available. Learn how to help and get help here: https://www.usa.gov/hurricane-helene. Hurricane Milton is coming, and we are praying for everyone in its path.]
• [During the show, as guests are calling in at various times, Barbara and Daryl will discuss Early Voting, 100% Justice for Ahmaud Arbery, and TJC and Partners’ “I’ll Rise And Vote” Voter Activations in Savannah, Brunswick, Pittsburgh, and Pennsylvania- How can our listeners get involved?]
• President Trump  at a rally in Pennsylvania last month stated, and I quote, “We got to get out and vote, And you can start right away. You know that, right? Now we have this stupid stuff where you can vote 45 days early. I wonder what the hell happens during that 45.” End Quote.  The Center for Election Innovation and Research noted that in 2000, just 40% of voters had access to early voting, either in person or by mail. Now, 97% have at least one option to vote before Election Day. Why do we have early voting? Why is it important?
• This election season is different than all others. Can you tell us what you find the most unique about this early voting season?
• At this point in the election, According to NBC News, which uses the firm TargetSmart to collect voter data, nearly 14.5 million people have cast a mail-in or in-person ballot in the 2024 election as of Monday, October 21st. Please describe what the voting patterns have been in your state.
• What demographics have been voting early?
• So far, what have been some of the voting rights challenges that you have seen during this election cycle?
• What are some of the do’s and don’ts that voters who are voting by mail and voting early need to know? How can people be best prepared?
• In your state, if their ballot is rejected, do they get notified? What can they do? How can voters look up the status of their ballot?
• How can our listeners get involved? How can people in our audience help to mobilize voters to go to the polls? What can people do?- because ultimately, polls don’t vote; people vote! How can we make sure that all those who are eligible to vote are voting?

“Election 2024 and Race Media Report Card”

• How has the media been covering this issue?
• How would you rate the media’s coverage of this issue?
• For the past week, what grade would you give from A – F of the media’s coverage of the racial aspects of the 2024 election? 
• Why did you give this grade?
• What are your one-minute final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?
• (Barbara will remind listeners to double check their voter registration as many voters have been purged from voter rolls)