On September 11th, 2004, Working Assets and Mother Jones are going to sponsor an Election Protection Training at Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco. As the invitation to the training says, "...leaders in the civil rights community have been warning that unless tens of thousands of volunteers stand up and protect voting rights, minority voters will once again face disenfranchisement at the polls due to illegal disqualification, intimidation, and faulty voting machines. Many of us at Working Assets have pledged to travel to key states with our friends and families to help protect voting rights as volunteer poll monitors. We hope you will join us."
Working Assets, Mother Jones magazine, People For the American Way Foundation, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Equal Justice Society, True Majority, Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, IMPACT 2004 and others will share information about opportunities to help protect voting rights in key states on November 2. Lawyers and law students are especially needed and will receive training specific to their skill sets. All participants in this outdoor rally and training will receive an update on efforts to prevent minority disenfranchisement and intimidation at the polls, challenges posed by computer voting systems and an overview of the key states where voting rights are at greatest risk. Organizers are asking that attendees RSVP online at http://www.ElectionProtectionVolunteer.org/911