WHO: Leon County Government and The Village Square
WHAT: Created Equal: A Conversation about Race in Our Elections
WHEN: Thursday, May 26 at 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St.
As part of the Club of Honest Citizens series, Leon County Government and The Village Square will host the seventh annual “Created Equal: A Conversation about Race in Our Elections” on Thursday, May 26 at The Moon, 1105 E. Lafayette St. This award-winning program will examine how national and state-wide conversations on voting access and security impact our local community. Academic experts, community members and advocates will address the questions: Are elections fair and secure for everyone? Should we be doing more?
Citizens are encouraged to register for the event at LeonCountyFL.gov/CreatedEqual. Dinner and refreshments will be provided.
In recent years, more than 400 voter security bills have been introduced in 48 states. Yet according to experts, measures such as strict voter ID laws, restricted registration and narrowed voting times disproportionately impact people of color, students, the elderly, and people with disabilities. The discussion will encourage residents to advocate for voter engagement among family, friends, and within our community.
The panel will include:
Dr. Sharon Austin is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Florida. Dr. Austin’s first book: “Race, Power, and Political Emergence in Memphis” was published in 2000. She has also published scholarly articles in the National Political Science Review, The Journal of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists, Political Research Quarterly, and The Journal of Black Studies.
Professor Michael Morley is the Sheila M. McDevitt Professor at Florida State University’s College of Law. He is a member of the Florida Advisory Committee for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and was the 2021 Chair of the AALS Section on Election Law. He is a trusted voice in election security with experience in testifying before congressional committees, making presentations to U.S. Election Assistance Commission officials, and participating in bipartisan groups to develop election reforms.
Dr. Keith Parker is a Professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. He is the Founder and Chair of the National Education and Empowerment Coalition, Inc., and the host of the Annual National Civil Rights Conference. He is the author and co-author of numerous articles including “Using Microaggression to Examine U.S. Voter Suppression Tactics” (2018) and “Voter Participation in the Absence of the 1965 Voting Rights Act” (2021).
Tom Flanigan will moderate the conversation. He is the Program Director for News at WFSU Public Media and the host of Perspectives, a live, listener call-in program that discusses the issues that concern listeners in the North Florida and South Georgia regions.
The nationally recognized program, “Created Equal: A Conversation about Race in Our Elections” will build on the success of previous events and continue to encourage frank conversations on race and equal access to the ballot box. Citizens will be invited to join the discussion during roundtable conversations after the panel.
To RSVP for the program, visit LeonCountyFL.gov/CreatedEqual.
For more information, contact Leon County Community and Media Relations at (850) 606-5300 / CMR@LeonCountyFL.gov.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up