|
Ohio Legislative Black Caucus Foundation Virtual Conference
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
The second virtual conference on voter information and
concerns entitled, “Power of the Black Vote,” was held on
September 17. The conference featured: Rev. Al Sharpton,
National Action Network; Frank LaRose, Ohio Secretary of
State; Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League;
Barbara Sykes, president of the Ohio Legislative Black
Caucus Foundation, and Alicia Reece, former member of the
Ohio House of Representatives and current candidate for
Hamilton County Commissioner, served as moderator.
“We’re only a few weeks away from voting and voting is so
essential. We must exercise our right to vote because we
hold the power within the black vote,” explained Reece.
The Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) Foundation
organized the conference which was also aired live on social
media and invited comments from attendees that were
addressed live throughout the conference. OLBC Foundation
strives to be the pre-eminent hub for non-partisan analysis
examining the impact of public policy on African American
communities.
OLBC Foundation works to advance Ohio’s African Americans
through educational research, facilitation of public policy
development, and analyzing issues of social and economic
importance including, but not limited to the promotion,
inclusion and diversification in the public and private
sector.
“We are excited to gather virtually, to view and discuss
polling results that address issues related to Black voter
turnout in November,” said Barbara Sykes, OLBC Foundation
president.
Secretary LaRose confirmed that voting is safe for the
November 2020 election. “Citizens must know the facts. There
are three great choices and all are good options. Ohioans
can vote using absentee ballot, early voting or vote on the
election day. Ohio needs 37,000 poll workers and our goal is
to recruit 150 percent collectively. Even on voting day the
machines will be set apart and sanitized. The election will
happen. I disagree with President Trump on plenty of things,
including voting. Your vote will be secure in Ohio,”
explained LaRose.
According to OLBC, in 2012, 66 percent of African-American
voters turned out to vote in the November election, which
was the number one voting ethnic group, compared to 65
percent of white voters. However, in 2016, only 59 percent
of African-American voters voted.
Reverend Sharpton spoke briefly about how vital Ohio’s
election results are when selecting the next president.
“This is a critical election. We need to turnout like never
before so they can’t play this fear game. Any close results
and the other side will win. It’s not just about Trump and
Biden but the people in Ohio. We all know that Ohio is the
key, where Ohio goes, also goes the White House,” said
Sharpton.
Morial, the CEO of National Urban League and a former
Louisiana legislator, voiced support for the Post Office and
echoed LaRose’s confidence in ensuring a secure election.
The National Urban League and other civic organizations have
joined in a lawsuit against the Census and Post Office.
“The post office has changed services, pulled out sorting
machines for no reason, and restricted overtime,” said
Morial. “Forty-five has launched an assault campaign on our
ability to vote by mail and claims it’s not reliable. The
Post Office delivers checks, debit cards and credit cards
with very few problems. It’s an insult to suggest they can’t
ensure ballots won’t find its way in an appropriate amount
of time to be accounted. It’s an attack on an American
institution.”
OBLC Board of Directors: Barbara Sykes, president and CEO;
Alicia Reece, vice chair; Tom Roberts, treasurer; Michael
Ashford, secretary; Sylvester Patton, immediate past chair;
Christie Kuhns, Larry Price and Petee Talley; board members.
The sponsors of the conference were: American Electric
Power, AT&T Corporation, Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter,
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Ohio Association of
Community Action Networks and The University of Akron.
|
.jpg)
