Rev. Barber II Tells Tougaloo Students: 'We're Voting' on Nov. 3

The Rev. William Barber II, a former president of the North Carolina NAACP, told students at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi, that voting is the path to change ahead of the Tuesday, Nov. 3 election. "We're not bowing, we're voting," Barber said. Many students in attendance said the Nov. 3 election would be their first time voting in a political contest.

Barber pointed to turnout figures from the last election to make his case. "Did you know that in the last election, 90 million people didn't vote but the Congress we have, the Congress that just voted to cut 20-something million people's health care and 20-something million SNAP and put more money in war and ICE than health care and food," he said. He said he wants young people to change that.

Barber also urged students to support Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Scott Colom. He is currently on a 100 Days of Voter Mobilization tour and is calling for nonviolent marches to the polls before Election Day. He is scheduled to speak to Meridian residents Thursday night to encourage them to vote.

Students at the event named affordability and food insecurity as the issues they want addressed after the election. Qasim Abdul-Tawwab, a student, pointed to state-level data. "In Mississippi, we have one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the nation, especially in the Delta like Jackson. I'm from Jackson … I feel like that's an issue that needs to be solved as fast as possible," Abdul-Tawwab said.

Terry Rogers, another student, tied the discussion to household costs. "I think a lot of things come down to affordability … a lot of young people are starting to feel the brunt of high gas prices and grocery prices," Rogers said. "Young people are starting to realize that their elected officials play a part in this."

Students at the gathering said it inspired them to get involved in their local community.