St. Louis is among the 17 cities selected as the site for grassroots voter registration activities backed by T.I. and the Hip Hop Caucus. The rap star and the organization have teamed to launch a new voter registration and Get Out the Vote campaign that targets young people between ages 18 and 29, who are not in college.
The campaign slogan, “Respect My Vote!” and t-shirts were unveiled this week at a press event in Washington, D.C., with DJ Green Lantern, Dawn from Danity Kane, Young Berg, Maino, Wale, Young Steff, Washington Wizard Etan Thomas, Olympic Gold Medalist Anthony Killieberew, Immortal Technique, Pleasure P, World Class Sprinter Michael Walton, BET Executive Vice President Stephen Hill and many others turning out to support.
Hip Hop Caucus President, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., who helped create the Vote Or Die! initiative with Sean “Diddy” Combs in 2004, explains: “No matter who wins in November, if large numbers of young people do not vote, then we all lose. It does not bode well for the future of our country, and our Democracy, if young people, particularly those who are not in college, are not engaged or involved in the electoral process. This campaign is critical in strengthening our Democracy and thus protecting our freedom.”
Other celebrities, athletes and high profile figures are expected to join T.I. for the effort, which includes PSAs for radio, television and online use; in person appearances; press events; mobile and email alerts from celebrities themselves; and an aggressive online campaign.
Other cities where Grassroots voter registration activities will be led by street teams across the nation include : CA (Bay Area), FL (Miami), GA (Atlanta), IN (Indianapolis), MD (Baltimore), MI (Detroit), MO (St. Louis), NC (Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham), OH (Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus), PA (Philadelphia), TX (Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston), VA (Richmond), and DC (Washington, DC).
