Following impactful stops in Greensboro, Durham, and Raleigh, the “Freedom Is At Stake” GOTV Bus Tour Coalition will make its way to Charlotte, as early voting reaches record levels, with ballots cast by over 1 million voters in the state. In partnership with The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), SEIU, NAACP Youth & College, NextGen America, Vote to Live, PushBlack, Black Lives Matter PAC, Mobilize Justice, BAJI, and Rainbow Push Coalition, the coalition is focused on energizing voters ahead of the 2024 election with music, food, community, and outreach efforts at key locations.
Media is asked to RSVP HERE to attend
Watch some footage of our prior stops here
Charlotte, NC – As North Carolina experiences historic early voting turnout, with approximately 1 million ballots cast just days into the early voting period, the “Freedom Is At Stake” GOTV Bus Tour arrives in Charlotte to continue engaging voters. In its recent stops across Greensboro, Durham, and Raleigh, the coalition worked with local community leaders and organizations to mobilize Black youth, Black men, and other underrepresented groups, who are critical to determining the state’s electoral outcome.
The coalition’s events have coincided with North Carolina’s impressive early voting numbers, which saw nearly all of the votes cast in-person. With the race in North Carolina statistically tied, the tour emphasizes the urgency of engaging voters on key issues, including reproductive rights, economic security, environmental justice, workers’ rights, and protecting democracy.
Event Details:
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Location: Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library, 2412 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC 28216
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
This event will include music, food, community gatherings, and opportunities for early voting.
Black men and youth will play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the 2024 election, especially around the issues that matter most to them—economic security, reproductive justice, fighting back against racism and attacks on DEI, expanding education and healthcare access, and protecting democracy. With so much on the line, from safeguarding basic rights and freedoms to securing a fair economy and equitable future, these communities must be empowered to vote and make their voices heard.
As AFT Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram joins these mobilization efforts, the tour provides critical opportunities to engage voters, educate them on what’s at stake, and ensure that they turn out in large numbers to shape the future of the nation. The high-energy events will provide not only voter mobilization but also community-building moments through music, food, and direct voter engagement efforts leading up to Election Day.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Freedom Is At Stake coalition and other organizations to reach students and young voters across North Carolina,” said AFT Secretary Treasurer, Fedrick Ingram. “These events around Homecoming are a powerful way to engage young Black voters, energize our communities, and ensure everyone’s voice is heard in this crucial election. With so much on the line—our rights, economic security, and the future of our democracy—now is the time for all of us to come together and vote.”
“Black voters and youth in North Carolina are going to determine the future of this nation,” said Andi Pringle, Founder and CEO of Registration Nation Action Fund. “We’ve seen at every stop on this tour that when you frame this election about empowering our communities and having a seat at the table so that our rights and our freedoms are secured, people feel empowered to come out and vote.”
“In every battleground state, we know that voter turnout will make the difference,” said Quentin James, Founder and President of The CollectivePAC. “We are engaging in every critical battleground state, and North Carolina is no different – the participation of Black voters, young people, and communities of color will decide the outcome of this country. This tour is about reminding voters that their voices have the power to shape the nation’s future.”
Working people will make the difference in this election. We want good union jobs in strong, thriving communities with clean water, safe schools, affordable housing, and accessible care. Workers are turning out across the country, voting for us—because when we vote for us, we win, said April Verrett, SEIU President.
NextGen America, a key partner in this effort, is focused on mobilizing young voters nationwide. Harry Johnson, VP of Strategic Partnerships for NextGen America, said, “For over a decade, NextGen has worked across the country to empower young people to engage in our elections and have their voices heard at the ballot box. With Election Day less than a month away, we are ensuring that young voters have everything they need to create a government that respects us, reflects us, and represents us.”
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Registration Nation Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization focused on expanding voter registration and building ongoing civic dialogue with young people and communities of color. Through grassroots efforts and strategic partnerships, we work to engage those who have been historically excluded from the democratic process.
