NAACP National Voter Fund Joins Forces with Las Vegas and Reno/Sparks Branches for Voter Empowerment 2004 Program

NAACP National Voter Fund Program Kicks off Dr. Martin Luther King Voter Empowerment Program 2004 in Nevada

(PRWEB) January 25, 2004 --To commemorate and honor the dedication and effort by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to secure the right to vote for all Americans, the NAACP National Voter Fund (NVF) launched its Nevada Voter Empowerment 2004 program on Sunday, January 18, 2004, on the Eve of the Dr. King holiday.

The program is a statewide collaborative effort with churches, schools, community groups and the Las Vegas and Reno/Sparks branches of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

This effort by the NVF will enhance and assist the efforts by the Political Action Committees of both the Reno/Sparks and Las Vegas branches. The NVF and NAACP branches will focus on registration, education and participation (get out the vote) for the next 10 months. Our goal is to get every eligible African American in the state registered, educated on the issues and to the polls. We will particularly focus on low income, communities of color and young voters to see that those who are many times forgotten, are included and have their vote counted," stated Lonnie L. Feemster the Nevada State Coordinator for the NAACP National Voter Fund effort.

Reno Sparks Branch President Rose Gordon states, Our families struggled and died for a right that is sometimes taken for granted. We look to our national leaders and ask where have the gains of our struggles gone? Too many still struggle and too many are still unprepared for the challenges they face. It is our responsibility to get out the vote and make it count.

Las Vegas Branch President Dean Ishman commented, It is not enough to get people registered, you have to get them to the polling booths. When we, as a people, register, the politicians will hear our voices. Every vote, your vote, counts."

The statewide program was officially started by a request for churchgoers to register to vote in honor of Dr. King, by The Rev Robert E. Fowler, Sr. at the Victory Baptist Church, 500 W Monroe St., in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas program will be lead by the Political Action Chair of the Las Vegas branch of the NAACP, Cordell E. Stokes.

In Reno the program was launched at the Second Baptist Church at 1265 Montello St., Rev. William C. Webb, pastor. The Rev. Onie Cooper asked for voter registrations as a way to honor Dr. King and as part the Dr. Martin Luther King annual celebration. Rev. Cooper is chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King Commission. Mary V. Wilson is the Political Action Chair for the Reno/Sparks NAACP.

The NVP/NAACP program will work to set up voter registration locations at Historically Black Churches throughout the state and wherever they can find support. Their goal is to get all African Americans to vote.

Information about the National Voter Fund is available on the Internet at: www.naacpnvf.org and at the NVF Nevada State Coordinators office (775) 425-3831. Reno/Sparks NAACP office number is (775) 322-2992 and the Las Vegas branch number is (702) 638 1300.
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