Heading into the final stretch of a critical vote on public transit in Clayton, pro-transit groups have brought in national civil rights heavyweights to boost voter turnout.
Rev. Al Sharpton is in town today on a two-prong mission centered around Clayton’s referendum on whether to join MARTA and injecting further momentum in a general get-out-the vote effort that has seen record registration of black voters in Georgia in recent weeks. Sharpton will speak this morning at 11 at a rally at “Push for MARTA Transit” rally at the Friends of Clayton Transit Education Center, 6483 GA Hwy 85 in Riverdale. Later at 7 he’s slated as the keynote speaker at a “Hands Up Vote” rally at the Center of Hope Church of God in Christ, 492 Roy Huie Rd. in Riverdale.
On Monday, former Atlanta Mayor and ambassador Andrew Young at a Community Transit Forum at a church in Jonesboro. The event was sponsored by the Friends of Clayton Transit and The Concerned Black Citizens Coalition of Clayton.
Earlier this month, the Rev. Jesse Jackson made an appearance on the steps of the Clayton County Courthouse urging passage of the MARTA referendum.
Sharpton and Jackson’s organizations - National Action Network and Rainbow/PUSH coalition, respectively - have close connections in Clayton and the southside of metro Atlanta. Partnership for Southern Equity and Georgia Stand Up also are a part of the events.
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