Akil Khalfani, Director of the Africana Institute of Essex County College, New Jersey, United States of America (USA), has commenced mobilization of his constituents and other supporters across the US for the upcoming Congressional election.
A Professor of Sociology, Dr. Khalfani is running to represent the New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District and is seriously sensitizing voters and other supporters to ensure that he wins the elections slated for June 7th this year.
Khalfani, a popular political and social activist, already has groups and individuals speaking out strongly in support of his aspiration and has continued to receive awards and honors for his service to the community.
He has also intensified speaking engagements aimed at educating his constituents and the general public on their voting rights, on the issues in contention and on the need to have educated progressive representation, not only at the Congress but at every level of the leadership ladder.
At a recent lecture to commemorate Black History Month, for instance, Dr. Khalfani spoke passionately on the vexed issue of voter suppression in the US and what must be done to redress this growing problem.
He acknowledged that voter suppression, which has, over time, been a weapon used to control power or dominate others, is re-emerging under different guises. He stressed that voter suppression was used against women, blacks, and other marginalized groups in the past and is now being brought back with the aim of shutting out some groups of voters.
To put pressure on the system to enforce their rights to vote, Dr. Khalfani said the people must organize themselves, educate themselves on basic civics, register to vote, understand the issues of the moment, and master the laws and regulations governing electoral conduct.
He stressed that the people should also join or start organizations that are committed to social change, join campaigns of individuals advocating fundamental changes to the social order and that are pushing issues that affect their communities positively.
They could also become lobbyists, join lobby groups pushing issues dear to the people they represent, or run for elective positions from where they can implement policies that would positively impact their communities and the country at large.
To be an effective advocate for the change of any policy or issue, an individual must have read the actual document, policy or executive order and understood the law or legislation.
The person or group must then collate all relevant data on the issue, get petitions in support of the position being canvassed and champion such positions or take legal action concerning them.
Khalfani also acknowledged the place of the use of social media to advance causes, even while cross checking facts to avoid misleading information or news.
