WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — As you traveled on Watson Boulevard Thursday afternoon, you may have a seen a small congregation of people milling about in the parking lot of Succeed Co-Work and a large purple RV parked out front, with names and phrases scrawled along the van’s outside. This was Vote Equality.
The non-partisan group, a self-identified grassroots effort working to promote equal rights for all Americans across the US, made Warner Robins one of several stops as it tours the southern states. Fenica Miller, deputy national field director of Black Voters Matter — a group partnering with Vote Equality — provided details on the event.
“Today we are partnered with Vote Equality, the League of Women Voters and a coalition of national partners to host the Vote Equality tour here,” Miller said. “It is very fitting that one day after Black Women’s Equal Pay Day and after equal pay for other women, that this tour has stopped here to highlight and amplify the need for folks to vote for equality across the board for all individuals, for all people, for all genders, all races.”
Vote Equality is traveling the United States to discuss equality and the issues on the upcoming ballot, as well as to discuss how inequality is affecting communities across the U.S. One of several goals of the non-profit is to encourage individuals to be “equality voters.”
“As you go to the ballot box in November, you think about those things that are going to move the needle for all people, to keep that at the forefront of your mind,” Miller said.
The key, Miller said, is discussing issues voters are concerned with — not individual politicians.
“If it’s healthcare, we know that an elected official pulls a lever of power related to healthcare — Aug. 28 was the 10-year anniversary of our state refusing to expand Medicaid in the state of Georgia — we know the impact of a lack of access to healthcare, we know that nine to 11 rural hospitals have closed, more recently a hospital in the metro area has shifted an actual crisis center,” Miller said. “We know the devastating impact that lack of access, a lack of affordability has on communities across the state.
“When we talk about environmental justice, we don’t have to connect it to an individual. We can talk about the utility burdens that folks in Albany, Fort Valley, Vianna and Coffee County, paying $800 to $1,000 a month for their light bills — we can connect that to the Public Service Commission and an elected Utility Commission, or an appointed or elected EMC Board.”
The list goes on, Miller explained, who details issues of equality in voter’s rights and other topics many Americans are concerned with.
“We don’t have to talk about a candidate — we can take our business directly to the people, we can make sure the people know they have the power to change the outcome of any election, and they should lean into that power, to elect folks who are going to best represent them,” Miller added.
According to Miller, several issues related to equality and equity impact not only the United States as a whole, but also Middle Georgia and Houston County more specifically. These issues include access to healthcare, women’s pay in comparison to men’s, environmental justice, voting rights, childcare — all issues that act as barriers to a positive quality of life, and that must be equal.
Those attending Vote Equality’s stop in Warner Robins were able to sign the bus, write postcards on the importance of equality that will be mailed to the appropriate party and signed a commitment to speak with family and friends about equality — and majorly, to vote.
“From the time you are born, an elected official signs your birth certificate,” Miller said. “When you die, an elected official signs your death certificate — you can’t get your life insurance policy until an elected official signs off on it. Voting impacts everything. It impacts our quality of life; it affects the way everyone has access to the democratic franchise.”
Another goal of Vote Equality is to ensure that the Equal Rights Amendment is ratified into the United State Constitution, to help defend the rights of disenfranchised groups across the U.S.
Miller added that the arrival of this tour marks an important anniversary celebrating the many women of color who have acted as leaders in Houston County.
“When [Vote Equality] was here in 2020, we had just started this book, to chronicle Black women on the front lines in Houston County for the Civil Rights Movement — the book just arrived this week, and all of those stories are captured here, highlighting and chronicling all of the contributions of women have made here in Houston County to the Civil Rights Movements.”
The book, written by Lavoris “Gail” Alexander and published by the Houston County Black Heritage Society, is called “A Tale of Two Citizens, Black Women on the Front Lines; Untold Stories of the Civil Rights Movement.” In this are the stories of 12 women of color who fought for their civil rights through protests, arrests, community building — even participating in the 110-mile march; the book features them all. The arrival of the Vote Equality tour, just as it marked the book’s beginning two years ago, marked the book’s completion this week.
To become more involved, Miller directed interested individuals to get involved with a local group such as Black Voters Matter or a local civic organization, or they can speak with their friends and family.
“The issues that effect our communities don’t start or stop on election day,” Miller said. “It requires us to be engaged and involved 365 days of the year. This work is tedious. Whether there’s a candidate on the ballot, an organization in your community — we are the ones who hold power in our communities, and we have to continue to do that work every single day.”
For those interested in “A Tale of Two Citizens,” the book can be found at HCBlackHeritage.com.
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