STUDENTS, MOMS, GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACTIVISTS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN TRICK OR VOTE TO GET OUT THE VOTE FOR MIDTERMS
For Immediate Release
October 19, 2018
Press Contacts:
RaisingVoicesUSA
Cindy Vaupel/Emma Travers
info@raisingvoicesusa.org
Jr Newtown Action Alliance
Jackson Mittleman/Tommy Murray
jrnaa@newtownaction.org
Newtown Action Alliance
John Kelley
917-679-6475
jkelley@newtownaction.org
#NoRA
Ben Jackson
ben@noranow.org
Planned Parenthood of Nassau County
Julianna Claase
julianna.claase@ppnc.org
Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre
Marguerite Grasing Keller
info@hispanicbrotherhood.org
Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association
George Siberon
hhca_gsiberon@optonline.net
Local One, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E)
Robert Score
Recording/corresponding secretary
Rscore@iatse-local1.org
STUDENTS, MOMS, GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACTIVISTS, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN TRICK OR VOTE TO GET OUT THE VOTE FOR MIDTERMS
Newtown, CT - RaisingVoicesUSA, Jr Newtown Action Alliance, #NoRA, Newtown Action Alliance, Planned Parenthood of Nassau County, Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre, Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association, and Local One International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E) have partnered to encourage students across the nation to participate in a Trick or Vote initiative on Halloween to encourage Americans to vote on November 6, 2018.
Trick or Vote is a non-partisan get-out-the-vote initiative first organized by Oregon high school students in 2004. This year, students across the nation are encouraged to register on trickorvoteusa.org to participate in the 2018 Trick or Vote event. Since so many students already knock on doors on Halloween, young people will additionally remind neighbors and community members about the upcoming November 6 Election. Adults can support Trick or Vote initiatives as well, and remind others to vote by displaying Trick or Vote artwork or distributing voting reminders.
Tommy Murray, Co-chair of Jr. Newtown Action Alliance said: “Since the Parkland shooting tragedy, students from across the nation have marched, rallied, walked out, died-in and participated in voter registration efforts. We recognize the fact that our vote is our voice. However, many of us can’t vote yet. That does not prevent us from working to get out the vote a week before very consequential midterm elections.”
Jackson Mittleman, also Co-chair of Jr Newtown Action Alliance added: “We need more students to be engaged in the voting process because our lives depend on it. The rubber meets the road on November 6th and we need people to come out in record numbers to create the change we want to see. Participating in Trick or Vote is an easy way for students to get involved.”
Cindy Vaupel, Co-founder and Co-president of RaisingVoicesUSA said: “Trick or Vote turns Halloween into a massive, nationwide, get-out-the-vote event. RaisingVoicesUSA is proud to support our young people as they find their voice, engage in the democratic process, and galvanize others to vote this November.”
Ben Jackson, Co-founder of #NoRA said: “Young people are changing the face of this election, and this is one more way for them to lead. These are the people who face the consequences of gun violence in our schools, and #NoRA is proud to support them in their efforts to make gun violence prevention a critical piece of the midterm elections.”
Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance said: “Because elections have consequences, we have been unable to move the needle on federal gun violence prevention policies after the Sandy Hook tragedy. It’s critical that we turn out in force to vote for ethical and compassionate elected leaders who will support gun violence prevention. The Trick or Vote campaign offers another opportunity for students and parents from across the nation to participate in the democratic process.”
Planned Parenthood of Nassau County President and CEO JoAnn Smith said: “Planned Parenthood of Nassau County is proud to support the Trick or Vote effort. As an organization committed to the empowerment of our patients and the communities we serve, we have made voter engagement a top priority, and we recognize the particular importance of engaging young people in the voting process from which they are so often excluded.”
Marguerite Grasing Keller from Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre, said: “Your vote is your voice, and through our support of Trick or Vote, Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre is working to ensure that all voices are represented in the voting booth this November.”
George Siberon, Executive Director of Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association said: “The Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association has been proudly empowering youth since 1984. We are thrilled to continue in this tradition by supporting Trick or Vote efforts this year.”
James J. Claffey, Jr., President of Local One, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E) said: “Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) is proud to partner with RaisingVoices to help get out the vote this election season. Raising Voices is an organization that truly works hard on behalf of all of us, and the 3,400 members of the oldest entertainment union in the United States will join them and other organizations in impressing on all citizens that Your Vote is your Voice. The membership of Local One will continue to advocate to friends, family, and colleagues that voting is a civic responsibility.”
Additional Trick or Vote sponsors may be added. Contact trickorvoteusa@gmail.com if your organization would like to cosponsor and support the Trick or Vote initiatives.
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RaisingVoicesUSA (http://raisingvoicesusa.org) is a New York-based grassroots organization dedicated to enabling and fostering informed civic engagement.
Junior Newtown Action Alliance (@Junior_NAA) is a club at Newtown High School in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, that is focused on empowering students locally and beyond to end gun violence in America.
Newtown Action Alliance (http://alliance.newtownaction.org/) is a Newtown-based, national grassroots organization formed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. Our mission is to achieve the steady and continuous reduction of gun violence through legislative and cultural changes.
#NoRA (https://noranow.org/) is a new kind of collective action. We’re a culture hack. We’re a diverse coalition of artists, activists, celebrities, survivors of gun violence, and policy experts working to move American culture into a less violent place by counteracting the influence of NRA money in our political system. And we’re going to win.
Planned Parenthood of Nassau County (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-nassau-county) has been helping people in Nassau County make safe, healthy, and responsible decisions since 1933. Each year, nearly 14,000 patients come through our doors for a wide range of preventive health services, education, and counseling. In addition to this, PPNC reaches more than 14,500 individuals every year with sexual and reproductive health education workshops and trainings across Nassau County.
The Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre, Inc. (http://www.hispanicbrotherhood.org/) is a not-for-profit organization established in 1984 by a small group of Latino residents in order to assist the fast growing population of immigrants in Nassau County, NY from different Spanish language cultures.
The Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association (https://www.hempsteadhispanic.org/) provides community services for residents of the Village of Hempstead, NY, including counseling and advocacy for housing development, recreational activities and instructional programs, guest speakers, parent leadership training and family counseling, and bilingual tutoring.
Local One (https://iatselocalone.org/public/Home) of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) is the premier stagecraft local in the world, installing and operating all productions of live theater, live television, scenic and sounds shops, special effects, industrials and corporate events throughout Manhattan, Staten Island, The Bronx, Westchester, Putnam Counties and Nassau/Suffolk Counties of Long Island.