CRENSHAW : Voter Registration Project Opens Today

The African American Vote Project kicks off today at its Crenshaw district office, in the hopes of spurring apathetic blacks to participate in the election process.

The project, a statewide effort under the auspices of the state Democratic Party, seeks to register African American voters and ensure that they vote. Organizers say they are looking to Los Angeles’ black community to take the lead.

“It’s like a throwback to the ‘60s in that we’ve realized we’ve got to hit the streets to make it happen,” said Darolyn Davis, spokeswoman for the project. “Politicians have been out of touch with people for the past 20 years. Voter turnout has been shamefully low.”

A launching ceremony is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the project’s office at 3653 La Brea Ave. A 30-car motorcade will wind its way south to four other offices, in Inglewood, South-Central, Compton and Carson. The caravan will include the Rev. Jesse Jackson and local and state politicians, including state Treasurer and gubernatorial hopeful Kathleen Brown, former state Assemblywoman Gwen Moore, state Sen. Art Torres (D-Los Angeles) and Los Angeles City Council members Mark Ridley-Thomas and Rita Walters.

The project plans to recruit black voters through telephone banking and canvassing of public places. The project will continue through the Nov. 8 election.

“Our push is not only to get people registered, but (to) get them to vote by mail,” said project manager Sam Walton, who says the project is working with more than 2,000 churches statewide. “Another thing we want to get across to people is accountability--keeping up with an official once he or she is elected.”

The project is also setting up in the Bay Area, the Central Valley, Sacramento and San Diego.

Davis said the effort to stem the tide of general voter apathy is a must, particularly with anemic voter turnouts in recent years that fell below 30%. “The only thing we can do now is get active,” she said. “If we don’t do something now, if we fail to vote again, we’ll be feeling the effects of that for the next 10 years.”

Information: (213) 290-6405.