THE BLACK POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT PROJECT URGES THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY TO VOTE, NOV. 8. (PHOTO BY J.L . MARTELLO)
Number of informational events leading up to the big day
by Tim Stevens
The Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) and the CAMPAIGN FOR POWER have been doing everything possible to encourage a great voter turnout for what B-PEP has described as the most important Midterm Election in our lifetime! During the last two months, B-PEP has had 20 Pittsburgh Regional Transit buses carrying that important theme, along with listing B-PEP’s mission: “We VOTE in EACH and EVERY Election.”
The CAMPAIGN FOR POWER, led by B-PEP’s Civic Engagement Coordinator, Lorraine Cross and former B-PEP Vice Chair, Celeste Taylor, includes numerous community partners who have come together to politically empower the Black and brown communities of Western Pennsylvania. On Thursday, Nov. 3, B-PEP, the League of Women Voters and the Transformative Justice Coalition will sponsor the “Table Talk/Meet the Candidates” night, co-sponsored by several other community partners, including the Alliance For Police Accountability, Wake UP the Vote, the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, the NAACP Pittsburgh Branch, VEEEM, National Council of Negro Women, Revelations and Reflections, West End Power, and Black Voters Matter. It will take place at St. James AME Church, 444 Lincoln Avenue. Dinner will be provided from 6-6:30 p.m., with the program starting by 6:45 p.m. The person who brings the most adults to the event (more than three in number) will win a $50 Giant Eagle gift certificate. There will be a raffle for six $25 Giant Eagle gift certificates for those who stay for the entire event. Black Voters Matter will have their bus at this event, and will be providing plenty of giveaways.
On Saturday, Nov. 5, B-PEP and the CAMPAIGN FOR POWER will be joined by members of the United Rays Corvette Club, led by Ruben Collins, for our “CAR CARAVAN FOR POWER.” Interested drivers are encouraged to begin lining up at 11:15 a.m., departing by noon from between Webster Avenue and Centre Avenue, near Freedom Corner. Two weeks ago some 25 cars were part of the “Caravan For Power,” which drives through various communities of Pittsburgh. The Nov. 5 caravan will feature “VOTE TUESDAY” signs on the sides of the vehicles. Interested drivers should call 412-212-8775.
TIM STEVENS
Sunday, Nov. 6 will be the second installment of “B-PEP VOTER EMPOWERMENT SUNDAY” where all area pastors and ministers are strongly encouraged to ask each congregant to vote on Nov. 8 and encourage their family members and friends to do the same. Walt Hales, B-PEP’s Lay Church Coordinator, has spent months working on a new church initiative which provides area churches with extensive information on the election process, as well providing voter registration forms.
B-PEP has a joint effort with the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, working closely with the Urban League’s Advocacy and Policy Officer, John Ukenye, on phone banking and canvassing. Longtime community activist Renee Wilson is helping to coordinate B-PEP’s role in this important effort. Those who would like to assist with phone banking and/or canvassing will be given $25 Giant Eagle gift certificates for participation in 2.5-hour sessions. Interested persons should call 412-212-8775 as soon as possible.
One of the traditions of the Black Political Empowerment Project, in EACH and EVERY Election, is helping to coordinate “ELECTION
PROTECTION,” working closely with the ACLU, Common Cause, and the Lawyers Committee For Civil Rights Under Law. On Nov. 8, B-PEP will be working out of two locations, 2201 Wylie Avenue, and at Friends Meeting House on Ellsworth Avenue. Volunteers are needed to help protect the rights of all voters by visiting and observing numerous polling sites. Giant Eagle gift cards are provided to those who provide four or more hours for this important initiative. Interested persons should call 412-758-2056. This important effort will be coordinated by Lorraine Cross and Celeste Taylor.
B-PEP’s Walt Hales has spoken with the Allegheny County Elections Division about what persons should do who have lost their mail-in ballot, or are afraid that they have not received their ballot in time. They can go directly to the Election Division Office at 542 Forbes Avenue, at Ross Street (15219), room 604, to request a ballot replacement. B-PEP is also urging people to call the ELECTION PROTECTION hotline at 1-866-OUR-VOTE to address ANY problem that one might encounter on Election Day.
B-PEP wishes to remind all voters that on Nov. 8, voters will be deciding who will be elected as the next Governor and Lt.
Governor, the United States Senator, area U.S. congressional representatives, state senators and state representatives. It is important to note, regardless of one’s political leaning, that the ability of President Joe Biden to appoint judges to lifetime positions on federal judicial positions, as well as his ability to possibly appoint future Supreme Court judges, is at stake. The direction of government on addressing issues such as reasonable background checks on gun purchases, the elimination of purchases of AK-47s and AR-15s, long guns which have been used to kill both children and adults both locally and across this nation, the protection of the rights of women to choose, the protection of voting rights, the protection of the rights of the LGBTQAI community, how to best address climate change, and how to address other issues of importance are all on the ballot!
B-PEP urges EVERYONE to vote TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, and to VOTE in EACH and EVERY Election! Anyone who wishes to assist with this work, and with B-PEP’s initiatives, including the Greater Pittsburgh Coalition Against Violence (CAV) and the Corporate Equity and Inclusion Roundtable (CEIR), should call 412-212-8775, email us at bpep.pittsburgh@gmail.com, or visit us at
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