"Why should I care so much about the Senate?"
Activists and artists are urging Georgians to participate in the runoff elections — here's why their votes carry so much power.
Activists and artists are urging Georgians to participate in the runoff elections — here's why their votes carry so much power.
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00:00Why is it important to have political power?
00:04Policy affects people.
00:06Some people might say, why should I care so much about the Senate?
00:10This is actually going to make a huge difference to the entire United States.
00:31We need to prove the world that the South has something to say on January 6th.
00:35Has something to say.
00:45You should vote because you matter.
00:47And you have power.
00:48And your power is going to transform.
00:50And so we're literally speaking to the highest and the best part of ourselves.
00:55That we know we have power.
00:58Not because the United States government gave us power.
01:00But that we were literally in the very creation of who we are.
01:04That we have power as a people.
01:06One of the biggest motivators for the work that we do.
01:09Is not just to make voting accessible.
01:11But to make the polling space and the electoral space.
01:15A space that our community can feel they can occupy.
01:17Depending on who wins this runoff.
01:25Is going to determine what the majority is going to be like in the Senate.
01:28So for the next at least two years under Joe Biden.
01:32It will determine what are the policy priorities going to be.
01:35When we talk about things like criminal justice reform.
01:37Or college affordability and student debt forgiveness.
01:40These are plans that the current president elect and vice president elect.
01:45Are saying they want to bring awareness to and change.
01:48But if they don't have a Senate that's willing to meet them where they are.
01:52Then these things will continue to be pretty much knocked down.
01:56And we won't really see change in this country for another four years.
01:59There are so many legislations that are pending in the Senate.
02:03That have passed the House already.
02:04But they are pending in the Senate.
02:06And this election is your opportunity to just let your voice be heard.
02:10Legislation like the John Lewis Voters Rights Act.
02:13Which requires that states that have a history of discrimination.
02:16It requires them to get federal approval.
02:18Before they make any laws that affect voting.
02:21Such as the George Floyd I Can't Breathe Act.
02:24Which basically it bans chokeholds.
02:27And then you also have the Heroes Act.
02:29Which has a lot of resources and benefits.
02:31That will impact the American people directly.
02:34Such as COVID relief.
02:35As well as child care.
02:41What's going on after these elections.
02:44Guess what's coming?
02:45Redistricting.
02:46We just answered the census.
02:47And then legislators are going to be drawing those maps.
02:52And guess what?
02:53We have to be as involved as we are when we're voting.
02:56We have to go to the Capitol.
02:57We have to talk to our representatives.
03:00Because if we don't.
03:01Those maps and those districts are not going to represent us.
03:05If you believe in our democracy.
03:06It's the small price you pay.
03:08Which is civic engagement and your civic duty of voting.