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Dear JPANet Member,
The United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries has joined
a
nonpartisan effort with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the
nation's oldest and largest civil rights coalition, to express our
concern to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) about a plan to put
challengers at the polls and to the Republican National Committee (RNC)
over a host of public statements and planned activities clearly
intended to suppress
the minority vote. We have been in dialogue with the DNC, but as
yet have
not received a response from Ed Gillespie, Chairman of the RNC.
In recent days, there have been numerous additional and troubling
reports of various efforts by state Republican officials to target
minority voters
and voters with disabilites for challenges. Reports are
circulating of
plans by the Republican party to intimidate voters through "background
checks"
on newly registered voters in Wisconsin and through plans to place
Republican recruits inside polling places in Ohio to challenge
"suspicious"
voters. This is racial profiling at its most insidious level.
These activities
clearly have no place in a democracy.
Your faxes and e-mails are needed to let the Republican National
Committee know that voter suppression has no place in American
democracy. To
send a letter, click here:
http://www.ucctakeaction.org/ctt.asp?u=286&l=65601
ELECTION PROTECTION: 1-866-OUR-VOTE
With the peril that many first-time voters and others may experience
because
of these partisan strategies, you are needed at the polls to be a
visible,
nonpartisan resource to voters who may experience difficulties in
exercising
their most fundamental right - the right to vote. Call
1-866-OUR-VOTE
to
join hundreds of UCC members in being present near a polling place as
a
nonpartisan election protection volunteer, to distribute voters bills
of
rights and to help get out the vote on Election Day.
ON THIS FINAL WEEKEND - WHAT YOU CAN DO
Study the issues and the candidates. In addition to reaching
your own
conclusions, it is important to improve the quality of formal and
informal
political conversation. Ground your thinking in Christian
concerns for
justice and compassion. Take new information seriously and treat
people
with different points of view with respect.
There are many ways that you can encourage and empower other voters.
Lift
up prayers for discernment and wisdom in Sunday worship. Organize a
phone
bank for the Monday evening preceding the election to call members of
your
congregation reminding them to vote and answering any last-minute
questions.
Provide carpool or van rides to the polls for people who have limited
mobility. Provide child care so that parents can take time to
vote.
Provide a quick breakfast or supper for someone who needs that extra
time to
vote.
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Questions?
Comments? Email:
UCCtruths@yahoo.com
