Following an overwhelming response from Florida-based organizers and students at HBCUs, the Freedom Is At Stake GOTV Bus Tour is heading to key cities in Florida – Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, and Ocoee – with a series of events aimed at mobilizing voters in critical communities.
Partnering with organizations like Mobilize Justice, SEIU, AFT, NAACP, NextGen America, Push Black, and Voto Latino, the coalition aims to engage voters through dynamic, high-energy events combining music, food, and impactful outreach efforts designed to boost early voting.
In Ocoee, it will be the Freedom Is At Stake Island Vibes Early Voting Celebration, part of the ongoing GOTV Bus Tour and focused on engaging local communities through a dynamic celebration of early voting and civic participation. The celebration will include music, food, t-shirt giveaways, and a live voter mobilization broadcast in partnership with WOKB Radio. Organizers want to encourage early voting and inspire the greater Orlando and Central Florida community to make their voices heard.
The collaboration with Mobilize Justice will see influential voices and celebrities joining the effort to connect directly with voters in their neighborhoods. This approach aims to create authentic voter engagement moments by amplifying the issues that matter most to Floridians—economic security, reproductive justice, climate justice, and protecting democratic rights.
Organizers said they hope the community-focused events will not only mobilize voters but also foster a sense of unity and empowerment as Election Day approaches.
“In Florida, young voters, women, and Black communities have the power to shape the future,” said Andi Pringle, Founder and CEO of Registration Nation Action Fund. “At every stop on this tour, we see that connecting urgency with the issues impacting these communities motivates voters to show up and be counted. This is about having a voice at the table and securing our rights and freedoms.”
“In every key battleground state, voter turnout is going to make all the difference,” said Quentin James, Founder and President of The CollectivePAC. “We’re focused on reaching voters in every critical state, and Florida is no different. The turnout of Black voters, young people, and communities of color will shape the outcome of this country. This tour reminds voters that their voice is crucial to our nation’s future.”
“Working people are going to be the deciding factor in this election,” said April Verrett, SEIU President. “We want thriving communities, good union jobs, clean water, safe schools, affordable housing, and accessible care. Across the country, workers are turning out, voting for us—because when we vote for us, we win.”
“NextGen America has been empowering young people for over a decade to make their voices heard in elections,” said Harry Johnson, VP of Strategic Partnerships for NextGen America. “With less than a month to go until Election Day, we’re making sure young voters in Florida and beyond have everything they need to help create a government that represents them and reflects their values.”
Event Details for Freedom Is At Stake GOTV Bus Stops in Florida:
Sunday, October 27, 2024 – Jacksonville, FL
- Event 1: Freedom Is At Stake – Party At The Polls Early Vote GOTV Celebration
- Location: Legends Community Center, 5130 Soutel Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32208
- Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- This event will feature music, T-shirt giveaways, food, rides to the polls, and a rally with local civil rights, racial justice, and labor leaders to inspire voters.
Sunday, October 27, 2024 – Daytona Beach, FL
- Event 2: Freedom Is At Stake Takes The Yard – Bethune Cookman Student Mobilization
- Location: Charles W. Cherry Cultural and Educational Center, 925 George W. Engram Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
- Time: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
- Focused on mobilizing students at Bethune Cookman University, this event will provide rides to the polls, food, music, and community engagement.
Sunday, October 27, 2024 – Ocoee, FL
- Event 3: Freedom Is At Stake Island Vibes Early Voting Celebration
- Location: WOKB Radio, 50 South Clark Road, Ocoee, FL 34761
- Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Voter mobilization event with a live broadcast in partnership with WOKB Radio, featuring food, music, and community outreach.
