New York,
Diversity Plaza located in Jackson Heights, Queens, on Friday, September 24, became the venue for the launch of the New York Political Coalition. A location considered a mecca for immigrants as well as arguably most ethnically diverse in the United States if not the entire world.
As a candidate in just concluded June 22 Democratic Primary, I was shocked and disappointed about that election’s low turnout, for less than thirty percent of registered voters voted. Plus the usual apathy and complacency that historically results in past low voter turnout in our elections. Newly introduced Ranked-Choice Voting did not help matters either.
New York Political Coalition is a nonpartisan organization with a mission of civic participation, good governance, effective political representation, and citizens’ easy access to voting systems.
Unfortunately, many immigrants don’t vote and for that reason get excluded in service delivery in their respective communities. It’s appalling, to say the least, and we must turn the page. All concerned, from our elected officials, civic leaders and clergy must join to amplify our voices in our various locations and pulpit to encourage folks to save our democracy by actively participating in our civic duties. We can no longer heap blames on any past leader who is no longer in office for suppressing our votes when we have not even taken it upon ourselves to empower ourselves or our families to simply get out and vote. Even our immigrant voices are muted as many of us refuse to embrace the beautiful aspects of American democracy despite absconding from what for all intents and purposes seems like autocracy in our birth countries. We must make a serious effort to increase the ethnic vote base suppressed by marginalization, suppression, apathy, pandemic, and mistrusting political establishment.
In furtherance of NYPC Civic Agenda objectives, some partners, namely, TV Sunday, Sukhi New York, Assembly Member Jennifer Rajkumar, Fatima Baryab Independent Candidate for City Council in the 25th District Queens, civic leaders, activists joined hands to amplify the importance of increasing citizen participation in elections so gains of democratic dividends positively impact lives of many who reside in underserved communities in our City.
New York Political Coalition, Queens Launch was a huge success. Once Eva Boyce-Leonard from Port Authority of NY & NJ -JFK International Airport began her patriotic rendition of “God Bless America” crowed converged to listen to speakers and remarks by President of NYPC Eunice Ukwuani and Co-Founder Sheikh Musa Drammeh.
George Onuorah, Coordinator of Queens NYPC and ran for City Council in district 21st Queens on June 22 Democratic primary said “Our democracy is better served when citizens play a more active role in civic their political affairs by voting in elections.”
The President of the New York Political Coalition Eunice Ukwuani encouraged New Yorkers to go out and vote. She stated that “if you don’t vote, your voice is silenced forever and you don’t have the right to complain anymore. Give your politicians a chance to serve you and never judge all politicians because all politicians are not the same. Don’t allow anyone to discourage you from participating during elections. It’s your right to vote for a candidate because if you don’t vote at all, then the wrong candidate will be elected either as your President, Mayor, Borough President, City Council, etc. Remember, we are one New York and should love one another. Respect is very important no matter you’re race, religion, political party, and tribe”.
Mr. Agha Mohammed Saleh businessman and community leader who was instrumental to the birth of Diversity Plaza location of the event spoke eloquently about how in his 25 years of activism empowering much betterment of the next generation.
“When citizens have a full comprehension of their citizenship power and how intrinsically intertwined the level of their civic participation and the overall quality of their lives is, none shall be deprived of adequate constituent services. In our participatory democracy, all powers are in the hands of civic participants, and therefore all privileges and destitution stem from voting.” Sheikh Musa Drammeh, New York Political Coalition.
Community New York Political Coalition Launched in Queens