DverCITY Magazine
Directories
Diversity by Region
Message BoardsWASHINGTON, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Justice Department announced today the settlement of a lawsuit against the city of Walnut, Calif., alleging violations of the rights of Chinese- and Korean-speaking voters under the Voting Rights Act.
"By agreeing to implement a comprehensive and effective remedial plan, the city of Walnut's officials have demonstrated a genuine commitment to addressing past problems and protecting the voting rights and ballot access of all American citizens," said Rena J. Comisac, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.
The settlement agreement with the city of Walnut, which still must be approved by a panel of three judges, requires the city to provide all voting materials and assistance in Chinese and Korean as well as in English, and to permit the Justice Department to monitor future elections. The complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleged that the city of Walnut failed to meet its legal responsibilities under Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act to provide materials and assistance to Korean- and Chinese-speaking voters at the polls. The city's failure to provide such materials and assistance resulted in voters not being able to access the polls or cast an informed ballot. This is the first lawsuit ever filed by the Civil Rights Division on behalf of Korean American voters.
Since 2002, the Division has brought twice as many lawsuits to enforce the language minority provisions of the Act as it brought in the preceding 23 years combined. Under this Administration, the Division also has filed the first cases in its history on behalf of Filipino, Haitian, and Vietnamese American voters.
To file complaints about discriminatory voting practices, including acts of harassment or intimidation, voters may call the Voting Section of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division at 1-800-253-3931. More information about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws is available on the Department of Justice Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/index.htm.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/
September 2004 (Newstream) -- Building on the huge success of its recent cross-country expedition, Driving Votes departs New York City tomorrow to complete the final portion of its RV caravan tour to register voters. Along the way, the Driving Votes Caravan will swing through North Carolina before canvassing the entire state of Florida, registering thousands of Democratic voters.
Made up of two RVs decorated with maps of the swing states and photographs and quotations from real people about why this election is so important, the Driving Votes Caravan will be hard to miss. Over the past 13 days, the Driving Votes Caravan has registered thousands of voters in Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania drawing large, supportive crowds and new volunteers at every stop.
"The first leg of the caravan's tour taught us that democracy is alive and the newly registered electorate hopeful for change," said Leighton Woodhouse, Director Field Organization. "Our continued work in North Carolina and particularly Florida has great potential to affect the outcome of this election."
Activist and filmmaker, Michael Moore, clearly understands the importance of swing states in the 2004 election and personally endorses Driving Votes' work to register non-Bush voters. Driving Votes is featured on Michael Moore's website (www.michaelmoore.com) as part of 'Mike's Action Guide'.
In addition to the nationwide community of grassroots activists, Driving Votes is also inviting the press to send "embedded journalists" to travel along with the caravan. The Driving Votes website (www.drivingvotes.org/caravan) will includes frequent updates from the road to inform volunteers all across the America when and how to meet up with the caravan. The site will also chronicle the caravan's progress with a daily blog containing photos, video, and stories from the road. You can also view highlights from the Caravan's first leg.
Meet up with the caravan in the following cities:
Sat, 9/4 New York City - SEND OFF!
Sun, 9/5 Raleigh, NC
Mon, 9/6 Jacksonville, FL
Tues, 9/7 Tampa, FL
Wed, 9/8 Sarasota, FL
Thurs, 9/9 Orlando, FL
Friday, 9/10 Miami, FL
Sat, 9/11 Miami, FL
** Stay updated on the caravan's exact locations by visiting www.drivingvotes.org/caravan**
About Driving Votes: Driving Votes is a grassroots organization committed to reclaiming American democracy by ensuring that Democrats in swing states vote. The Driving Votes website at www.drivingvotes.org makes it simple for anyone to plan a grassroots voter registration drive. The Driving Votes website has voter registration packets for each swing state, information on which local groups to partner with, and how to find areas with a high percentage of Democrats. For more information about Driving Votes, please contact Jennifer Kane, assistant director of Driving Votes, at 415.505.5661 or jenny@drivingvotes.org.
Nation Can Voice its Opinion with Unique Real-time Scorecard
August 2004 (Newstream) -- Can't wait for November to punch your vote? Sorrent, a leading creator and global publisher of mobile entertainment, on August the 25th announced the launch of Bush vs. Kerry Boxing, the first and only politically charged game for mobile phones. Bush vs. Kerry Boxing allows mobile subscribers to step into the ring as either candidate and take their best shot at knocking out their opponent using signature Bush vs. Kerry Boxing moves including the "Right Wing Hook" and the "Far Left Jab."
"People are anxious to cast their vote in the upcoming election and are looking for ways to voice their political opinions," said Robert Nashak, vice president of production, Sorrent. "Bush vs. Kerry Boxing gives mobile subscribers around the country a fun and playful way to show their political support."
As if interest in the campaigns and anticipation for the election in November wasn't enough, the results of every match between Bush and Kerry on mobile phones across the country will be automatically posted to Sorrent's web site (www.sorrent.com), giving visitors a glimpse, at any moment, of which candidate is leading the "Pugilist Poll." In addition, ten percent of proceeds from Bush vs. Kerry Boxing will go to Rock the Vote, a non-profit, non-partisan organization with the mission of engaging youth in the political process by incorporating the entertainment community and youth culture into its activities.
Bush vs. Kerry Boxing features two modes - "The Main Event," a down-and-dirty clash between George W. Bush and John Kerry; and "Campaign Mode," which challenges subscribers to fight their way through the ranks of several of the opposing party's key political figures.
Sorrent is a leading creator and global publisher of wireless entertainment. Sorrent's critically-acclaimed content features single and multiplayer games, based on original and licensed properties, including an award-winning suite of FOX Sports titles. Sorrent has developed a proprietary technology infrastructure that delivers graphically rich, fast-paced mobile games on more than 100 Java and BREW-enabled handsets. With offices in San Mateo, California and London, England, the company's extensive distribution network includes all of the U.S. wireless carriers, as well as some of the largest carriers around the world. Founded in 2001, Sorrent has attracted top tier venture capital firms including NEA, BA Venture Partners, Sienna Ventures and Globespan Capital Partners. For more information, visit www.sorrent.com.
Founded in 1990 by members of the recording industry, Rock the Vote is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and empowering young people to change their world. Over the past decade, Rock the Vote has called on young people to recognize their role in creating significant political and social change. In addition to registering over three million new young voters, Rock the Vote street teams are engaging young people as civic activists in their communities and contributors to the political process. These street teams have organized, educated and registered voters at thousands of concerts, community festivals, college campuses, pride events and coffee shops across the nation. Visit the website at www.rockthevote.com.
Sorrent, Inc. is a trademark of Sorrent, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
July 2004 (Newstream) -- Declare Yourself, the national nonpartisan, nonprofit initiative energizing a new movement of young adults to vote in the 2004 election, launched its provocative print, broadcast and online PSA campaign called "Only You Can Silence Yourself." Working with advertising agency Benenson Janson, the Declare Yourself campaign was photographed and directed by David LaChapelle. It features a mix of "real people" and young celebrities, including André 3000, Christina Aguilera, Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia), Jonathan Bennett (Mean Girls), Yoanna House (America's Next Top Model 2), and La Toya London (American Idol 3), among others. The PSAs will begin running in a variety of magazines, Web sites and on radio and television outlets nationwide later this month. Yahoo!, the Premiere Online Partner of Declare Yourself, will exclusively host the online debut of the PSA campaign. To view the campaign, visit http://vote.yahoo.com and www.DeclareYourself.com.
The overall concept of the campaign is anything but subtle, featuring glamorously shot yet graphic depictions of young Americans literally silencing themselves by sealing their mouths through a variety of methods. For example, Aguilera's print ad shows her mouth stitched shut in a style resembling a corset, while André 3000 has his signature bow tie stuffed into his mouth. Both of these print PSAs will appear on two Clear Channel-owned billboards situated prominently in the heart of Times Square. As the media and entertainment partner of Declare Yourself, Clear Channel donated the billboards and its radio division will support the campaign by airing spots on local stations across the country.
The Declare Yourself broadcast spots begin innocently, yet build up to a stop-in-your-tracks visual of a sealed mouth, confounding what viewers expect to see in a typical broadcast spot.
Consider the following:
The campaign also includes three 30-second radio PSAs. Taking a more humorous approach than the televised spots, the radio campaign features a variety of characters discussing inane topics, such as an "airhead" discussing the importance of eyebrow grooming. After such banter, the announcer cuts in saying that while free speech is a right no one has to listen to or agree with, voting is a right that can't be ignored.
"The challenge of this campaign is to convey the importance of voting in a powerful manner that does not preach, and remains nonpartisan," said Andrew Janson, chief executive officer, Benenson Janson. "While staying true to the nature of Declare Yourself, these PSAs are impactful and inspire action without any specific political agenda."
"Before you can get young people to act, you have to get them to react, and that's what we believe our PSAs do," said Norman Lear, founder of Declare Yourself. "We want those who see the spots to stop, look, discuss, and, ultimately, become inspired to take action."
ABOUT DECLARE YOURSELF
Founded by producer Norman Lear, Declare Yourself is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit program to energize and empower a new movement of young voters to participate in the 2004 election. By creatively fusing education, entertainment, information and technology, Declare Yourself is challenging Americans between the ages of 18 and 29, especially first-time voters, to find their reason to register and to vote.
Declare Yourself includes an original copy of the Declaration of Independence; a live spoken word and music tour of college campuses; an unprecedented nationwide voter education initiative for high school seniors; a comprehensive voter registration and election information Web site; an extensive online awareness effort; a massive voter registration drive; a "get out the vote" media blitz; and public service announcements. Unique alliances with technology and media partners, educators, the entertainment, music and fashion industries, the corporate community and the National Association of Secretaries of State will be used to ignite millions of young voters.
This nonprofit one-year voter initiative is the culmination of a three-year project, the Declaration of Independence Road Trip, a 50-city cross-country tour of the Declaration of Independence and a multimedia exhibit on the contemporary relevance of our nation's birth certificate. Founded by Norman Lear, the DOI Road Trip and Declare Yourself are projects of Declaration of Independence, Inc., a public charity, and are made possible by AXA Financial, Inc., Proud Sponsor. National partners of Declare Yourself include Yahoo!, Premier Online Partner and Clear Channel, Media and Entertainment Partner. In partnership with Yahoo!, more than 200,000 voter registration forms have been downloaded from www.DeclareYourself.com since November 2003. For more information, please visit www.DeclareYourself.com, a one-stop online destination for young voters to complete and print voter registration forms for any state, download forms to request absentee ballots, find their polling places, stay on top of political and election news, and learn about the candidates.
ABOUT BENENSON JANSON
Based in Los Angeles and headed by Howard Benenson and Andrew Janson, Benenson Janson is a full service advertising and integrated marketing/branding agency that has developed an innovative "cause as brand" approach to advocacy and cause-related advertising. Its services include creative, strategy, production, media (buying/planning), events and public relations. Among Benenson Janson's clients are the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and The Salvation Army's Alegria.
July 2004 (Newstream) -- America's singles may be the most influential voting block since the "soccer mom" of 1996. At 80-million strong, mobilized singles could potentially pack a wallop at the polls, as almost 39 million American singles did not vote in the 2000 presidential election. According to U.S. Census Bureau data, only 56 percent of never-married Americans were registered to vote in the last presidential election compared to 76 percent of their married counterparts. The numbers speak for themselves - singles aren't making it to the polls. In an effort to mobilize the nation's singles toward the unified goal of voting, Match.com - the global leader in online dating with more than 12 million members - is launching a nonpartisan voter awareness and registration drive called "Every Single Vote Counts."
Match.com's voter awareness program will consist of online and offline communications programs, highlighting issues important to singles in the upcoming election and encouraging them to take an active role in the political process. In addition, Match.com will provide voter registration opportunities via its website, as well as at MatchLive events around the country. Throughout the course of the campaign, Match.com will release key findings from its recent Gallup Poll, as well as other Match.com surveys, about how singles perceive the issues and the Presidential candidates.
Match.com recently discovered that voting is the right thing to do for love and country, as registering to vote may benefit singles' romantic lives. In May 2004, a Match.com study surveying more than 1,600 adults in the United States revealed that 91 percent of respondents believe they are more likely to fall in love with a registered voter than a non-registered voter. And differences in politics are not a deal breaker. In fact, James Carville and Mary Matalin, the beltway's most famous cross-party couple, have proven that politics and love do mix.
"While general consensus holds that discussing political issues may be divisive in a relationship, we've found that sharing a passion for politics can actually be unifying, even if we don't exactly see eye-to-eye on the issues at hand," Mary Matalin said.
"You don't have to share a similar political mindset with someone to have a good, healthy relationship with that person," agrees Matalin's husband, James Carville. "Differences of opinion keep things exciting and open the door for the kind of engaging dialogue that strong relationships are built on."
For more information, visit www.MatchScene.com.
August 2004 (Newstream) -- CDs4Business, Inc., a South Florida marketing company, introduces its first enhanced CD product which is targeted toward encouraging voter participation in the coming election. Featuring 10 contemporary songs by independent artists, the CD contains 45 minutes of music plus multimedia content that may be accessed from a PC.
The music plays on any CD player: home or car stereo, PC, etc. The multimedia content is accessed via an interactive navigation page featuring an animated jukebox for access to Featured Artists content, and an animated television screen for access to content related to the John Kerry candidacy for President.
The John Kerry multimedia includes 81 articles in PDF format representing over 200 pages of information, as well as over 2 hours and 20 minutes of executable video and streaming media. The interface menu includes Profiles, Issues, Message to Voters, Media, The Bush Record and Get Involved. The Featured Artists multimedia content includes a "Bonus Mix" Flash presentation of additional samples from the contributing artists; bio/discography, commentary, and promotions pages; and links to the artists' websites.
The songs on the CD are exceptional and will be enjoyed by any music fan. Further, the multimedia content provides undecided voters with information useful to helping determine if they can support the Kerry/Edwards ticket.
Originally conceived as a means for reaching young voters who typically do not participate in elections, special licensing was obtained from the Featured Artists for benefactors to the Kerry campaign who wish to mass-distribute the CDs "at cost" in order to help define Senator Kerry and his policies and vision for the country through distribution of the CD. Customization of the multimedia content is available to promote projects of any sponsor wishing to underwrite distribution of the CD. Also, the Independents 4 Kerry multimedia CD is being offered at wholesale to pro-Kerry websites and owners of small businesses (nightclubs, restaurants, beauty salons, etc.) who wish to support the Kerry candidacy and make a substantial profit at the same time.
CDs4Business, Inc. is a privately held company and is not in any way affiliated with the Kerry/Edwards campaign. Samples of the music included on the CD may be heard from the company website. For more information please visit www.independents4kerry.com or www.I4K.us.
| About Us | News and Articles | Shopping | DVC Business Network | Communities | FAQs | Yellow Pages | Advertising | Site Map | Home |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
