Urgency Of Restoration of Rights Within Diverse Communities Eclipses Voter Registration Outreach
By Julie Warlick, 2nd Episcopal District
Third Street Bethel AME Church Social Action Committee and the Women’s Missionary Society, under the inspired leadership of Reverend Ruben J. Boyd, Jr., enacted “The Drive By Voter Registration” Campaign ahead of the November 3rd election. Our SAC Chair, Rita Willis, strategized a 10 Team operative plan to register, educate, and raised attitudinal changes about voting, for people in five marginalized communities in Richmond, Virginia. Namely Whitcomb Court, Gilpin Court, Fairfield Court, Mosby Court and Creighton Court, respectively. Our masked teams drove slowly throughout the housing units near our church with megaphones and large homemade signs hanging outside of our cars.
Volunteers witnessed personal testimonies from disenfranchised citizens who felt far removed from the political process. In their words, “politicians only show up in our neighbourhood during election time.” Our communities are encumbered by systemic socio-economic disparities and voter suppression tactics, while individuals are operating in a heightened survival mode in the era of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
One woman shared that young people were reluctant to register to vote because they thought that their information would be used to expose them to the police, so they were afraid to register.
The outreach efforts of each team proved to be a life changing experience for many of us, yet a pervasive theme emerged. We heard a reoccurring mantra – “Help Us Get Our Rights Back!” It became apparent that our focus had to be changed to a fundamental objective of “Restoration of Rights.” Restoring the right to vote for ex-felons is a vital initiative that must continue to be a focus of our outreach. Our Black population (mostly men) has been plagued with this stigma for so long and we cannot turn a blind eye any longer. The need to Restore the Rights of individuals equalled and often outnumbered registering people to vote. Volunteers stood with individuals to vet where they were in the overall process. We assisted them to complete Voter Registration applications and physically delivered forms to the Richmond Registrar’s Office to expedite processing, rather than mailing. In the event the individual stated that they were an ex-felon, we would take their contact information and immediately assist with the process to Restore their Rights.
Over the 5 week outreach project the community became accustomed to seeing the SAC cars driving through the neighbourhood. We forged a connection with the community, where citizens committed to bring their friends and family to engage in the political efficacy. This campaign has transformed our church community.
With God’s strength, the SAC Campaign derived miraculous results;
- 201 persons, total, were registered to vote (including those registered at the Marches)
- Rights were restored to 12 males and 1 female, who are now Registered VOTERS!!
- 3 changes of address were accomplished
- 4 young people applied online, with our assistance, to WORK THE POLLS on November 3, 2020
The irony of the Drive By Voter Registration Outreach (which was our main objective) exposed the important need for the Restoration of Rights. SAC has included the ‘Drive Bys for Restoring Rights” Campaign as an annual goal, to be done on a quarterly basis. SAC is energized to heed the call, equipped with 10 stellar magnetic signs (donated by member Dr. Zelda Johnson) for the Drive By Campaign.
The Restoration of Rights enables ex-offenders to complete the civic rehabilitation process;
- to get a job
- to register to vote (then vote)
- the right to run for an office
- to serve on jury duty
The US Census Bureau of 2020 projects that “the diversity demographic momentum of younger, more racially diverse cohorts will be the primary driver of population growth starting in 2030.” The increased turnout of diversity for the recent November 3rd election is still being tallied, as of this writing. It is evident that the collective voice of diversity is vital to the representation of the voting electorate.
We thank Reverend and First Lady Sonya Boyd for the vision of Social Action. They continually challenge us not to reside in complacency, but “to go beyond the walls to make a difference.”
What a revelation this experience has been for our inner-city communities and the responsibility of the African Methodist Episcopal Church body.
Scripture confirms, “Whatever You Do For The Least Of These, You Do Unto Me.”
