Politics & Government

Rev. Jesse Jackson: "March Your Souls To The Polls On Tuesday"

In a last minute push to garner more votes in the Wisconsin recall election, Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition held a rally in Racine at the Bray Center, 926 Center St., on Sunday to encourage African-American voters to get to the polls on

In a last minute push to garner more votes, Rev. Jesse Jackson of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition held a rally at the Bray Center, 926 Center St., on Sunday.

The Racine NAACP hosted the event. Organizers say the upcoming election on Tuesday is “too close to call,” and Jackson came to town to persuade African-Americans to vote.

A crowd of about 100 people attended the event. Many of them were members of the teachers union, Voces De La Frontera and the surrounding neighborhood. Mahlon Mitchell who is running for Lt. Governor against Rebecca Kleefisch and Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine) attended the rally.

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Yusuf Buckley, of Sturtevant, said rally was to get people together.

"It's a pep rally to get people off their butts," he said. "It's the kind of thing that's important."

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Jackson told the crowd that on Aug. 6, 1965, black people got the right to vote.

“Martyrs died for the right to vote,” Jackson said. “You can march your souls to the polls and vote on Tuesday. We demand to have our right to vote protected, we will vote on Tuesday with our hopes and not our fears.”

In order for the Democrats to win the recall elections for the Governor, Lt. Governor and four State Senate seats, voter turnout needs to be high, Mason said.

“So his (Jackson’s) message was about what’s at stake,” he said. “If we want to win this election, we have to a high voter turnout.”

Jameel Ghuari, director of the Bray Center, said that polls are showing that the election is “a dead heat.”

“African Americans could sway the election if turnout is high,” he said. “Given all early voting indicators, this unprecedented recall election could have record numbers going to the polls.”

According to exit polls, 40,000 less African American voters came out to vote in 2010 compared to the 2008 presidential election. In 2010, Walker won against Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett by 124,000 and organizers of the event believe this election has an even slimmer margin.

“We will go beyond the gap by descending on the streets of Racine and meeting the voters to ensure they are informed and have their voice heard through their vote,” added Ghuari.


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