Don’t sleep on voting. Our ancestors, the NAACP, and a few other progressive groups are encouraging Black people to vote in their fifteen-city “Stay Woke” tour this month.
The tour started in Jacksonville on June 19, and runs north to Tallahassee, west to Tampa, south to Miami and back along the state’s east coast, ending on June 23. There will be a stop in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, June 22 at the African American Research Library and Museum.
The Black vote is essential in 2024 to keep Republicans like Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump out of the presidential office. Earlier this year, the Florida NAACP issued a travel advisory discouraging Black people from visiting the state in response to Governor Ron DeSantis’ “openly hostile” legislation. DeSantis has banned books at schools, denied funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and effectively removed Black history from many schools in his “War on Woke.”
The “Stay Woke” tour is the combined efforts of the Transformative Justice Coalition, American Federation of Teachers, Black Votes Matter, and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. The one of a kind protest will utilize two buses, a 55-passenger bus named after the late U.S. Representative and civil rights leader John Lewis, and a hoop bus – a school bus that turns any parking lot to a basketball court.
“This rolling protest and votercade is one of many actions to be undertaken in Florida to raise awareness and encourage Black Floridians to stand up and fight back against attacks on our communities, our democracy and our history, by registering to vote and voting every election,” said Adora Obi Nweze, President of the NAACP Florida State Conference of Branches.
Activities will include marches, voter registration, teach-ins, banned book giveaways, education about new voting laws, press conferences and teacher recognitions.
View the preliminary schedule below.
Monday, June 19 — Jacksonville
— 7-8:15 a.m.: Registration and breakfast welcoming program.
— 9-9:30 a.m.: Juneteenth ‘Stay Woke Florida’ rolling protest kickoff press conference.
— 9:30 a.m.: Votercade to Tallahassee.
— 12:30-2:30 p.m.: Arrival in Tallahassee, followed by a press conference, march, rally, celebration, voter registration and banned book giveaway at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church.
— 2:30 p.m.: Departure: Votercade from Tallahassee to Gainesville.
— 5:30 p.m.: Gainesville Juneteenth reception, concert.
Tuesday, June 20 — Gainesville
— 8:30 a.m.: Votercade to Ocala.
— 9:30 a.m.: Arrival at Ocala.
— 10:30 a.m.: Votercade from Ocala to Leesburg.
— 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.: Arrival at Leesburg, followed by a program and lunch.
— 1-2 p.m.: Votercade from Leesburg to Orlando.
— 2 p.m.: Arrival at Orlando’s Lake Lorna Doone Park.
— 4 p.m.: Votercade from Orlando to Tampa.
— 6:30 p.m.: Tampa program and dinner.
Wednesday, June 21 — Tampa
— 8-9 a.m.: Votercade to Sarasota.
— 9-11 a.m.: Sarasota program, followed by votercade to Fort Myers.
— 12 p.m.: Arrival at Fort Myers, luncheon.
— 2 p.m.: Votercade to Miami.
— 7 p.m.: Miami program and dinner.
Thursday, June 22 — Miami
— 10-11:30 a.m.: Morning program
— 1-2:15 p.m.: Votercade to Fort Lauderdale.
— 2:30-4 p.m.: Fort Lauderdale program.
— 4-5 p.m.: Votercade to West Palm Beach.
— 7 p.m.: West Palm Beach dinner program.
Friday, June 23 — West Palm Beach
— 8-10:45 a.m.: Votercade to Cocoa Beach.
— 10:45 a.m.-2 p.m.: Votercade to Daytona Beach.
— 2:10-3:30 p.m.: Wreath laying in honor of Mary McLeod Bethune, followed by Votercade to St. Augustine.
— 4:30-6 p.m.: St. Augustine program.
— 6-7 p.m.: Votercade to Jacksonville, followed by closing reception and party.
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