ELECTION 2002 PRIMARY
Coalition rallies to help
'lift every voice and vote'
By MAE GENTRY
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer
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The rally, held at Gresham Park's athletic field, was sponsored by the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples' Agenda, a nonpartisan organization headed by the Rev. Joseph Lowery. It was one of many political events held throughout metro Atlanta on the last weekend before election day, including an appearance Saturday night by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan on behalf of U.S. Rep. Cynthia McKinney.
At Gresham Park, volunteer J.R. Lentini hammered "Darden for Congress" campaign signs into the soft wood-chip-covered dirt, even though south DeKalb is not part of the 11th District candidate Buddy Darden seeks to represent.
"We're not campaigning for votes here," Lentini said. "We're campaigning for the democratic process."
Niesha Worthy, 19, registered to vote for the first time at Saturday's event. "I've never done it before, and I've always wanted to participate in something like that," she said.
Seated under a green-and-white tent, Lowery bobbed his head to the beat of a rap song he recorded two years ago, "You Got the Right to Vote." The 80-year-old civil rights veteran talked about his organization's civic efforts.
"Our goal is to improve the quality of governance by promoting an informed and active electorate and responsive elected officials," he said.
Volunteers grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, demonstrated a touch-screen electronic voting machine, the method Georgians will use in November, and offered to register those who turned out.
Candidates distributed campaign literature and spoke to the sparse crowd.
Johnny Panos, who left a Scottdale parade to come to Gresham Park, said he had attended many forums during his campaign for DeKalb State Court judge. "One of the things that's been disappointing to me is . . . there haven't been a lot of voters," Panos said.
Saturday's "Lift Every Voice and Vote" rally was no exception. People came and went, but no more than a few dozen were present at any time.
Phyllis E. Turner, a candidate for state school superintendent, shook hands with people in the crowd as she touted her credentials. She said she thought the rally was worthwhile.
"I wanted to connect with the community," she said. "And I knew this was a good way to do it."
Saturday night Farrakhan spoke to the overflowing congregation at the West Hunter Street Baptist Church in the first of three voter rallies he is scheduled to attend this weekend. There will be two today.
Farrakhan has been a supporter of 4th District congresswoman McKinney, and he told an enthusiastic and cheering crowd that McKinney needed their support because she was "a sister who has been there for us."
McKinney is facing her toughest challenge from former DeKalb County State Court judge Denise Majette in the Democratic primary Tuesday, and Majette has received significant financial support from the Jewish community.
Farrakhan said McKinney had been targeted for defeat because she cast votes in Congress against Israel and spoke out in behalf of Palestinians.
"I am looking at a drama being played out," Farrakhan said at the rally. "Cynthia didn't vote right. Cynthia is brass. Cynthia has that gall."
Farrakhan said he was there because he favored McKinney, not because he opposed Majette.
"I guess Ms. Majette is a qualified woman. She has a lot to offer and there's nothing wrong with aspiring to be more than you are," he said. "Judge Majette -- I couldn't come up here and say anything bad about her."
-- Staff writer Rhonda Cook contributed to this report.