NAACP ‘Vote Hard’ bus tour to cruise through Wiregrass Saturday

Hundreds of college students traveling with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Youth and College Division are expected to tour the state this weekend to promote voting.

In Dothan there will be a “whistle stop” on Saturday in which organizers said students will hold voter education rallies to discuss issues including comprehensive health care, home foreclosures, college affordability, racial profiling and workers’ rights.

Organizers said in a press release that the events will be “in spirit of the 1960s ‘freedom rides’” and will not be used to support either presidential candidate.

“The most important thing is having people in office who assure a bright future for African Americans as well as all Americans. We push the issues based on an agenda where different politicians and persons talk ... but in no case do we push one political candidate. NAACP is a non-partisan organization,” Youth and College division director Stefanie Brown said in a phone interview.

Brown said bus destinations were selected based on where active NAACP programs were in place and where there were relatively high numbers of blacks in the area.

More than 1,500 students have traveled with the NAACP since the tour started last week and have been well-received by communities they’ve already visited in South Carolina, she said.

According to a press release, many of the college students participating are first-time voters seeking to dispel election rumors and provide accurate voter information.

“It’s not about rallying, but going door to door and talking to individuals,” she said.

“Having students engage in the dialogue is really powerful.”

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Saturday stops in the Wiregrass

1 p.m.        Eufaula - Auto Parts, 103 E. Fair St.

2:30 p.m.    Troy - Holiday Inn on Highway 231

4:45 p.m.    Dothan - First Missionary Baptist Church, 270 Chickasaw St.

6 p.m.        Enterprise - Willie and Daisy Gibson Community Park