15 Cities Targeted Nationwide to Reach Young Voters of Color

15 Cities Targeted Nationwide to Reach Young Voters of Color

At a time when all Americans continue to grapple with deep social, racial and economic injustices, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSC-ME) is activating the next phase of “I AM 2018,” a major non-partisan campaign to engage disenfranchised communities of color in a number of cities across the nation in the upcoming 2018 midterm elections. The campaign is designed specifically to reach 18-to-34-year-old African American and Hispanic voters through Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and motivate them to go to the polls in November.

“The midterm elections this fall could well be a defining moment for the future of our nation,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “Th e economy is not working for everyone. Many younger voters in communities of color are either unemployed or underemployed. With fl at wages and the high cost of basic living expenses, so many people can’t even consider pursuing the American dream of homeownership. We need to turn this around.”

AFSCME will use social media to disseminate information about key issues, encouraging voters to connect to friends, family members, associates, and others through their personal networks. In addition, the “I AM 2018” voter campaign will form partnerships with other labor unions, the faith community, civic organizations, and other groups to get more people out to vote in 15 targeted cities through select virtual and on-the-ground events. Some of the partners include the AFL-CIO, NAACP, NFL Players Association, NextGen America and the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO).

The targeted “I AM 2018” campaign cities are Atlanta; Atlantic City; Charlotte; Cleveland; Detroit; Hartford; Houston; Las Vegas; Memphis; Miami; Milwaukee; Phoenix; St. Paul; San Antonio; and San Diego.

The “I AM 2018” campaign was launched a year ago as a national effort to ensure that the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the 1968 Memphis sanitation strikers for whom he gave his life, endured with a new generation of activists. Thousands of these activists gathered in Memphis, Tennessee April 2-4 to mark the 50th anniversary of the sanitation workers strike and Dr. King’s death. The commemorative activities included rallies and marches, as well as aggressive voter education and civic engagement trainings to mobilize turnout for the 2018 elections and beyond.

“The I AM 2018 isn’t just a reflection on the past; it is a call to action for today and tomorrow. Dr. King and the Memphis strikers knew that you can’t achieve economic justice without racial justice,” said AFSCME President Saunders. “Half a century after Dr. King’s famous ‘Mountain-

top’ speech, working people are still struggling for dignity and respect. We need to continue connecting today’s struggles with the sacrifices made by the heroes of Memphis: Dr. King, the Memphis strikers and the faith leaders who stepped up together to bend the moral arc of the universe towards justice.” Follow AFSCME on Instagram @iam2018.

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