The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has launched a bilingual voter engagement campaign aimed at young people of color in the Deep South. The initiative, titled "The South’s Got Now | Decidimos," seeks to empower these individuals as active participants in the democratic process amidst new state laws that could suppress their voices.
Margaret Huang, president and CEO of the SPLC and SPLC Action Fund, stated, “Throughout our history, Black and Brown young people have fought for the right to vote — knowing that it’s the doorway to freedom.” She emphasized the need to reclaim and enhance the voting power of communities of color in response to efforts discouraging youth participation. “Our votes have the power to change history — and young southerners of color are poised to lead that change.”
Research commissioned by SPLC highlighted a sense of disenfranchisement among young voters of color in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Despite feeling unrepresented by current candidates and disengaged from upcoming elections, many still view voting as a crucial tool for change.
Jessica Harris, a senior at Miles College in Alabama, underscored this sentiment: “As an HBCU student in the Deep South...it’s time for our generation to defend this sacred right...and shape the direction of our country.”
The campaign will provide resources to help young voters overcome barriers and participate actively in elections. Isabel Otero, SPLC's director of policy in Georgia, noted that offering resources is vital for informed decision-making among these voters.
SPLC's long-standing efforts include collaborating with community partners to engage voters and challenge discriminatory voting practices. In 2021, they partnered with the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta on Vote Your Voice to support grassroots mobilization across the region.
For further details on "The South’s Got Now | Decidimos," visit splcenter.org/TheSouthsGotNow.