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Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced it is partnering with the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP and more than 200 of its coalition partners to encourage more citizens to register to vote. In honor of the historic efforts of the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project 50 years ago, the current movement — Moral Freedom Summer — places organizers in counties across North Carolina.

“Voter registration is a key part of this campaign,” said HRC national field director Marty Rouse. “Our goal is to empower the people of North Carolina to become active participants in their democracy.”

HRC will make a significant investment to mobilize its North Carolina membership, support field organizing, and train voter registration organizers. The three-month campaign centers on placing highly-trained organizers across the state to coordinate long-term voter empowerment. In the tradition of the original Freedom Summer effort, the current movement places a great emphasis on engaging youth and college-aged students to lead the work.

“These young people will bring their hope, their great educations and their spirit to hundreds of local communities this summer, to deepen public understanding of the need for a moral movement that dismantles the racism deeply embedded in our society and that lifts all of us, particularly the least of these, to higher ground,” said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, president of the NC NAACP. “Let us all pray that this Moral Freedom Summer will be a rewarding experience for these wonderful young activists and the people they get to know.”

Freedom Summer

Freedom Summer is a notable moment in American history when hundreds of people from across the country traveled to Mississippi in 1964 to challenge repeated and vicious attempts to keep African-Americans from voting and even holding office.

Moral Freedom Summer

Moral Freedom Summer is an outgrowth of the Moral Monday/ Forward Together Coalition movement in North Carolina. The North Carolina NAACP—with the support of more than 200 coalition partners– is the architect of the diverse project. It is inclusive of all people regardless of age, race, economic status, political affiliation, sexual orientation or gender identity.

HRC Partners with North Carolina NAACP for Major Voter Empowerment Effort  was originally published on praisecharlotte.com