Students at Livingstone College gather to “rock the vote”
Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 1, 2018
Michigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence speaks on behalf of Kathy Manning. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
Michigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence speaks on behalf of Kathy Manning. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
Bonnie Dawn Clark, Democratic candidate for the North Carolina House of Representatives in District 77, rallies Livingstone students. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
Kathy Manning, candidate for North Carolina’s 13th District House seat, participates in Rock the Vote at Livingstone College on Wednesday morning. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
Livingstone College students board the bus to go vote. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
SALISBURY — Bright skies, mild midmorning temperatures, and a hum of excited chatter created a perfect backdrop Wednesday as students and guests gathered in front of Livingstone College’s Varrick Auditorium.
The college’s annual “Livingstone Rocks the Vote” was an effort to provide students the opportunity to go to the polls and cast their ballots.
The college has hosted similar voting drives for over a decade. In years past, groups of students walked together to cast ballots at the Rowan Public Library Headquarters Branch.
With the loss of the library voting site last year, college officials continued to ensure that students would have a pathway to the polls. The college provides shuttles and buses to and from the county Board of Elections Office in West End Plaza, where early voting is available.
Anthony Brown, director of student activities, said Livingstone is “making sure the college handles our civic duty.”
“We’re not going to let anything stop us from voting,” Brown said.
Senior Everett J. Ransom, a liberal arts major and current Mister Livingstone, said the voting drive offers a chance for students to fight voter suppression.
“Since they moved into a different location, they thought we weren’t going to go,” Ransom said. “That’s not going to stop us. We’re going to continue. We’re going to make a difference in the world.”
Before the shuttles began, several candidates and local officials spoke to the students just outside the auditorium. Inside, staff members were waiting with bagged lunches for students to carry with them to the polls.
The speakers included Salisbury Mayor Al Heggins as well as local Democratic candidates Kathy Manning, running for Congress in the 13th District; Bonnie Clark, running for the legislature in the 77th House District; and Veleria Levy and Latasha Wilks, both running for Rowan County commissioner.
Levy said she had seen similar voter gatherings during her time at North Carolina A&T State University, when polling locations were changed and moved farther from campus.
She and Wilks encouraged the students to not let themselves be turned away at the polls.
“Make sure you’re not detoured by someone that tries to tell you you cannot register today, because you can,” Wilks said. “Your vote is your voice.”
Heggins reminded the students that voting is “critically important.”
“One of the most important things that you can do is to do what you’re doing today: to go and exercise your right to vote,” said Heggins. “I tell everybody that the power doesn’t lie with those who are elected; the power lies with those who are doing the electing.”
Manning, who faces Republican incumbent Ted Budd on the ballot, was joined by Michigan Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, who encouraged students to remember that their vote is their power.
Lawrence said she had come from Washington to support Manning because Manning would be a voice for all of North Carolina’s 13th District.
“This election is bigger than just you voting. You must have the fight to go out into the communities and turn out the vote,” she said. “… We are going to get a blue wave, and that blue wave can start right here on campus with the Blue Bears.”
Manning told students that by voting, they are exercising a right that was difficult for many to get.
“This election is about the future. It’s about your future, … and you can shape (it),” she said.
Clark, who faces Republican incumbent Julia Howard, agreed, taking Manning and Heggins’ messages a step further.
“Like our mayor said, you are the power behind the elected people in office. You hold them accountable,” she said. “If they are not doing your will, replace them. That is your right. That is your responsibility. That is your opportunity today.”
