March 22, 2016, August 10, 2016 Press Releases from Hip Hop Caucus on Respect My Vote! Non-Partisan Campaign to Mobilize Young Voters in the 2016 General Election

Electorate « Press Releases from Hip Hop Caucus

August 10, 2016

Actress, Singer And Talk Show Host Keke Palmer Announced As Spokesperson For Respect My Vote! Campaign

Campaign Designed to Encourage Youth and Communities of Color to Force Change in their Communities through the Power of Voting

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Respect My Vote! campaign today announced multifaceted entertainer Keke Palmer as the latest celebrity spokesperson. An accomplished actress, singer, and television host, Keke started her film career at the age of 11 in the critically acclaimed 'Akeelah & the Bee'. She has since led a groundbreaking career with starring roles in 'True Jackson VP', 'A Trip to Bountiful', 'Joyful Noise', 'Brotherly Love' and other major film and television roles. Currently, she is a star on 'Scream Queens', as well as a cast member of the Fox presentation 'Grease Live' that recently garnered 10 Emmy nominations. In addition, Palmer has broken boundaries and records by being the youngest person to ever have their own national talk show, being the first African-American Cinderella on Broadway, and the youngest person ever to receive a Screen Actors Guild nomination in a lead actress category. Keke Palmer has a strong voice that speaks to millennials. As a spokesperson, Palmer will utilize her influence to drive the message of creating change in the community through the power of the vote in both national and local elections.

"I am excited to be working with Respect My Vote! It honestly gives me the opportunity to not only become more aware myself about the upcoming election, but it also allows me to encourage my peers to understand the importance of it," stated Palmer. "I have realized that I can either take responsibility for what is going on in the world around me or I do not have the right to complain when things go wrong."

Respect My Vote! is a national non-partisan Hip Hop culture-based campaign that reaches young voters and communities of color throughout the U.S. The campaign aims to educate the disenfranchised on the importance of voter participation from the local and national levels through celebrity spokespeople, social media influencers, and community leaders. The Respect My Vote! campaign is currently participating in all U.S. stops on The High Road Tour to register voters through pop-up registration stations.

"It's very encouraging when celebrities of a high caliber such as Keke Palmer join the Respect My Vote! team to encourage the disenfranchised to utilize their voting power," stated Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. "We continue to partner with people who are motivated to help others realize that their future is not already written and that if they get out and vote, they can shape policy instead of having policy shape us."

The Respect My Vote! campaign has mobilized hundreds of thousands of voters since its inception 2008 with the help of celebrity spokespeople such as T.I., 2 Chainz, Charlamagne Tha God, Vic Mensa and Sway Calloway amongst many others. People can register to vote, get informed on ex-offenders laws from state to state, join the campaign by pledging to vote, sign up to volunteer in their communities, and spread the word through their social networks online at www.respectmyvote.com

About Hip Hop Caucus (www.hiphopcaucus.org)
Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today's young leaders.

March 22, 2016

Hip Hop Caucus Launches Respect My Vote! Non-Partisan Campaign to Mobilize Young Voters in the 2016 General Election

Charlamagne Tha God, Radio Personality on Power 105 "Breakfast Club" and MTV2 "Uncommon Sense" Host is First Celebrity Announced to Join 2016 Campaign as Voice to Combat Disenfranchisement within Political Process

WASHINGTON, March 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hip Hop Caucus, a national non-profit that makes change happen by empowering the Hip Hop community to participate in the civic process, has launched its non-partisan voter registration and education campaign, Respect My Vote! for the 2016 general election. Charlamagne Tha God, radio personality of nationally syndicated Power 105 "Breakfast Club" and Star on MTV2 "Uncommon Sense" will serve as a spokesperson for the campaign. Respect My Vote! targets voters in urban communities and on college campuses, ages 18-40 years-old, to register and get out to vote.

Respect My Vote! is a national Hip Hop culture-based campaign that reaches the disenfranchised with celebrity spokespeople, social media influencers, and community leaders. People can register to vote at www.respectmyvote.com, and join the campaign by pledging to vote, signing up to volunteer in their communities, and spreading the word through their social networks online. Starting in the month of May, Respect My Vote! will implement on-the-ground voter registration drives in cities and on campuses across the country with emphasis on states such as Florida, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado, Nevada and North Carolina. The grassroots drives will be active through voter registration deadlines and then will become major voter turnout drives to get voters to the polls for early voting and on Election Day.

Respect My Vote! impacts those disenchanted with the political process who don't fully understand how exercising your right to vote influences policies that impact their daily lives. The campaign also educates the public on voter laws including how ex-offenders are able to vote in most states across the country. Debunking the myth that if convicted of a felony, you permanently lose your right to vote.

"The soul of the country is at stake in this election. All that is going on socially, economically, and environmentally right now is very serious for communities of color. Respect My Vote! is the inspiration that disenfranchised communities can look to for how and why their vote is crucial to make needed change," said Charlamagne Tha God. "I'm honored to be a spokesperson for the 2016 Respect My Vote! campaign, and to be a part of a movement where the community of Hip Hop can come together to promote empowerment through political participation. Furthermore, I am an ex-offender and without initiatives such as Respect My Vote! I and many other people would be unaware of our ability to vote and the steps we need to take."

This is the third Presidential election cycle Respect My Vote! campaign; it previously mobilized hundreds of thousands of voters in 2008 and 2012, with spokespeople such as Hip Hop stars T.I. and 2 Chainz. Beyond Charlamagne Tha God, many more celebrity ambassadors and spokespeople will be announced this year to showcase how leaders in Hip Hop are getting involved to use their influence to educate and inspire voter participation.

"Respect My Vote! is about how voting is personal and the decisions that elected officials make are personal to us. Justice and opportunity are too often denied to our communities," stated Hip Hop Caucus President and CEO, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr. "That's why it's important to get celebrities and influencers such as Charlamagne Tha God involved in the campaign to convey the seriousness and importance of voting as a tool for change. We want to make lifetime voters out of this generation and encourage them to be active in advocacy on the issues that matter to them and their futures."

For more information about the Respect My Vote! campaign and to get informed on ex-offenders laws from state to state, please visit www.respectmyvote.com.

About Hip Hop Caucus (www.hiphopcaucus.org)
Formed in 2004, the Hip Hop Caucus (HHC) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that leverages Hip Hop culture to encourage young people to participate in the democratic process. Through a collaborative leadership network, HHC addresses core issues affecting underserved communities. HHC programs and campaigns support solution-driven community organizing led by today's young leaders.

SOURCE Hip Hop Caucus