KIWA launches month of Koreatown voter mobilization efforts
Wednesday October 08, 2008 | Los Angeles
Collaboration with other community groups aims to mobilize volunteers to talk to thousands of Koreatown voters through weekly phonebanks and precinct walks
Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA – In a first-time collaboration, Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance (“KIWA”) will be working with South Asian Network (“SAN”) and Silverlake Hollywood Echo Park Metropolitan Alliance (“SHEPMA”) to reach out to voters in the Koreatown community. Members of these organizations will be volunteering at weekly phonebanks and voter outreach walks to reach out to thousands of voters to remind them to vote on November 4th and to educate these voters on important propositions on the ballot.
“This is one of the most important elections in recent memory, for many reasons,” says Danny Park, Executive Director of KIWA. “With so much at stake, we want to do everything we can to make sure our community is informed and motivated to vote. It will remind people that, as a community, our votes count and that our voices matter.”
Volunteers will be distributing non-partisan voter guides and educating voters on the dangers of Propositions 4, 6 and 8. KIWA, SAN and SHEPMA understand that these three initiatives would be particularly harmful to our community and require a concerted effort to educate people about their consequences and encouraging them to reject these measures. “Our organizations represent the multi-racial, multi-ethnic diversity of this neighborhood; with our members working together, we know we will have even greater impact. We live in such a diverse community so it’s great for all of us to be working together as a united front,” says Graciela Geyer, Lead Organizer at SHEPMA.
Proposition 4 restricts the rights of women under 18 to abort a pregnancy and endangers the health and safety of young women. It would make it illegal for a woman under 18 to get an abortion without her doctor notifying a parent at least 48 hours before the procedure. This is a safety issue for young women. Young women who do not trust their parents or fear being rejected or punished will seek dangerous alternatives instead of getting help from professionals. Abused young women would be afraid to seek help. In cases of abuse, she could notify another adult, but her doctor would be required to report it to the authorities running the risk of the abuser finding out and child protective services investigating her family. This measure would force young women to navigate courts to get a waiver. Good family relationships between teens and parents cannot be legislated.
Proposition 6 would require children 14 or older charged with “gang related crimes” to be charged as adults and increase penalties for these crimes, whether violence was used or not. It would prohibit bail for undocumented immigrants, and require police to record immigration status. It would subject recipients of Section 8 to annual criminal background checks. Increase funding to prisons, probation, & police by $1 Billion in 2009 & $500 Million every year after. This initiative targets youth, immigrants, and poor families. We already spend too much on prisons and it does not make us safer. This would take millions more money from schools and healthcare.
Proposition 8 would change the California Constitution to take away the right of gay couples to marry. This would put discrimination against these families into our constitution. All families and couples should be treated equally and have the same legal protections. Churches would not be forced to marry same-sex couples. This law ensures equality under the eyes of the government and civil rights. Everyone has the right to hold different beliefs, but we shouldn’t take away the civil rights of others because of it.
“These propositions will increase discrimination against our communities and threatens the safety and privacy of our communities. Immigrants, low-income people, people of color and other communities that are already under-resourced have the most to lose here,” adds Shiuming Cheer, Civil Rights Coordinator of South Asian Network.
Phonebanks will focus on Korean voters and will take place every Thursday in October from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. Voter outreach walks in Koreatown precincts are planned for every Saturday morning in October from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Volunteers are also needed for community walks Thursdays from 2 to 5 PM and Fridays from 3:30 to 6 PM. All are welcome and encouraged to join in these efforts. For information, contact KIWA at 213-738-9050 (Korean-ext. 105; Spanish/English-ext. 102).
SHEPMA (Silver Lake Hollywood Echo Park Metropolitan Alliance) is a community led organization that fights for social justice, builds power in the community, & develops solutions for low-income & working class families. For information: 323-789-7920 x108
SAN (South Asian Network) is a grassroots community-based organization dedicated to promoting the health, empowerment, and solidarity of persons of South Asian origin. For information: 1-800-281-8111