Wisconsin organizations promote National Voter Registration Day in Milwaukee

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- National attention is on Wisconsin as we're just weeks away from an important midterm election.

Tuesday, various pro-voting groups went out into the community in and around Milwaukee to try and encourage voter registration.

Leaders and organizations from across Wisconsin and beyond came together encouraging people to "rock the vote" as part of National Voter Registration Day.

Things kicked off in front of a statue of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on MLK Drive.

"All different communities and also from different organizations, these are leaders in our community, and we're out here for National Voter Registration Day," said Tynetta Jackson, one of many activists who helped organize the event.

Milwaukee NCCP President Clarence Nicholas quoted Dr. King.

"Give us the ballot and we will transform the salient misdeeds of the courts and Legislatures into the calculated deeds of our orderly citizens," paraphrased Nicholas.

He said this election is especially important for voting as the John Lewis national Voting Rights Act heads to the Senate.

Something he says people can fight for by voting for people who support the bill.

"By changing the Senate with just a couple senators," said Nicholas.

Members of groups like 9 to 5, the NAACP, Building Unity, Mothers Against Gun Violence and many more from Racine, Kenosha, Madison and beyond gathered to parade around the city to various non-partisan voter assistance stations talking about the importance of voting.

"By Nov. 8, you have to take responsibility for your own actions. It's not a choice to vote, it's our obligation as American citizens to participate," said Diana Valencia, community activist.

If you still need to register to vote, you can go to a pop-up at Sherman Phoenix off West Fond Du Lac from 6-10 p.m. Tuesday.

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