Strangers Unite Under the Banner of Voting Rights

A group of adults sits in a bright classroom arranged in a circle for a discussion. An older woman in a mustard-yellow top speaks while others listen attentively, some smiling. Tables hold notebooks, pens, water bottles, and takeout containers. A whiteboard with handwritten notes, a poster of the Ten Commandments, and a wall clock are visible in the background, creating the feel of a community workshop or group meeting.

Dozens of concerned citizens came together on Saturday, July 18th, for the John Lewis Voting Rights People’s Movement Assembly, honoring the late Civil Rights activist on the sixth anniversary of his death. Participants engaged in breakout sessions focused on voting rights, barriers to civic participation, and local action steps for Forsyth County. Linda Sutton, Central Region leader for Democracy NC, led discussions that revealed significant barriers to voting, while attendees brainstormed actionable steps to increase voter engagement. As the event concluded, twenty strangers left feeling hopeful and empowered, ready to roll up their sleeves and make a difference in their community.

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