Featured

Charles Patton Calls for 20 Million New Voters in 2020

Published

5 years ago

October 10, 2019

Entrepreneur, coach, and real estate investor Charles Patton has recently added voting rights advocate to his title after a visit to the office of Oakland Post publisher Paul Cobb, where creativity and “aha!” moments are generated quite often.

As the two conversed Patton noticed large black and white photos of Cobb and three other Oakland residents beside Dr. Martin Luther King jr. on the wall.

Patton, amazed by the images asked Cobb to share his experience.

“During an atmosphere of violent and aggressive police opposition, many civil rights workers had written wills and waivers against legal actions if they were killed while participating in civil rights activities,” said Cobb.

“Due to the national response to the many arrests and some deaths over the Southern states, Congress and President Johnson passed the Voting Rights Act.”

As Cobb began to explain the magnitude of just how many everyday people and advocates who were led in particular by ministers responding to Dr. King’s call to action, Patton began to see the value again of galvanizing the masses and duplicating the movement around voter registration and other important issues.

Now 50+ years later, some legislation and court rulings are turning back the gains of the 1965 bill. Cobb and the Post News Group (PNG) are continuing the mission to maintain voter rights. PNG will feature weekly articles about registration and the census in their newspapers.

Patton has now formed a bipartisan organization called Make A Difference And Vote, a grassroots movement with the theme “20 for 2020”. In partnership with the Post, Jonathan “Fitness” Jones creator of breathing aerobics, and others across the nation, Patton expects to spark the registration of 20 million new voters by November 2020, using cell phones to register people in minutes.

“Through the use of a cell phone, anyone can be an activist and as we work together there’s no reason PNGs readers, the family of churches, unions, entertainers, athletes, Greek-letter organizations, businesses and other media outlets can’t produce change in our society,” said Patton.

“I want everyone to register to vote on Patton’s new platform in a four-step process and encourage others to do the same,” said Cobb. “Register at www.makeadifferenceandvote.com, upload a (photo) selfie when you vote at the polls or mail your ballot, and ask 20 others to do the same.”

Patton is so passionate about his new movement that he has even written a song titled Make A Difference And Vote that will feature music video featuring next spring in 2020 involving 50 high profile multicultural and political supporters. It is being hailed as the “We Are the World” for voting.

Patton says his family, mentor Danny Glover, and leading empowerment workshops across the country has kept him motivated.

“Change is imminent, and with everyone’s voice heard and every vote counted, America will be better than it is today, “ said Patton.

Ladies in Red —which was founded in Oakland by Brenda Knight — journeyed with 120 of its 1,400 membership to visit the Alabama Civil Rights Tour to Selma, Montgomery and Birmingham Alabama. With the recommendation of Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr., Ladies In Red worshiped with The Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church. The current Pastor is Rev. Cromwell A. Handy. Although Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. preached at many churches, Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church was the only church for which he was the Pastor. Ladies In Red donated $2,400.00 to the church.
The Ladies in Red also followed the same trail of the 1965 marchers across the Edmund Pettus
Bridge on their journey to Montgomery. Then they visited the church in Birmingham where in 1963 four girls were killed in a bombing during worship services. Upon their return to the Bay Area, with renewed vigor and commitment, Knight announced that her members were committed to registering at least 20 voters each. The Ladies in Red are now actively working with the Post, Charles Patton and other groups to honor the commitment and sacrifices of John Lewis, Rosa Parks, Ralph Abernathy, C.T. Vivian, Medgar Evers, Julian Bond and many more. Photo courtesy of Brenda Knight.

Carla Thomas

Posts by Carla Thomas

Related Topics:Charles Patton Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.Ladies in Red Paul Cobb

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

4 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

Oakland Post

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.