Talk Radio – March 7: Moving for Justice

GUESTS

Ashley Shannon: 12:15 PM – 12:57 PM Eastern Time
2022 TJC-certified Voting Rights Advocate and third-year law student at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, where she is earning her J.D. with a focus in criminal law, civil rights and policy reform. Ashley serves as a Graduate Assistant for UIC Law’s Restorative Justice Project, a Student Senator for the UIC Academic Senate Committee, Chief of Staff for the Midwest Region of the National Black Law Students Association and Vice Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Civil Rights Committee.

Drake Smith: 12:15 PM – 12:57 PM Eastern Time
Transformative Justice Coalition-certified Voting Rights Advocate, Class of September 2022; Student Body President, Lincoln University

Cliff Albright.: 12:30 PM – 12:57 PM Eastern Time
Co-Founder, Black Voters Matter Fund

SHOW DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND

Selma Jubilee Voting Rights Series
The Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) sponsored an afternoon of powerful back to back voting rights educational and organizing events. The events included a luncheon session, 2 workshops and a Happy Hour. Each workshop consisted of an opening speaker, followed by a panel discussion regarding the dedicated topics described below. Alll events composing the Voting Rights Series were held on Saturday, March 4th from 12:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m at Wallace College Selma, 3000 Earl Goodwin Parkway. The Series included

Workshop #1, Program Title: “The GenZ Difference: Igniting the Flame of Voter Activism”, Time : 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. [This is a luncheon program].

The Generation Z (GenZ) & Young Millennial (YM) bloc of voters is the most diverse and progressive minded bloc of voters in American history. Moreover, as of 2024, the GenZ & YM community will represent the largest voting bloc in America. The GenZ & YM demographic is generally underrepresented in organizational efforts and focus to increase voter turnout.

This workshop explored manners to develop, encourage and engage GenZ & YM participation in the 2024 election and beyond. This program lifted up and focused on the critical importance of developing GenZ & YM as leaders in today’s civil and social rights movement. This workshop also discussed strategies to reach, include and involve GenZ and YM voters in political action and activism.

Workshop #2, Program Title: “Restoration of Voting Rights: The Fight for Full Citizenship of Disenfranchised Voters”, Time : 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

It is estimated that 18 million Americans are eligible to vote, however, are unaware of their voting eligibility. The process of restoration of voting rights for citizens formerly convicted of felony crimes varies from state to state. In Vermont and Maine, for instance, individuals never lose their right to vote, even if incarcerated. In Mississippi, however, an individual convicted of one of 23 specified crimes, including theft, is forever barred from voting unless the Mississippi General Assembly passes legislation permitting the specific individual to have their voting rights restored. This wide gap in the restoration of voting rights will be discussed at this workshop. This workshop  discussed the history of Voter Disenfranchisement and explored current state and community organizational strategies and programs to educate, elevate and encourage Disenfranchised voters to learn about their voter status.

Workshop # 3, Title : Battling Voter Suppression, “All Voting is Local: States picking up the Baton of Dismantling Voter Suppression”, Time : 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

This workshop focused on the battle to fight voter suppression across the United States. This workshop focused on nationalizing the efforts of individual states working to pass legislation that dismantles voter suppression and protects citizens’ ease of access to voting.

The United States Congress has failed in its attempts to pass meaningful federal legislation to mandate consistent voter access to protect citizens’ right to vote. Some states, such as Ohio, have passed legislation restricting drop boxes to one dropbox per county. State Legislatures restricting access to dropboxes for voters are designed to frustrate working class voters, Seniors and Young voters from accessing voting.

Some states, such as Minnesota, are working to enact legislation to codify the voter access provisions of the proposed federal Freedom to Vote Act into law to combat voter suppression. Automatic Voter Registration, increased drop boxes, democracy vouchers and progressive voter identification measures are some of these tools used by pro-voter access states to increase participation in our democracy. This workshop will explore how to expand into a national movement these measures and strategies taken by Pro-Voter states to increase voter participation.

Ending: “Meet, Mingle & Discuss” Happy Hour (4:30 p.m.-5:15 p.m.)

The “Meet, Mingle & Discuss” Happy Hour allowed participants to meet one another, discuss the information and ideas presented at the workshops and to consider manners to implement in their communities concepts that were presented during the workshops. This was a free happy hour with light refreshments.

In-Person Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Houston Leadership Training March 29-April 2, 2023

The Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) is hosting a non-partisan interactive in-person Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Leadership Training Event to be held March 29-April 2, 2023. This is a paid training opportunity with a $500 stipend and round-trip all expenses paid, including meals and ground transportation to Houston, Texas, for the entire event. The stipend is for your attendance and completion of a work plan. Unlike prior program, this training will interact with the 2nd Year of the HBCU ALL-Stars Game Week being held during NCAA Basketball Championships. We will attend the HBCU All Stars Civil Rights and Social Justice Panel and tickets and transportation will be provided to the game on Sunday, April 2nd. There will also be assigned homework prior to the event. To receive the stipend, you must attend all sessions every day, be punctual, uphold a code of conduct, and complete all assignments.

This effort will prepare young persons, 18-35 years old, from the states of: Alabama; Arizona; Florida; Georgia; Kentucky; Louisiana; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri; Mississippi; Ohio; Pennsylvania; North Carolina; South Carolina; Virginia; Texas; and, Wisconsin

Those selected will serve as Voting Rights Ambassadors who will be trained to directly serve vulnerable communities and voters.

QUESTIONS

FIRST AND SECOND SEGMENTS

• This was your first time to Selma. What was it like?
• Drake, the Lincoln University has a history of those that were active in Selma. Tell us about the history.
• What is the Gen Z Difference?
• Ashley, tell us about your work in the Cook County jails to help people to vote who are jailed but still eligible to vote. 
• Ashley, as a law school graduate and young future lawyer, what does it mean to be involved in this movement?
• What were some highlights of your presentation during the Selma voting rights series?
• How has the Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Training affected your work since attending?
• How have your 42 class members been keeping in touch?
• What was your favorite part of the Training last time?
• What do you think it’s going to mean that this Training is being held in Houston and during the HBCU All-Stars Week?
• What is the major work that you’re pursuing right now?
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2023 and 2024?
• What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?

SEGMENTS THREE AND FOUR

• Cliff, What did it mean for Black Voters Matter to be in the leadership of organizing this year?
• What were some of the highlights of President Biden’s speech he made in Selma?
• What did the President say regarding the fight for federal voting rights legislation that was hopeful?
• The devastation of the tornado that hit Selma was evident everywhere. However, Selma was already suffering from severe economic devastation. What did the President say regarding the federal governments’ involvement in economic development in Selma, Lowndes County, Alabama and the AL Black Belt?
• What do you think are the next steps for national and local organizers to help move Selma, Lowndes County, Alabama and the AL Black Belt forward?
• What should we be saying to the in-house US Senate regarding moving the federal voting rights legislation forward?
• Can you summarize some of the key points you made during your speech at the Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King Breakfast? 
• Black Voters Matter is going to have about 12 people participating in the Gen Z and Millennial Votes Matter Training in Houston. What are your hopes?
• In the footsteps of John Lewis. SNCC, and the Selma organizers, we are taking direct action on Juneteenth to mobilize against the rise of facism and banning Black studies. How should people around the country get involved in this fight?
• What is the major work that you’re pursuing right now?
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2023 and 2024?
• What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?