The Creekside Polling Place is not Halloween kids' stuff: It's about abuse of
power, threats to election officials, intimidation of vulnerable voters--a
toxic brew for the country's democracy. Hear this scary story tonight and
what's being done about it.
Special Guests:
Community Organizer, Lisa Williams
Attorney, Marc E. Weinstein
Voting Rights Activist, Emily Levy
8.P.M. ET Wednesday, October 22
Voice of the Voters!
Every Wednesday - 8 to 9 PM Eastern
Heard on 1360 AM Philadelphia and on the Internet
www.voiceofthevoters.org OR
http://wnjc.duxpond.com/
Call in 856-227-1360 questions/comments Can't listen live?
Email questions in advance and access previous shows at:
www.voiceofthevoters.org
Part 1: "Creekside-gate": Government Abuse of Power and a Citizens'
Revolt
Guests: Lisa Williams and Marc E. Weinstein
The relocation of the Creekside Apartments' polling place in Bucks County,
Pennsylvania has become the subject of a federal lawsuit. Plaintiff's
attorney Marc Weinstein and citizen activist Lisa Williams will discuss:
• How the move of the polling place resulted in voter
suppression and violates the civil rights some of the most vulnerable
citizens in our country - minorities and immigrants
• The abuse of power by certain county officials regarding their
decision to move the polls and evidence that they impeded the county's
Elections Director, Deena Dean from performing her duties
• Why the citizens from Creekside revolted and are demanding
that their poll be returned to its original location
• Voter intimidation, including illegal denial of assistance to
voters with limited English proficiency
• Why the lawsuit may set precedent by giving citizens the right
to challenge polling place locations on the grounds of voter suppression
Part 2: Standing for Voters: Preparing Candidates to Challenge Election
Results
Guest: Emily Levy
In some states, only a candidate - not voters - can challenge election
results. Emily Levy, of Velvet Revolution and
standingforvoters.org,
discusses:
• How can candidates for office use their candidacies to promote integrity
in our election system?
• How can voters (and those unable to vote) call on candidates to pledge
their commitment to election integrity?
• Which candidates have already signed the Standing For Voters pledge?
In addition, in conjunction with the film, "Stealing America", Vote By Vote's
ACTION SITE (
www.stealingamericathemovie.org/getactive), Emily Levy
has been instrumental in creating a website that helps citizens decide
where best to focus their efforts:
http://www.stealingamericathemovie.org/getactive/help.html.
We will discuss critical specific action, steps that need to be implemented
to protect the vote this November.
Websites you might want to link to, related to what we'll discuss:
Standing For Voters
www.standingforvoters.org
Velvet Revolution
www.velvetrevolution.usVelvet Revolution Election Protection Strike Force
www.velvetrevolution.us/electionstrikeforce
STEALING AMERICA: Vote By Vote's election integrity action site:
www.stealingamericathemovie.org/getactive.
Guest Bios:
Lisa Williams is a graduate of Chestnut Hill College, with a MS in
Psychology and has a BS in Business Administration from Oklahoma
Wesleyan University. She has been a resident of Bucks County for nearly
nine years and has worked in the drug and alcohol treatment field for
many years. She has been involved in the Bensalem Democratic
Organization for four years and been active in organizing of the Election
Officials in Bensalem for three years. She has also worked with the
Creekside election officials both before and after the controversial move of
the polling place.
Marc E. Weinstein's law firm concentrates on plaintiff's employment and
civil rights litigation. A graduate of Duke University and the University of
Pittsburgh law school, Marc has emerged as a leading advocate for the
rights of working families and minorities. In 2003, Marc successfully
convinced the PA Supreme Court - in a unanimous decision - to impose a
duty of care on companies conducting employee drug tests. In 2006, Marc
won a $500,000 jury verdict against the Postal Service on behalf of a
terminated employee. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Green
Tree School, an approved private school for children with developmental
disabilities. Marc has also received the Rev. Satterfield award from the
Bucks County NAACP in 2002 for his efforts to eradicate social injustice.
Emily Levy is project coordinator of StandingForVoters.org, a project of
Velvet Revolution's Election Protection Strike Force. She began her election
integrity work in 2004 as a volunteer in the New Mexico statewide office of
the Election Protection Coalition, and moved on to coordinate Richard
Hayes Phillips's precinct-level analysis of the Ohio 2004 presidential
election. She is also an occasional guest blogger on The BRAD BLOG. As a
lifelong activist, she has a passion for helping people find ways to work
effectively for social change. She lives in coastal California.
"Voice of the Voters!" is hosted this week by Mary Ann Gould and Lori
Rosolowsky with invaluable weekly news updates by John Gideon of
VotersUnite.org. Stay tuned for the Rob Kall Show - 9 pm Eastern same
station
Call in 856-227-1360 questions/comments
www.voiceofthevoters.orgCoalition for Voting Integrity