PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The American Civil Liberties Union and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People are teaming up with community leaders in the Black community, encouraging everyone to get out and vote.
Reverend Gregory Holston is on a mission to instill the importance of voting in next Tuesday’s primary election. He says he’s working alongside multiple organizations and community leaders such as the Black Clergy of Philadelphia, NAACP, ACLU, and Power.
“We’re a coalition that’s come together, the coalition to defend democracy,” he said.
He explains hard-fought battles for civil and racial justice are always key points in elections, and it’s important for generations to help bridge the gap when it comes to voting.
“All of our rights are always under attack, whether it’s slavery or Jim Crow,” he said. “If elders are telling their kids and grandkids you must vote to maintain our rights, they’ll vote.”
Holston stresses the importance of the upcoming elections. He says despite generations of civil rights activism there’s still a lot of work to be done — especially when it comes to racial justice and gun violence.
“We know that gun violence is directly related to dis-investment in our communities,” he said. “If we have the right kind of politicians they can pour more investment into our communities and make them safer for everyone.”
Holston, along with the Coalition to Defend Democracy, is holding an Act 40 voter education forum Wednesday night at 1776 N. Broad Street on Temple’s main campus at 6 pm.