Interview: Reverend Lennox Yearwood Discusses #RespectMyVote Campaign
Reverend Lennox Yearwood the CEO or the Hip Hop Caucus as and co-creator of the Vote or Die! campaign that was made famous by Diddy in 2004, stopped by The Breakfast Club to discuss why everyone needs to vote.
His new campaign is #RespectMyVote and he’s partnering up with Charlamagne Tha God to spread the word.
Introducing Charlamagne Tha God as the First Official 2016 Respect My Vote! Spokesperson
Charlamagne Tha God, is a national radio and television personality. He is a co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show The Breakfast Club with DJ Envy and Angela Yee and stars in MTV’s Guy Code and Girl Code, and is a VJ on The Week In Jams with DJ Envy and Sofi Green. And in 2015 Charlamagne began hosting the MTV2 show Uncommon Sense.
Charlamagne is known for his often edgy and outspoken personality and Respect My Vote! is excited to embrace his passion for truth and for being a voice for the people.
Past Respect My Vote! spokespeople have included 2 Chainz in 2012 and T.I. in 2008. Charlamagne, like T.I. and 2 Chainz, is someone with a felony record. Ex-offenders are able to vote in almost every state, and a major goal of Respect My Vote! is to end the myth that ex-offenders cannot vote. Charlamagne is not afraid to use the voice he has been blessed with. Millions appreciate his realness and authenticity. And we are excited about that dynamic which he is bringing to Respect My Vote! 2016.
Charlamagne Tha God is the first of many spokespeople who are joining Respect My Vote! for the biggest campaign yet. We look forward introducing artists, entertainers, athletes, and so many more, who support our community and are passionate about young voters exercising their right to be heard in our democracy.
Hip Hop Caucus: Connecting the hip hop community to the civic process
Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO, Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. went on “Good Morning Washington” to discuss the launch of the 2016 Respect My Vote! campaign. The live segment, which aired Tuesday, March 15th, featured Hip Hop Caucus as a national organization whose mission is to connect the hip hop community to the civic process.
Rev Yearwood spoke about Hip Hop Caucus’ “Supreme Justice” campaign and the importance of teaching young voters about the role of the Supreme Court and the nomination process to the court given the vacancy the President and Senate need to fill on the bench.
Rev Yearwood also discussed the support of hip hop’s biggest celebrities in mobilizing young voters who are energized by the opportunity to make change through policy and the political process. Rev Yearwood ended the interview with a powerful message to young people: “People died for you to vote. People died for you to make sure your voice can be heard.”
The full segment is here: http://wjla.com/features/good-morning-washington/hip-hop-caucus-connecting-the-hip-hop-community-to-the-civic-process
Our Response to Trayvon Martin’s Killing, Organizing for Civil and Human Rights
The date has passed for our National Virtual Town Hall to discuss our long-term Trayvon Martin response, post Zimmerman verdict. It was a very powerful Town Hall event, with nearly 1,800 people from around the country participating via phone. Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, Uncle Bobby, uncle of Oscar Grant, and a number of phenomenal and diverse Hip Hop generation leaders spoke during the Town Hall. Please check out the recap of the Town Hall, including audio of the full Town Hall, and audio clips of each speaker. You can also check out the event Media Advisory.
We have returned this page to providing an outline to our long-term organizing plan pertaining to gun violence, racial profiling, and the justice system:
Our Plan of Action
After the acquittal of George Zimmerman, we cried for the deep injustice we witnessed. Now, in the days following the verdict, we are out in the streets, demonstrating, marching, chanting, sharing the experience publicly, and making sure the rest of the country and the world sees that we will not be silent. Although the marching in the streets, by necessity of the demands of our daily lives, will die down, our resolve to fulfill the promises we have made to fight for justice for Trayvon Martin and all the young lives we have lost to gun violence, racial profiling, and police violence, wont.
The Hip Hop Caucus’ grassroots and national leadership has put forth a long-term organizing plan, honoring our collective promise to continue to the fight for justice, and for civil and human rights in the 21st century. Below is the outline for that plan. Register for the July 31st Town Hall to discuss it in more detail.
Legal and Policy Strategy
Immediate
In coalition with our civil rights partners, we are calling for the Department of Justice to open a Civil Rights case against George Zimmerman, for racially profiling, stocking, and taking the life of Trayvon Martin. We are weighing in with Attorney General Eric Holder. A number of our partners are circulating online petitions to the Department of Justice, including the NAACP and Color of Change. We don’t want to duplicate efforts, so we encourage you to sign one of these petitions.
Long-Term
Honoring the too many young lives lost to gun violence, which are disproportionately lives of young Black men, we are working long-term for changes to our laws on these fronts:
- Sensible Gun Policy Reform that protects communities and children from the threat of daily violence and killing
- Repealing of Stand Your Ground Laws in every state in which they exist currently
- An End to Racial Profiling by Law Enforcement
- New Mechanisms for Federal Tracking of Police Killings, so that we may have accurate data about lives lost at the hands of Law Enforcement
Mobilization
50th Anniversary of the March on Washington
August 28th is the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. This will be just six weeks after the Zimmerman Verdict, and we will mobilize for this historic anniversary, lifting up the memory of Trayvon Martin by calling for justice.
On Saturday, August 24th, we are organizing a major march on the National Mall in Washington, DC, with our partners in the civil rights movement. We encourage you to join us in DC.
On Wednesday, August 28th, the official anniversary, we are asking folks around the country to host “Freedom Parties” in their cities to bring people together locally to discuss what our movement for civil and human rights needs to look like for the next 50 years. Get involved in these mobilizations here.
Trayvon Martin Foundation
Join with the Trayvon Martin Foundation, which was established by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin in March 2012, to create awareness of how violent crime impacts the families of the victims, and to provide support and advocacy for those families. The scope of the Foundation’s mission is to advocate that crime victims and their families not be ignored in the discussions about violent crime, to increase public awareness of all forms of racial, ethnic and gender profiling, educate youth on conflict resolution techniques, and to reduce the incidences where confrontations between strangers turn deadly. Get involved with the Trayvon Martin Foundation here.
#TakeOverFL
Since Tuesday, July 16, young people under the leadership of the Dream Defenders, have been conducting a sit-in of Gov. Rick Scott’s office in the Florida State Capitol. The Dream Defenders are calling on the Governor to convene a special session of the legislature to enact the Trayvon’s Law to repeal Stand Your Ground, ban racial profiling, and end the school-to-prison pipeline in Florida. Get involved with the Dream Defenders movement here.
Accountability: 2014 Elections
We will hold our elected officials accountable to our justice agenda. 2014 marks mid-term elections, where Members of the U.S. Congress and Senate are up for re-election, state legislators are up for re-election, Governors, Mayors and Judges are up for re-election. “Respect My Vote!” our voter registration, education and get-out-the-vote campaign will be in full force and we will need your help.
We will be asking the candidates where they stand on racial profiling, gun reform, “Stand Your Ground” Laws, and police brutality, and sharing that information with young voters, so they can make informed decisions at the ballot box. We will also be sharing information about how those in office now have voted on these issues during their time in office.
Healing and Empowerment
Our communities are dealing with deep hurt, that too often we aren’t able to address or intentionally heal from. Changes in policy, increasing our political power, changing the public narrative about our communities through mobilization, are all critical pieces to creating the possibility of a better future for our children. But at the most basic level, we must heal from the pain of too much loss of life, especially young life, in our communities. We also must work on greater unity among our communities, based on an understanding of our collective history. To this end we are focusing particularly on projects and initiatives that advance healing and unity.
- Children: Our concern is with our children’s ability to process, understand, and heal from violence in their own communities, which is compounded by participating in the national experience of high-profile cases like that of Trayvon Martin’s killing.
- Black immigrant communities: We hope to build stronger bridges between African American history and the Black immigrant experience in this country, particularly in places like Miami. The purpose is to share the experiences of those from other countries, and that of the American experience, and to connect the dots between our common histories, to increase our unity.
RECAP: Our Virtual Town Hall on Hip Hop’s Trayvon Martin Response w/ Audio
Sybrina Fulton spoke beautifully and fiercely during our Town Hall about how we all need to stay engaged in this movement for peace and justice for our children.
Scroll down for audio clips.
On July 31, 2013, the Hip Hop Caucus held the Hip Hop National Virtual Town Hall: Our Trayvon Martin Response to discuss our long-term organizing plan in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman for killing Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012.
We were joined by Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin and co-founder of the Trayvon Martin Foundation, and Uncle Bobby, uncle to Oscar Grant. Grammy nominated recording Artist Raheem DeVaughn spoke, and award winning, internationally aclaimed poets jessica Care moore, and J. Ivy performed powerful spoken word pieces. The Dream Defenders joined us, from the state capitol in Florida. Florida State Senator Dwight Bullard, Hip Hop journalist and activist Davey D, and Hip Hop Caucus Leaders Brandi Williams, Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr., and Liz Havstad, all spoke to various issues and strategies for our generation. Rev Yearwood moderated the Town Hall and kept us focused on a long-term holistic community response. A full listing of speakers and how to reach them over social media, is below, along with audio recordings of their remarks during the Town Hall, just scroll down.
Nearly 1,800 people joined this virtual Town Hall over the phone, from around the country. For over two hours, folks listened to a diverse set of voices and leaders. We laid out short- and long-term actions, and an overall plan to address gun violence, racial profiling, and injustice within our justice system. A written outline of our plan is here.
It is well worth your time to listen to the full Town Hall or specific speakers, and please stay involved with the Hip Hop Caucus, follow us @HipHopCaucus.
Full Audio of the Town Hall
Spoken Word Performances from the Town Hall
jessica Care moore
jessica Care moore is an internationally renowned poet/ publisher/ activist/ rock star/ playwright and actor. She is a five-time Showtime at the Apollo winner. She is featured on Nas’ “Nastradamus” album and was a returning star of Russell Simmon’s HBO Series, Def Poetry Jam. jessica performed a beautiful spoken word piece following remarks from Sybrina Fulton and Uncle Bobby. Follow @jessicaCaremoor.
J. Ivy
J. Ivy is an artist, a poet, a producer. He is a Grammy-winner and a HBO Def Poet under Russell Simmons. He is featured on Kanye’s debut album College Dropout. J. Ivy began the Town Hall feeding our spirit, with an incredible spoken word piece. Follow @J_Ivy.
Individual Speakers from the Town Hall
Sybrina Fulton
Sybrina Fulton is the mother of Trayvon Martin. She co-founded the Trayvon Martin Foundation. And she has been such an amazing steward of justice, and representation of strength for all of us. Follow @SybrinaFulton & @TTMFoundation.
Uncle Bobby
Uncle Bobby – everyone simply calls him Uncle Bobby – is the uncle of Oscar Grant. For those that have not seen the film Fruitvale Station yet, go see it! It depicts the story of Oscar Grant, who was murdered by BART police (BART is the subway in the Bay Area), in the most horrific way, at the Fruitvale Station stop. Uncle Bobby and Oscar’s family were a part of huge mobilizations in the Bay Area for justice for Oscar. Visit www.oscargrantfoundation.com.
Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr.
Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. is President and CEO, of the Hip Hop Caucus. Follow @RevYearwood.
Raheem DeVaughn
Raheem DeVaughn is a Grammy nominated, R&B singer/song writer. Raheem did a tribute song for Trayvon. He told us about why he was moved to do that song, and also how artists can play a major role in the healing process of that our community is so in need. Follow @Raheem_DeVaughn.
Davey D
Davey D is journalist and activist who has been telling the stories of the Hip Hop community, when mainstream media wont, for the past couple of decades. Davey D is based out in the Bay Area. His radio show Hard Knock Radio, is an award-winning daily syndicated prime time afternoon show focusing on Hip Hop culture and politics, and is probably the best way to get to know Davey D. Follow @MrDaveyD.
Phil Agnew
Phil Agnew is Executive Director of the Dream Defenders. The Dream Defenders are sitting-in in the Governor’s office, demanding that the Florida legislature comes back into session to pass a Trayvon Law. Follow @PhilUnchained & @DreamDefenders.
Dwight Bullard
Dwight Bullard is a Florida State Senator. He represents Miami in the Florida Senate. He is of the Hip Hop generation. He was a public school teacher before being elected to office. Follow @DwightBullard.
Brandi Williams, Liz Havstad, Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr.
Brandi Williams is coordinator of Hip Hop Caucus Charlotte, and is a public relations professional. Liz Havstad is Director of Civic Engagement and Strategic Growth for the Hip Hop Caucus, and Dr. Roger Mitchell Jr. is coordinator of Hip Hop Caucus Newark and Chief Medical Examiner in Newark, NJ. Brandi, Liz, and Dr. Mitchell speak to Hip Hop Caucus’ mobilization and policy efforts, and how to get involved. Follow @mizzbea2u, @lizhavstad, and @rmitch_jr.
TODAY IS ELECTION DAY! Let’s get out there and VOTE!
Today is the BIG DAY! Now its time to exercise your right in our great democracy. Get to your polls and cast your vote today!
Here is a link to find your POLLING PLACE – https://2014.votinginfoproject.org/
Here is a link with info for your ELECTION PROTECTION – http://www.866ourvote.org/
If you have any problems at the polls, you can call 1-866-OUR-VOTE and they can help answer your questions.
HIP HOP CAUCUS WILL WORK TO ENSURE ALL VOTERS ARE PROTECTED FROM DISCRIMINATION UNDER VOTING RIGHTS ACT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: 202.293.5902, press@hiphopcaucus.org
Hip Hop Caucus’ Statement in Response to Disastrous Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court Ruling
(Washington, DC – June 26, 2013) – Yesterday, the Supreme Court issued a long awaited ruling on Shelby County v. Holder, in which the constitutionality of the preclearence provisions of the Voting Rights Act was challenged. In response, Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus said:
“The Supreme Court’s out-of-touch decision in Shelby County v. Holder ignores the fact that Congress has clear constitutional authority to protect voters’ rights from racial discrimination. The evidence is overwhelming that racial discrimination in the voting process continues today in states and jurisdictions around the country. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, and Alito, have leveled a major setback to our most fundamental right, the right to vote.
The Voting Rights Act is what people fought and died for half a century ago, and it is unfathomable that in 2013, just seven years after Congress re-authorized VRA, five Supreme Court justices would undo this landmark law that has served as an essential protector of our democracy, and continues to be necessary today.
The Hip Hop Caucus, through its ‘Respect My Vote!’ campaign which has registered tens of thousands of young voters of color over the past three election cycles, will be working with partners across the country to see that Congress enacts a new statute which reactivates the essential preclearence provisions of the VRA that the Supreme Court effectively gutted.
We are holding a national organizing call – an emergency virtual town hall meeting via phone – on July 10 at 8:30pm ET, where Hip Hop Caucus members and allies will discuss and put into action a mobilization plan. Those who want to stand up for voting rights with us, can sign up for the call at www.respectmyvote.com.”
For further background on the ruling and the VRA visit: www.respectmyvote.com/VRA
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About the Hip Hop Caucus (www.hiphopcaucus.org): Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.
MEDIA ADVISORY: HIP HOP GENERATION LEADERS JOIN SYBRINA FULTON, MOTHER OF TRAYVON MARTIN, & OTHERS FOR NATIONAL VIRTUAL TOWN HALL TO DISCUSS LONG-TERM RESPONSE TO ZIMMERMAN VERDICT
A recap of this event is now available here, including full audio and audio clips.
HIP HOP GENERATION LEADERS JOIN SYBRINA FULTON, MOTHER OF TRAYVON MARTIN, & OTHERS FOR NATIONAL VIRTUAL TOWN HALL TO DISCUSS LONG-TERM RESPONSE TO ZIMMERMAN VERDICT
Hip Hop Caucus, Trayvon Martin Foundation, Florida Dream Defenders, to provide updates, calls to action, and a long-term community agenda to prevent any other child’s story to turn out like that of Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, and so many others who have lost their lives to racial profiling, gun violence, and injustice
WHO: Sybrina Fulton, mother of Trayvon Martin, and co-founder of the Trayvon Martin Foundation; Cephus “Uncle Bobby” Johnson, uncle of Oscar Grant, the Oscar Grant Foundation; jesssica Care moore, Award-winning Poet, Author, and CEO of Moore Black Press; J. Ivy, Grammy Award Winning Hip Hop Poet; A representative of the Florida Dream Defenders; Davey D, Hip Hop Activist & Journalist; Brandi Williams, Hip Hop Caucus Charlotte; Moderated by: Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO
WHAT: The Hip Hop Caucus has defined a long-term organizing plan in response to the outcome of George Zimmerman’s trial for killing Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012. During this Town Hall, the agenda and organizing plan, (posted at www.respectmyvote.com/travyon), in response to Trayvon Martin’s story, will be discussed and next steps for participants will be provided. Sybrina Fulton will discuss the Trayvon Martin Foundation’s next steps, and a representative from the Dream Defenders, who are currently conducting a sit-in of Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s office, will also provide updates.
WHEN: Wednesday, July 31, 2013, 8:30pm EST / 7:30pm CST / 6:30pm MST / 5:30pm PST
WHERE: This Virtual Town Hall will take place over the phone. To receive call-in instructions, register for the Town Hall at www.respectmyvote.com/trayvon. Media register as press on the registration form.
CONTACT: Liz Havstad, 202.293.5902, press (at) hiphopcaucus.org
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About Hip Hop Caucus (www.hiphopcaucus.org): Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.
About the Trayvon Martin Foundation (www.trayvonmartinfoundation.org): The Trayvon Martin Foundation was established by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin in March 2012. The scope of the Foundation’s mission is to advocate that crime victims and their families not be ignored in the discussions about violent crime, to increase public awareness of all forms of racial, ethnic and gender profiling, educate youth on conflict resolution techniques, and to reduce the incidences where confrontations between strangers turn deadly.
PRESS RELEASE: Rick Ross and Elle Varner Join Hip Hop Caucus “Respect My Vote!” 2014 Campaign to Mobilize Youth Vote in Mid-term Elections
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Nakia Hicks, 202.293.5902, press@hiphopcaucus.org
Rick Ross and Elle Varner Join Hip Hop Caucus “Respect My Vote!” 2014 Campaign to Mobilize Youth Vote in Mid-term Elections
Jobs, Racial Justice, Climate Change, Education Are Defining Issues for Largest and Longest Running Hip Hop Get Out the Vote Electoral Campaign
Announcement Comes on One-Year Anniversary of Supreme Court Gutting of Voting Rights Act and 50th Anniversary of Freedom Summer
June 25, 2014 (Washington, DC) – The national, non-partisan, Hip Hop Caucus announced the launch of their 2014 get out the vote campaign, “Respect My Vote!” to increase young voter turnout in the mid-term elections. Recording artists Rick Ross and Elle Varner announced their involvement today in the five-month campaign to register and mobilize 18 – 40 year-old voters, with a primary focus on those living in urban communities and on Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU) campuses.
“I’m definitely honored to be joining the Hip Hop Caucus’ Respect My Vote! Campaign for the 2014 mid-term elections,” said Rick Ross. “To vote is to be a boss. When we vote, we are deciding who works for us on all levels of the government. I most definitely look forward to working with the Hip Hop Caucus to encourage young people to boss up at the polls.”
The “Respect My Vote!” 2014 campaign will inform young voters about the elections in their states, and focus on four key issues for the Hip Hop community: Jobs, Racial Justice, Climate Change, and Education.
“Voting is exercising your voice and power,” said Elle Varner. “I am very passionate about everyone using their voices to affect change, and so I am very excited to be joining the Hip Hop Caucus’ Respect My Vote! campaign.”
The Hip Hop Caucus is announcing their 2014 campaign on the one-year anniversary of the Shelby v. Holder decision, in which the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. The Shelby case gutted a critical piece of civil rights legislation that has helped protect this country from racial discrimination in voting since 1965. At the same time this week marks the beginning of the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer, when young people organized in Mississippi to register as many African Americans to vote as possible over the summer of 1964.
“I could not be more excited to launch our ‘Respect My Vote!’ campaign for this election cycle during the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer. It is historic,” said Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr., President and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus. “Today, however, is also the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court decision to gut the Voting Rights Act, which is a clear reminder that there has never been a more significant time than right now for young people to stand up and get out and vote.”
During this midterm election year all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate (including 3 mid-term vacancies) will be contested; along with 38 state and territorial Governors races, 46 state legislatures (except Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey and Virginia), four territorial legislatures and numerous state and local races.
“Respect My Vote!” will reach a national audience through earned media and an online organizing campaign (the website for the campaign is www.respectmyvote.com). Hip Hop Caucus will also run “Respect My Vote!” field operations in targeted communities in: Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Louisiana, Tennessee, Illinois, and California.
This will be the fourth consecutive election cycle for the award-winning “Respect My Vote!” campaign. Hip Hop Caucus has organized young voters in 2008, 2010, and 2012 under the “Respect My Vote!” banner, and has partnered with numerous celebrities in previous election cycles, including lead spokespeople T.I. and 2 Chainz in 2008 and 2012 respectively. In 2004, those working with Russell Simmons’ Hip Hop Summit Action Network, Jay Z’s “Voice Your Choice” and P. Diddy’s “Vote Or Die!” campaign came together and launched the Hip Hop Caucus to continuously advance the interests of the Hip Hop generation in the political process.
For media inquiries and interview opportunities, please contact: Nakia Hicks: press@hiphopcaucus.org or (202) 202.293.5902.
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About the Hip Hop Caucus (www.respectmyvote.com & www.hiphopcaucus.org): Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today’s young leaders.
