For Immediate Release
May 23, 2006
Contact Information
Joanne Williams
202-659-4929
Kevin Parker
215-519-2831
AFRICAN AMERICANS EXCEED VOTER TURN OUT PROJECTIONS IN NEW ORLEANS RUN OFF ELECTIONS
National Coalition on Black Civic Participation Praises Perseverance of African American Voters
Washington, DC – May 23, 2006 – The nonpartisan National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) praised the tenacity of African American voters casting ballots during the May 20th Run-Off elections in New Orleans. Displaced by Hurricane Katrina in far greater numbers than any other group, African American voters demonstrated that they wanted to be actively involved in the city’s future.
Initially projected by analysts not to match voter participation in the April 22nd Primary Election, African American voters surpassed the expectation and cast ballots in record numbers making up more than one-half of the 40 percent of the voting electorate.
“If there is a good news story for New Orleans, it is that African Americans are a part of the ongoing dialogue that’s shaping the city’s renaissance,” said Melanie L. Campbell, Executive Director and CEO of the 80-organization member National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.
In the months leading up to the election, the NCBCP along with a number of national and local organizations working under the umbrella of the Rebuild HOPE Now Campaign, convened a four-city series of voter empowerment and candidate forums. The sessions targeted African Americans forced away from their homes and living out-of-state in Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA, Baton Rouge, LA, or in temporary housing in New Orleans.
Vincent Sylvain, local convener of NCBCP’s, Louisiana Unity ’06 Coalition stated, “African Americans claimed their voting rights in New Orleans. All The National Coalition had to do was provide support, accurate information, and an opportunity for displaced Katrina survivors to make their Election Day choices,” Coordinated by Louisiana Unity ’06, NCBCP volunteers initiated an aggressive “Get-Out-The-Vote” effort in partnership with the National Urban League, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and other local and national organizations. Combined, the groups worked to ensure that African American voters could anticipate an incident-free Election Day.
Only 15 percent of the original African American residents have returned because the poorest areas of New Orleans remain completely uninhabitable. The National Coalition believes that to choose a future for their city, all New Orleanians regardless of race or economic background need to be involved in the discussions addressing how the city will be rebuilt.
“On Primary Day in April and again on the May 20th Run Off election, African American voices were heard. Our hope now is that the newly elected city officials act upon the issues of greatest concern to this constituency,” Campbell stated.
The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of over 80 member organizations dedicated to enhancing the full participation of the Black community in all levels of civil society. Over its 30-year history, NCBCP has served as an effective convener and facilitator at the local, state and national levels of efforts to address the disenfranchisement of African Americans and other marginalized communities. For more information please visit our website at: www.ncbcp.org.
The ReBuild HOPE Now Campaign was established to assist the National Coalition on Black Voter Participation’s affiliates and members in sustaining a long-term disaster relief and rebuilding effort in the communities adversely damaged by Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita. For more information visit the website at: www.rebuildhopenow.net.
Initially projected by analysts not to match voter participation in the April 22nd Primary Election, African American voters surpassed the expectation and cast ballots in record numbers making up more than one-half of the 40 percent of the voting electorate.
“If there is a good news story for New Orleans, it is that African Americans are a part of the ongoing dialogue that’s shaping the city’s renaissance,” said Melanie L. Campbell, Executive Director and CEO of the 80-organization member National Coalition on Black Civic Participation.
In the months leading up to the election, the NCBCP along with a number of national and local organizations working under the umbrella of the Rebuild HOPE Now Campaign, convened a four-city series of voter empowerment and candidate forums. The sessions targeted African Americans forced away from their homes and living out-of-state in Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA, Baton Rouge, LA, or in temporary housing in New Orleans.
Vincent Sylvain, local convener of NCBCP’s, Louisiana Unity ’06 Coalition stated, “African Americans claimed their voting rights in New Orleans. All The National Coalition had to do was provide support, accurate information, and an opportunity for displaced Katrina survivors to make their Election Day choices,” Coordinated by Louisiana Unity ’06, NCBCP volunteers initiated an aggressive “Get-Out-The-Vote” effort in partnership with the National Urban League, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and other local and national organizations. Combined, the groups worked to ensure that African American voters could anticipate an incident-free Election Day.
Only 15 percent of the original African American residents have returned because the poorest areas of New Orleans remain completely uninhabitable. The National Coalition believes that to choose a future for their city, all New Orleanians regardless of race or economic background need to be involved in the discussions addressing how the city will be rebuilt.
“On Primary Day in April and again on the May 20th Run Off election, African American voices were heard. Our hope now is that the newly elected city officials act upon the issues of greatest concern to this constituency,” Campbell stated.
The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation (NCBCP) is a national, nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of over 80 member organizations dedicated to enhancing the full participation of the Black community in all levels of civil society. Over its 30-year history, NCBCP has served as an effective convener and facilitator at the local, state and national levels of efforts to address the disenfranchisement of African Americans and other marginalized communities. For more information please visit our website at: www.ncbcp.org.
The ReBuild HOPE Now Campaign was established to assist the National Coalition on Black Voter Participation’s affiliates and members in sustaining a long-term disaster relief and rebuilding effort in the communities adversely damaged by Hurricane’s Katrina and Rita. For more information visit the website at: www.rebuildhopenow.net.
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