On October 31, in Flint, Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, Mayor Sheldon Neeley and youth community leader Perci Whitmore spoke at a Harris-Walz Get Out the Vote event.
The leaders emphasized the importance of voting — and voting early in Michigan. Michiganders have more options to vote early this year, including expanded early in-person voting or voting by mail. Michiganders can register to vote in person at some early vote sites and at their municipal clerk’s office through 8 p.m. on Election Day and cast a ballot at the same time.
Speakers also highlighted Vice President Harris’ Opportunity Agenda for Black men and how her New Way Forward will bring down costs, expand access to affordable housing and create jobs. In stark contrast, Donald Trump’s extreme Project 2025 agenda would raise costs on Black families by nearly $4,000 a year, rip away health care access and make our communities less safe.
“We can have a whole conversation on the issues — why Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are vastly superior to Donald Trump and JD Vance,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Only one of the tickets in this election is offering direct support to Black entrepreneurs in the form of forgivable loans to make sure your business has a chance, that you have more capital to start it in the first place. There’s only one choice… Black men, truthfully, have never been the problem. We have always been part of a solution, and for us, winning in our communities — not only does Flint need us, not only does Michigan need us, not only does America need us — the whole world needs us to show up and stand tall in the way that I know we all can.”
“We need to vote for Kamala Harris for president of this great country. We need somebody to reflect greatness, the greatness of this country and the greatness that we are,” said Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley. “Go out and talk to your cousins, your brothers, your friends — City Hall is open every day. Go vote early. Go to the polls. No excuses… We have a duty and responsibility. My brothers, my friends, my neighbors, don’t forfeit on America.”
“We’re talking about Vice President Kamala Harris — the fact that she’s going to be paving the way in making room for the next generation — the way that we could be able to have access to not just affordable housing, not just quality careers, but the fact that in this place, we won’t be a step behind, but she’s going to push us ahead,” said youth community leader Perci Whitmore.“The opportunity that Kamala Harris is providing for us is an opportunity to not leave us hanging out to dry but to be covered by something greater.”
