NYC Racial Justice Commission Commemorates National Voter Registration Day

NYC’s RACIAL JUSTICE COMMISSION AND CUNY/MEDGAR EVERS COLLEGE COMMEMORATE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY

Photos: NYC’s Racial Justice Commission
Wednesday, September 21st, 2022 – NYC’s Racial Justice Commission (RJC), in partnership with the City University of New York (CUNY) Medgar Evers College yesterday held a musical mobilization event in honor of National Voter Registration Day. This event promoted civic engagement and educated NYC voters about three “Yes” or “No” questions regarding racial equity in NYC, which will appear on the ballot in the November 2022 General Election.

“For democracy to work, we need all eligible voters to be registered and informed, and to participate in every election process,” said Jennifer Jones Austin, chairperson of RJC. “National Voter Registration Day is a bold reminder that it is our civic duty to uphold democracy by registering and getting out to vote. The upcoming general election is particularly important because besides choosing their representatives to various positions, NYC voters will also have the opportunity to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ on three racial justice proposals to amend the City Charter, that will appear on the back of the ballot and are intended to reduce barriers and promote racial equity.”

RJC’s National Voter Registration Day mobilization took place at Medgar Evers College’s Campus Square, in Brooklyn. It featured music by local singer/drummer Victor Pablo Garcia-Gaetan, followed by key speakers including Lurie Daniel-Favors (Commissioner, RJC, and Executive Director, Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College), Harold Miller (Executive Director, RJC), Dr. Zulema Blair (Professor, Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers), Dr. Gregorio Mayers (Associate Professor of Law and Government at Medgar Evers College) and Joanna Dorsey (President, Student Government Association at Medgar Evers College). The speeches were followed by a voter registration drive, and direct education and outreach about the three racial justice questions that will appear on the ballot in the upcoming general election, scheduled for Nov. 8 (early voting starts on October 29th).

RJC is a charter revision commission established in 2021, tasked with examining structural racism within NYC. The Commission examined the City Charter to identify structural barriers facing all People of Color, and developed three ballot proposals aimed at reducing barriers and promoting racial equity. In November 2022, NYC voters will have the opportunity to vote “Yes” or “No” on these three proposals: (1) Add a statement of values to guide City government, (2) Establish a Racial Equity Office, Plan and Commission; and (3) Measure the true cost of living.

As part of its public information and education campaign, RJC has partnered with multiple non-partisan organizations and volunteers in the five boroughs to host voter education events. Participating organizations in the “National Voter Registration Day and Ballot Proposal Drive 2022” at Medgar Evers College included Unified Political Association, Brooklyn NAACP, Brooklyn Voters Alliance, East Flatbush CDC, Center for Law & Social Justice at Medgar Evers College, Elite Learners Inc. and VIDA, among others.

For upcoming events and more information, the public can visit https://racialjustice.cityofnewyork.us.

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