FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jessica Laufer
Phone: 310.909.3611
Email: [email protected]
Series of Marches Announced in Major Cities Across the Country to Channel Anger and Outrage at Kavanaugh’s Confirmation into Electoral Change
Women and Allies Ready for March On’s ‘March on the Polls’ Rallies Beginning with the Women’s March Chicago on Oct. 13
Swing Left will Partner with March On to Ensure Marches Drive Early Votes, Volunteers and Dollars to 84 Critical Swing Districts in Lead Up to the Midterms
CURRENT MARCH ON THE POLLS INCLUDE:
Chicago, IL 10/13
Massachusetts 10/13
Seattle, WA 10/21
Atlanta, GA 10/27
Houston, TX 10/27
Little Rock, AR 10/27
North Carolina 10/27
San Jose, CA 10/27
South Carolina 10/27
Washington, DC 10/27
NYC, NY 11/06
+18 College Campuses 11/06
WASHINGTON, DC (OCTOBER 6, 2018) — With the announcement of Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court, March On, the grassroots coalition of many of the women and allies behind the Women’s Marches, is poised to harness the energy and public outrage of the moment for electoral change. Today March On is announcing that hundreds of thousands of women and supporters of women’s rights will take to the streets again in a high-profile series of “March on the Polls” rallies — in Chicago, New York City, Atlanta, South Carolina, Houston, Seattle, Florida, and across the nation– with a powerful message: don’t just march, but also vote (early) and volunteer to help transform our government this November.
“Women have said no, we will not stand for this,” said March On Executive Director and key architect of the Women’s March on Washington Vanessa Wruble. “Our country will not stand for elected leadership that blatantly disregards credible accusations of sexual assault against a Supreme Court nominee. We’ve been making our voices heard in the streets — and now we’ll march to the ballot box and vote them out. And we call on all women and our allies to join us.”
To strengthen this get-out-the-vote effort, March On also announced today it has partnered with Swing Left, the national grassroots organization working to take back the House, to drive turnout and volunteerism around the elections. Swing Left will activate marchers with actionable volunteer opportunities in 84 Swing Districts critical to flipping the House this November, and will support and fund March On’s electoral and voter engagement initiatives through the midterms. In tandem, March On is supporting ‘The Last Weekend’, a Swing Left-organized coalition initiative, backed by more than 60 other leading progressive organizations, to drive a mass movement of volunteers working on key races in the critical days leading up to the midterms (Sat. 11/3-Tues. 11/6), with the goal to transform our government. Since The Last Weekend’s launch in July, over 70,000 people have committed more than 500,000 volunteer hours.
The ‘March on the Polls’ rallies leading up to November 6, beginning with the Women’s March Chicago on October 13, will support women’s march groups and other grassroots groups as they get marchers directly to the polls with a diverse range of events. In Georgia, decorated vehicles will launch from rally locations and pick up voters to bring them to the polls — accompanied by music, dancing, and drumming. In Chicago, organizers are hosting a downtown rally honoring first-time voters that they expect to draw 350,000 voters. In South Carolina, organizers have developed a digital tool to connect volunteers with voters who need rides to the polls, help with their ID requirements or obtaining an absentee ballot. Swing Left will also be supporting the effort by organizing student marches on campuses in 18 Swing Districts across the country. Additional marches are still being planned, and March On is standing by to assist anyone interested in hosting their own. Organizers should visit www.marchonthepolls.org to learn more.
In a year with an incredibly contentious Supreme Court confirmation, women will play an outsize role in the outcome of midterm elections. An unprecedented number of women are already stepping forward and getting directly involved to take back the House: 68% of Swing Left volunteers are women, and 41 of 84 candidates in Swing Left’s Swing Districts are women – 23 of whom are taking on a male incumbent.
“We’re excited to pair the energy and commitment of the Women’s March movement with actions that will help flip the House. If we want to take back our democracy, it’s not enough for people to just vote this year, we need each and every person to knock on doors and make calls,” said Ethan Todras-Whitehill, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Swing Left. “
“Swing Left’s support is critical to helping March On galvanize the millions of us who marched in January of last year in order to build an unstoppable army that will march on the polls this November,” added Wruble.
“Progressive organizations are finding new ways to work together and support one another through tangible actions this election cycle,” said Adrienne Lever, Swing Left’s Political Director. “This is how we win.”