2002 JOINT ARTISTS STATEMENT: ELECTION PROTECTION PROGRAM ARTIST SIGN-ON LETTER 2002 We, the undersigned, recognize that our vote is our most precious civil right. This essential liberty has come at a great price, as many patriots have died throughout our nation's history in the ongoing struggles to secure this freedom for all Americans. Only eight short years ago, we joined in celebrating when a new democracy was born in South Africa, as black people cast their ballots for the first time in their lives. We are profoundly concerned that many Americans were kept away from voting booths and the ballots of many more were not counted, during the 2000 elections and 2002 primaries. It is frightening that it is now easier for a black person to vote in Johannesburg, South Africa than in Jacksonville, Florida. These injustices put the very heart of American democracy at risk. We applaud People for the American Way Foundation, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, the NAACP Voter Education Fund, Artists for a New South Africa and the other civil rights and voter education groups working on the Know Your Rights—Election Protection Program (EPP), a non-partisan effort to strengthen American democracy. EPP is making a very real difference by safeguarding voters' rights, especially for people from historically disenfranchised communities. We commend EPP for working to maximize electoral participation by informing the American public about upcoming elections, encouraging voter participation, advising voters of their legal rights, providing volunteers in precincts round the country to help voters exercise their rights, and offering free and immediate legal assistance to those who run into problems exercising their right to vote. We join with all Americans who refuse to stand by and allow our fellow citizens to be rendered powerless. We must never allow our most valuable right - our vote - to ever be taken away.
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