This week, the Black Voters Matter Fund is taking to Louisiana streets with a bus and a cause—registering as many new voters as possible. Thousands of formerly incarcerated people are eligible to register following a new bill signed into state law in 2018, and the organization wants to spread the word about the change.
The new law went into effect on March 1, and applies to anyone with a past felony conviction who is off probation or parole, who has been on parole for at least five years, or who is on probation and hasn’t received any further convictions.
Many of those affected will be eligible to vote as soon as October 12 of this year—a change they say finally gives them a voice. All together, it’s estimated that 36,000 to 40,000 people have had their voting rights restored—registering them all is an ambitious goal, but volunteers from Black Voters Matter and Voices of the Experienced (VOTE) are excited to take on the challenge.
The eight-city bus tour is already off to a strong start...
Here’s a look at the full itinerary:
Dewanna Leviere, the founder of the transitional housing facility Deliverance in Me, gave an emotional speech about the cycle that keeps many women from being able to reintegrate with the community after serving their time.
Other organizers are using their experiences in prison to help empower other formerly incarcerated people. Consuela spent 22 years in prison and was released only two and a half years ago. While she won’t be eligible to vote in the upcoming election, she’s passionate about educating other formerly incarcerated people about their rights. She’s been instrumental in organizing the current tour.
It’s easy to see the joy on the faces of newly registered voters—especially those who have never voted before!
One of the first stops was Opelousas, Louisiana—a small, rural community that made national headlines recently after the arson of three black churches. It’s also the site of what’s come to be known as the Opelousas Massacre, when 200 black citizens were killed after demanding the right to vote for the party of their choice.
Despite this painful history, the gathering this week was one of joy. As Black Voters Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown says, “This work isn’t just about voting, it’s about lifting the spirits of people!”
Of course, none of this would be possible without a team of hard-working volunteers.
To get the word out, they’re holding voter registration events in the places they’re needed most—setting up shop in the parking lots of probation and parole offices and letting visitors know they have the right to vote.
Voting doesn’t just affect adults—the decisions we make at the ballot box affect our entire families. That’s why Black Voters Matter makes an effort to make all of their events family friendly, engaging young activists and helping children feel engaged in their communities.
And of course, what fun is a rally without a little music?
Here LaTosha is spreading the love in Shreveport, LA...
She’s hitting the streets to raise awareness...
And, of course, she’s turning every event into a cause for celebration!
In an email to our team, she writes, “The woman with the blue hair name is Shawanda. She was just finished her prison sentence after many years and is finally off paper as of April 7th.”
“After Shawanda completed her application she told us ( with water in her eyes) that she felt so good. That she hasn’t had the opportunity in years and she feels happy and is very grateful that we are doing this work. She said she feels the love and feels seen.”
For more updates on the tour and the work she’s doing to empower black voters, follow LaTosha Brown on Facebook and Twitter. You can also support the Black Voters Matter fund by donating today.