Good Afternoon! We are all gathered here today to promote the continuation of MTV's "Rock the Vote". My name's Alison Bryne Fields and as the head of MTV's "Rock the Vote" I understand how important it is for the youth's voice to be heard. MTV has had an amazing effect on the pop culture of this country and its wide-spread ability to capture youth attention has enabled the channel to positively effect youth activism in politics. The group of voters 18-25 has the lowest voter turn-out in our country. (fec.gov np) Politicians hardly see them as a voting class anymore. Their ideas, needs, and wants are not heard because their voices are not heard through voting. However, such programs as our "Rock the Vote" have greatly increased political activism in youth. The November after "Rock the Vote" premiered "the number of 18-25 year olds who actually showed up went up for the first time in recorded voting history, climbing over 20%" ("Who Cares About the Youth Vote?" np) Youth voters are often hard pressed to find, however, because politicians refuse to see them as an important class. When these politicians go on CNN and NBC addressing issues like Medicare and Social Security that don't affect the younger age-groups, the youth feel unimportant. However, President Bill Clinton went out of his way to address the youth problems. By going on a channel like MTV that is a channel clearly designed for the voice of the youth, Clinton was shown great support in his "92 and "96 elections from that voting class. Obviously realizing the need to capture the youth vote; he appeared on MTV's "Rock the Vote" answering questions not only on his political policies but also on his personal affairs e.g. the question heard round the world "Boxers or Briefs?" ("Who cares about the youth vote? np) His willingness to answer such questions in a positive way proved him able to relate to this younger crowd. MTV provided this platform for the youth vote.
Why do people vote? ... ROCK THE VOTE, what the hell is that shit!? ... Fuck Rock the Vote, encouraging stupid-easily lead-TV worshipping-can't hold a job in a fast food chain-college student who has just changed their major for the 9th time-type of people! ... I say don't vote Republican, I say don't vote Democrat. ... So am I telling you to vote or not vote? ...
The 15th amendment gave black citizens the right to vote. ... This stated that if your grandfather was able to vote in 1864 than you could vote. ... These were taxes for the right to vote and had to be paid in the February prior to voting. ... In show of his opposition, in 1957 Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus defied a federal court order, and with the aid of national guardsmen, attempted to prevent the admittance of nine black students to Little Rock's Central High school. President Dwight Eisenhower sent 1,000 federal paratroopers to enforce the desegregation and protect the "Little...
("Colors with a Conscience") Rock the Vote is a campaign geared toward getting young voters to the polls. During the 1992 presidential election Rock the Vote put on a campaign called "Get Out the Vote." ... (Colors with a Conscience") Rock the Vote also helped to pass the "Motor Voter" Bill. ... Rock the Vote is endorsed by a long list of celebrities, including Pearl Jam, Aerosmith, Madonna, and L.L. ... Rock the Vote is endorsed by a lohe world today. ...
"We didn't land on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock landed on us!" ... Still, discrimination survived, and in most southern states blacks were either discouraged or prohibited from exercising their right to vote. ... It banned discrimination in employment, public accommodations (hotels, motels, restaurants, etc.), and housing; it also guaranteed voting rights for blacks in areas suspected of disenfranchising blacks. ...
Steps toward equality began with legislation relating to public schools in 1954, and basic civil rights for all Americans were guaranteed in 1964 and 1965 with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. ... The Supreme Court Justices anonymously voted nine to zero ruling that segregation of public schools was a violation of the U.S. ... In 1957, a handful of black children requested to enter an all-white school in Little Rock, Arkansas. ... If it had not have been for the Little Rock Nine, segregated schools might still appear today. ...
Little Rock was no exception to these discriminatory actions. ... Smith, Little Rock Chief of Police, shot and killed his wife and himself. ... Was his involvement with the black students irritating those that voted for him that he and his wife were really murdered by one of the white groups? ... I can identify with Daisy and all that took place in Little Rock. ... Daisy's account of what happen in a southern town called Little Rock was very inspiring and interesting. ...
An example of this is voting the United States. ... But there are citizens that have never even seen a voting booth and not even registered to vote. ... Another example of the music industry having an affect on freedom of speech is Rock the Vote. ... "Rock the Vote was founded in 1990 by members of the recording industry in response to a wave of attacks on freedom of speech and artistic expression The First Amendment says that we have a right to speak our mind. ... Lenny Kravitz stands with one of the classic "Censorship is Unamerican" posters created by Rock the Vote in 1992. ...
Poll taxes, the grandfather clause, and literacy tests made it almost impossible for African Americans to vote. ... This aggravated the blacks and they finally protested against segregation and their struggle to vote. ... On September 2, 1957, a federal court order established a plan to integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. ... President Eisenhower proposed legislation to support voting rights. ... This act set up the Civil Rights Commission which allowed the investigation of voting abuses. ...
