Voter registration in Ferguson surges after Brown killing

[kpete]

More than 3,000 people have registered to vote in Ferguson, Mo., since the death of Michael Brown — a surge in interest that may mean the city of 21,000 people is ready for a change.

Since a white police officer shot the unarmed black 18-year-old on Aug. 9, voter registration booths and cards have popped up alongside protests in the city and surrounding neighborhoods. The result: 4,839 people in St. Louis County have registered to vote since the shooting; 3,287 of them live in Ferguson.

The city's population is two-thirds African American; five of its six city council members are white, as is its mayor. The St. Louis County Election Board does not record the races of eligible voters, but many believe the increase is a sign that Brown's death has spurred renewed interest in politics and might mean more blacks will vote in the upcoming election.

"It's a great move when people come out and register in mass like that," said Anthony Bell, St. Louis 3rd Ward committeeman. "They are sending a signal that we want a change. It doesn't give justice to the Michael Brown family, but it will in the future give justice to how the administration is run in a local municipality like Ferguson."



...
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/02/ferguson-vote-registration/16572305/
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/10/02/1333845/-Voter-registrations-in-Ferguson-nbsp-surge

[Egnever]

1. Thank god

The only real way to affect change is to get involved and vote.

[donco]

7. Ya Butt

they are backing the repug for the St.Louis County Executives office.Take a look at what his stance is.SAD.

[aikoaiko]

2. A good step in the right direction.

Good luck, Ferguson.

[MineralMan]

3. Excellent!

Let the voters speak loudly.

[amandabeech]

4. Yes! The only way to get a decent mayor and council,

and to get them to do something about the police department, is to vote out the bad and vote in the good!

[Baitball Blogger]

5. I hope their new representatives are beyond the reach of those who are against

change.

[Feral Child]

6. Very good news.

REC

[Dreamer Tatum]

8. Good. GOTV and take control of their own town.

Not worth a human life, but maybe something good can come of this.

[Gothmog]

9. This is great news

[santamargarita]

10. Why aren't the cops shooting people registering to vote?

I shouldn't give them any ideas.

[Piedras]

11. HealSTL is registering Ferguson, MO voters

HealSTL is a local organization actively registering Ferguson, MO voters. It was started recently by Alderman Antonio French. Their goal is to register 2,000+ local voters. You can help them reach (or exceed) their goal. Their office location is:

#HealSTL ©
9171 W. Florissant Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63136

If you live nearby they encourage volunteers.

They sell HealSTL T-shirts as a fundraiser. A healstl-t-shirt is $9.00 plus shipping. Volunteers get one free.

Another way to support them is to purchase office supplies from their Amazon.com Wish List. I did when they first opened the office.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/08/27/1325030/-Heal-STL-Opens-Storefront-In-Ferguson-to-Register-and-Organize-Black-Voters

Many people have followed or just read Antonio French on twitter during the demonstrations in Ferguson. Mr. French is an alderman in the City of St. Louis, a people's journalist (he had the paper and then blog, PubDef) and an long-time activist in the St. Louis area. When Michael Brown was murdered in a police crime, and the streets erupted in Ferguson, Mr. French traveled the few miles from North St. Louis where he lives to report and help out in Ferguson. He was arrested early on (on August 19) for reporting while black:

[hifiguy]

12. I am sure the voter-suppression schemes

were launched within ten minutes of this becoming known and that the cops will be a big part of it. Can't have people - especially brown people - voting now, can we?

[Uncle Joe]

13. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.