On Sunday, October 21, Indivisible WATU in partnership with Rock the Vote© held a free non-partisan event to register and mobilize millennial voters for the upcoming midterm elections. Today, October 22, is the last day to register to vote in California.
Indivisible WATU a political advocacy group (WATU meaning “people” in Swahili), in association with Be The Vote brought together a cross section of young adults, guest speakers, activists, artists and community members with one specific goal in mind: to encourage a significant numbers of low-propensity and disenfranchised San Diego youth to register and vote in the coming midterm elections.
The youth turnout in the 2014 mid-term elections was a mere 21.5%. Nationally, merely 46.1% of 18-to-26-year-olds voted in the 2016 general election. In San Diego County, only 61% of eligible voters cast their ballots.
Partner NextGen America said,
“Young people have the potential to reshape the American political landscape in November, but they often don’t recognize their electoral power.”
A special shout out goes to Indivisible WATU Founder, Angela de Joseph along with a team of community activists including National Urban League Young Professionals, who are responsible for putting the event together.
Among those from the community who took part in the event were, Professor and Life Coach Starla Lewis, who led the healing circle.
Speakers: Barbara Bry – SD City Council District 1, Founder Run Women Run, Chevelle Newell Tate – Co-Chair BWILD (Rep for Senator Toni Atkins), Zachary Patterson, March for Our Lives (high school student)Wendy Wheatcroft, Moms Demand Action, Omar Passons , Attorney, Community Leader, Ali Torabi/Pedro Aguilar – San Diego Border Dreamers, David Trujillo, Advocacy Director ACLU.
Following the speakers, entertainment from classic soul recording artist Kevin Sandbloom, spoken word by artists from Black Xpressions, and Junkyard Dance Crew all performed on the main-stage.
Indivisible is a national, nonviolent, grassroots organization that formed in late 2016 to resist the Trump agenda and flip Congress to Democratic control in 2018. Follow on Facebook at Indivisible Watu and on Twitter @SDIndivisible.
