National Faith GOTV Weekend of Action
October 25th – 26th and November 1st and 2nd
We do not have to tell you how absolutely critical the 2014 election is for the future of African Americans. Programs vital to the well-being of underserved communities could be threatened if elections are won by those who are committed to cutting or eliminating programs like The Affordable Care Act, Head Start, Food Stamps, and the Voting Rights Act. We simply cannot afford to sit on the sidelines while others determine our fate. On September 21st, the Church Of God In Christ (COGIC) participated in a national faith-based campaign called FREEDOM SUNDAY 2014, which kicked off in over 2000 churches across the nation. The Campaign is a tribute to the legacy of the 1964 Freedom Summer where Black people in the south launched massive voter registration campaigns that eventually led to the creation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and our voting rights today. Please remember, if you are attending the 107th ANNUAL HOLY CONVOCATION in St. Louis, MO and won’t be available to vote on Election Day, please cast an ABSENTEE BALLOT prior to leaving home!
FREEDOM SUNDAY 2014 campaign plans to touch over 600,000 African-Americans, urging them to get out and vote in the November 4, 2014 mid-term elections. The campaign includes a coalition of the 8 largest African American Denominations and a network of Independent churches including (AME, AME Zion, CME, COGIC, Progressive National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International, Inc., National Baptist Convention, USA, National Baptist Convention of America). The second phase of the Campaign is TURNOUT SUNDAYS (Oct. 25th – 26th and Nov. 1st – 2nd) where we focus on educating our communities on key programs we stand to lose, if we don’t TURNOUT to vote between now and November. What’s at Stake if we don’t vote? We jeopardize Programs like:
• Social Security
• Medicare/Medicaid
• The Affordable Health Care Act
• Food Stamps (SNAP)
• Women Infants and Children Program (WIC)
• Head Start Program
• Child Care Tax Credit
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Pell Grants
Turnout Sundays: Souls to the Polls
The Church must raise its prophetic voice in the fight for freedom and organize a massive Black Voter education; registration and mobilization drive from now through November 4th election. We are calling on the Faith Community to conduct 2 National Faith Weekends of Action to get Souls to the Polls! ==>Check www.iwillvote.org for Early Voting States and Deadlines Saturdays, Oct. 25th and Nov. 1st: •(In Early Voting States) Transport your members to the polls! •(In non-early Voting States) Create a Phone Tree and have members calling members to schedule Election Day transportation teams for Nov. 4th •Tweet and/or Facebook this link http://bit.ly/FreedomSundayPledge using “I’m voting with #TURNOUTSUNDAYS” to share your local activities and encourage others to take the pledge to host a Turnout Sundays Event. Sundays, Oct. 26th and Nov. 2nd: • Preach a Sunday sermon on “What’s at Stake for the Black Community” • (In Early Voting states) Transport people to the polls after service! • (In non-Early Voting States) Create a Phone Tree and have members calling members to schedule Election Day transportation teams for Nov. 4th! • Tweet and/or Facebook this link http://bit.ly/FreedomSundayPledge using “I’m voting with #TURNOUTSUNDAYS” to share your local activities and encourage others to take the pledge to host a Turnout Sundays Event.