Lexington will be one of several stops for what’s being called a “votercade” this weekend. It’s promoted as an attempt to encourage more voting in the November election.
The "Rolling Out the Vote" lineup of vehicles in Lexington will begin at Shiloh Baptist Church on Fifth Street. After traveling slowly through a number of neighborhoods on Saturday, it will conclude at Consolidated Baptist Church on Russell Cave Road. Reverend Richard Gaines is the pastor at Consolidated. He said he feels like there’s a revisiting of the 60s and 70s and called it a “movement” in this political environment.
“We’ve got to be vigilant..more vigilant now than ever. When I see we I’m just not speaking of Blackfolk..I’m speaking of people in general,” said Gaines.
Gaines said the goal is to get people engaged in the political process and not sit it out. Organizers expressed disappointment that neither the city police department nor the sheriff’s office had committed to escorting the motorcade.
An email response from the Division of Police said the Lexington Police Department was contacted by the event organizers about a possible escort, but the department is unable to provide an escort at this time.
Lexington NAACP President Whit Whitaker said it is a non-partisan effort.
“Someone emailed me earlier and said what’s this event about and had question marks..is it red, blue? We want to know. I said to them, it’s not about red-blue-green-white-black. It’s just about exercising your privilege and your right to vote. If that privilege is taken away and you can’t use it you will see how important it is,” said Whitaker.
Part of the votercade event is focused on persuading young voters to participate in the process. In addition to Lexington, other Kentucky towns scheduled to have vehicle motorcade-like events include Shelbyville, Frankfort, and Louisville. Lexington’s event begins at Shiloh Baptist Church at 9:30 on Saturday and ends again at Consolidated Baptist Church.
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