Donna Brazile, Gwen Moore and Wisconsin leaders host ‘Sister to Sister’ voter registration event

'Black women are most likely to mobilize and to vote this nation forward. So we thought it was important to create a space to address these issues,' panelist Marcelia Nicholson says

Corinne Dorsey

Sep 11, 2020

On September 10, Biden for President Wisconsin hosted “Sister to Sister,” a voter registration organizing event focused on informing Black women about registering to vote, absentee ballots, and the importance of voting.

The event panelists included Donna Brazile, Rep. Gwen Moore, Alderwoman Chantia Lewis, Tiffany Henry and supervisor Sequanna Taylor, and was facilitated by Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson.

“Black women are most likely to mobilize and to vote this nation forward. So we thought it was important to create a space to address these issues and talk about the plans that Democrats have to solve them,” Nicholson said.

Sister to Sister is that space, according to its organizers, where Black women to build unity and address issues, interests and needs unique to them. The panel offered a chance for Black women in Wisconsin to amplify their experiences as a community and engage in several political topics.

Democrats Launch Unprecedented Virtual Convention From Milwaukee — U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) speaks during the Democratic National Convention at the Wisconsin Center on August 17, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Morry Gash-Pool/Getty Images)

Brazile emphasized that “this election is about our future.” In Wisconsin, you can start voting in person as early as October 20, but “you have to make a plan to vote,” Brazile added.

“We can’t get the things we want unless we get the right people in the office. Power concedes nothing without a demand. So we have to demand what it is that we’re looking for. That demand, to me, is our vote,” Henry, who leads the Milwaukee Urban League of young professionals, said.

In the panel, Lewis reminded viewers that Black women are always known to stand for the challenge. They have to continue to be the leaders as they push for the Biden Harris presidency, Lewis stressed.

“We need to get out and vote as Black women because it affects our everyday life and situation,” she said.

“There’s no one who can mobilize and move things better than Black women can do that, you know, this is a perfect time to support each other,” Moore added.

Throughout the event, panelists also offered insight on educating younger voters about the importance of voting and how it will affect them locally and nationally. Taylor explained that we must remind the youth that, “You have a voice in this. You have to fight in this. You are leaders, whether you have a title or not.”

“We need to start tapping into Gen Z because they are, who we are passing that baton to,” Lewis added.

The panelists encouraged all listeners to share the insight they gained with people in their communities and to make it known that November 3 is coming.

“November 4 is the day where we have to either say we did our best or we stayed at home. Hopefully, we’re all standing up and saying that we did our part, and we did to reclaim our time,” Brazile said.

The next event panelists encouraged voters to attend is the Southeastern Milwaukee County Weekend of Action from September 12 to 13, where they will be calling voters in Milwaukee to make sure folks know how to vote safely and request absentee ballots.

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