NEW YORK (September 24, 2012) -- The National Urban League (www.nul.org), a leading opponent of discriminatory new voting restrictions overtaking the United States, today unveiled a powerful pro-voting message delivered by celebrities, artists and activists.
The Occupy The Vote television, radio and print ads, featuring Angela Bassett, Rev. Al Sharpton, Lamman Rucker, Eric Benét and other celebrities, coincide with National Voter Registration Day tomorrow. The ads are part of a broad civic engagement campaign the National Urban League launched earlier this year.
“It’s no accident that the very citizens targeted with voter suppression schemes are the ones whose lives could be most affected by the coming election,” said National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial, who appears in the ads. “We’re so grateful to our friends in the entertainment community for defending democracy throughout the nation. We’re doing everything we can to oppose these laws, but millions could be denied the vote. We’re asking citizens to make sure they know the current law in their states, prepare themselves to comply, and most importantly, vote.”
Global award-winning advertising agency Draftfcb partnered with the National Urban League to create the campaign.
"The Occupy the Vote campaign offers a great opportunity to bring about real change," said Rich Levy, Chief Creative Officer of Draftfcb Healthcare. "This campaign is exciting work, because it's important work. Voting rights impact all Americans."
In addition to Bassett, Sharpton, Rucker, Benét and Morial, the ad campaign features:
- Vaughn Anthony
- Vanessa Bell Calloway
- Erica Campbell
- Kim Coles
- Rocsi Diaz
- Jamie Hector
- Ryan Leslie
- ELEW (Eric Lewis)
- Tom McCarthy
- Wendy Raquel Robinson
For more information, visit www.occupythevote12.org.
CONTACT: Teresa Candori
(212) 558-5433