Voter Mobilization: Barber urges students to cast ballots

The Rev. William Barber II told students at Tougaloo College on Thursday to vote in the general election scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Barber, a former president of the North Carolina NAACP, addressed the crowd with the directive, “We’re not bowing, we’re voting.” He argued that the current generation can only expect political change if they participate in the election. He pointed out that 90 million people did not vote in the last cycle. He noted that the resulting Congress recently voted to cut health care for more than 20 million people. He also said that group cut SNAP benefits for a similar number of individuals while increasing funding for war and ICE.

Many attendees said they are voting in a political election for the first time. Qasim Abdul-Tawwab, a student from Jackson, Mississippi, identified food insecurity as a primary concern. He stated that the region has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the nation. Abdul-Tawwab said, “In Mississippi, we have one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the nation, especially in the Delta like Jackson. I’m from Jackson … I feel like that’s an issue that needs to be solved as fast as possible.”

Terry Rogers, another student, focused on the cost of living. He said, “I think a lot of things come down to affordability … a lot of young people are starting to feel the brunt of high gas prices and grocery prices.” Rogers added that young voters are beginning to realize that their elected officials play a part in these economic pressures. Students said they want to see improvements in college affordability and a decrease in food insecurity in the Jackson metro area after the election.

Barber specifically urged the students to support Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom. He is currently on a 100 Days of Voter Mobilization tour. The tour includes calls for nonviolent marches to the polls before Election Day. Barber is scheduled to speak to residents in Meridian, Mississippi, on the evening of the same day to encourage them to vote.

The gathering at Tougaloo College aimed to inspire students to make a difference in their local community. Barber emphasized the need for young people to change the current political dynamic through high turnout.