Group Holds Voter Registration Drive In South Augusta

The Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda held a voter registration drive at Diamond Lakes
Regional Park and two Augusta commissioners were on hand to speak at the event.

Around 25 people showed up at the event that invited people to fill out change of address forms, make copies of their identification should they need copies in the future and sample barbeque, courtesy of Chef Redd’s Barbeque.

The emcee of the event, Traci George, whipped up the crowd by chanting “open up the cell and let the girl out of jail,” to which many in the crowd responded with the raised fist, commonly known as the “Black Power” salute.

Another group, Georgia Shift, handed out buttons which proclaimed “Black AF” and “Queer AF” while another individual waded through the small crowd promoting reparations for slavery.

Local resident, Kimberly Minor, who lives in Burke County, but is a teacher in Richmond County, said she was there to support voter registration so that the Republicans who supported the new election law can be “voted out of office.”

“My personal goal is, I would like to see the largest voter turnout in this upcoming election in Georgia history and get them out of office,” she said.

Several politicians showed up at the event. Longshot mayoral candidate Mike Dixon took to the stage and after being reminded by the emcee to “stay on point,” proceeded to recite Charlie Chaplin’s monologue from the movie “The Great Dictator.”

“Even in a crowd of one, I believe that everyone would have spoke (sic) and still have their voice heard,” Dixon later told The Augusta Press in a text. “It’s not just about those who show up for the day. It’s about those who hear it after, they are also important.”

District 1 Commissioner Jordan Johnson said he was there to support those protesting the 2021 election law which mandates voter ID with mail in and absentee ballots, limits the number of drop boxes and bans people handing out food and water to voters in line waiting their turn to cast a ballot.

“The law restricts free and fair elections,” Johnson said. “Why are we trying to fix what is not broken? More people voted in the last election, first time voters and people who had not voted since 2008.”

Johnson went on to say how the law restricts outside funding which hampers the local election process.

“We’ve received a lot of money from outside groups to help our board of elections fund these last two elections,” Johnson maintains. “Now, that’s restricted, so that puts a strain on what we can do as a city from a budgetary perspective.”

Johnson maintained that citizens should be alarmed at any law that affects minority communities and elderly voters.

District 9 Commissioner Francine Scott was also on hand for the event.

“I just want to see people get registered to vote,” Scott said. “We have an election in two years.” The Augusta Press has more interviews from the event posted here at our YouTube Channel.

Scott Hudson is the Managing Editor of The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com