Filmmaker and NYCAAFO Volunteer Amala Lane shares her experience registering voters in North East Philadelphia!

Last weekend, I went with the group to do voter registration in North East Philly at a Korean-American supermarket.  I don’t speak a lick of Korean but we had two young Korean-American women with us who at least knew enough to get started. One elderly woman who didn’t speak any English registered with their help.  About an hour later she came out with a big bag of fruit that she gave to us saying, “Thank you!”  That really felt great.

Then, on Sunday, Nina Ahmad and Matt organized voter registration at a South Indian church and Cambodian church respectively.  Partha Banerjee and I went with Nina to the church.  We registered 17 people I believe and again, they were so thankful for the attention that the Sunday school teacher came up with plates of piping hot yummy Indian food they had prepared for their festival that day! 

You can say truthfully that, “I go for the food!”  But underlaying this is the fact that voter registration is a way to include people in the process of democracy.  That is really why I do this. It’s so fulfilling to see people who are usually marginalized and not even given consideration (most of the folks have told me that no other campaign has ever approached them), finally becoming empowered by and part of the country we love.

Peace,
Amala

–
Amala Lane
Filmmaker

Central Texas Obama Supporters:

Currently, Camp Obama is only for volunteers traveling for five weeks to a battleground state as Deputy Field Organizers. We want to invite all Texas volunteers to Camp Obama in October, but we need your help to make this happen.

The Central Texas Obama Campaign needs you to make thousands of phone calls in the next 15 days.

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The difference between a President Obama and President McCain may very likely come down to just a few votes. With just a few days left to register voters in many states, we can’t afford to risk America’s future by being complacent. Make sure you, your friends, family, and colleagues are registered to vote today! But don’t stop there - volunteer with the campaign to help register more people. With your help, hopefully we can avoid the future in the video below the fold. (Warning - not for the faint of heart!)

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Doctors and lawyers, the Obama campaign needs your help! Doctors for Obama is organizing physicians and med students to highlight the critical need for Sen. Obama’s health plan and the “stark and disturbing differences between the Obama and McCain health plans.”

With a record number of voters expected this year thanks to Sen. Obama’s unprecedented grassroots efforts, we must ensure that no citizen is disenfranchised because of discrimination or intimidation. Counsel for Change and the DNC National Lawyers Council are recruiting bilingual attorneys fluent in Asian languages for voter protection activities.

For more details about both initiatives, go below the fold.
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On Saturday, Oct. 18 from 12 to 4pm, join SAFO-LA in Long Beach, CA to call undecided voters in Nevada and encourage them to vote for CHANGE. Bring your cellphone and a friend. Pizza and beer/wine will be served. To learn more, contact Jyoti at jyoti_nanda@yahoo.com. To RSVP for this event please check out the Evite at:

http://tinyurl.com/4zs6hg

Location: Nanda/Trivedi House
4025 E. Colorado Street, Long Beach, CA 90814 US

On Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 6pm, join us for the final Debate Watching Party. You can enjoy drink specials while watching the debate on multiple flat screens in luxurious surroundings at Tanzore (50 N La Cienega Blvd) in Beverly Hills. This event is free, so bring your friends and family! Co-sponsored by APAP and AAFO. Contact safola2008@gmail.com for more information.

Title: AAFO/SAFO-LA Roadtrip for Change to Nevada

Location: Nevada

Description: We’ll be traveling to Nevada with other volunteers to do outreach to South Asian communities in this key battleground state.

Contact: nitasha.sawhney@gmail.com to learn more.

Beaverton Campaign For Change Canvass Kick-off
Led by Democratic National Committee Vice Chair,
The Honorable Mike Honda
US Congressman from California’s 15^th District

Sunday October 5^th
2 PM

Beaverton Campaign for Change Office
14025 SW Farmington Rd.
Beaverton, OR 97005

Contact: Cyreena Boston - cboston@oregon4change.com
Deputy Political Director
Barack Obama Campaign for Change Oregon

The Oregon Chinese Communities & AAPI Communities of Oregon
Reception for Democratic National Committee Vice Chair,
The Honorable Mike Honda
US Congressman from California’s 15^th District

Sunday, October 5^th
Noon

The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association Hall
315 N.W. Davis
Portland, Oregon 97209

Please RSVP prior to your attendance to Barack Obama Campaign for Change Oregon Deputy Political Director Cyreena Boston at cboston@oregon4change.com

UPDATE: A blog called “Central Ohioans Against Terrorism” (COAT) is apparently working itself into a frenzy over this post. It apparently even caught the attention of National Review Online. Please see this post for our detailed rebuttal and what you can do to help fight voter intimidation!

CLARIFICATION: Since there has apparently been some confusion about this, we’d like to clarify that Muslim Americans for Obama has made clear to all its volunteers that all voter registration activity is strictly non-partisan (no advocacy on behalf of any candidate or party, whether written or verbal). None of the religious institutions listed are sponsoring or participating in the voter registration activity themselves. And though it is not required by law for non-partisan voter registration at a tax-exempt institution, volunteers are also staying on adjoining property.

Muslim Americans for Obama will be working to get out the vote for Sen. Obama, and they need help registering voters! Volunteers need not be Muslim, though appropriate attire is advised (no sleeveless tops; long pants and ankle-length skirts recommended).

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