(Washington, DC)—USAction Education Fund Executive Director Jeff Blum released the following statement on Wednesday, November 3, the day after Election Day:
"USAction Education Fund had one goal this year: to hold America to her promise of democracy for all Americans. We were driven by the historical disenfranchisement and under representation of specific groups of voters—primarily people of color and single women.
"Yesterday’s extraordinary turnout was no accident. It was the result of months of hard work by dozens of groups, coming together to help make democracy work for everyone. Working collaboratively with our state partners and with groups like National Voice and Women's Voices, Women's Votes, I am proud to say that USAction Education Fund helped to make history yesterday, November 2, 2004.
"We registered 550,000 new voters and worked to turn out 1.2 million single women, gay men and lesbians, African Americans, Native Americans and Latinos.
"We are encouraged by the turnout, but are also reminded that the journey is still long. When it's easier to pay taxes or pay parking tickets than it is to vote, we know there is much work to be done.
"However, we also know that the more who participate, the stronger our democracy, the more we can promise.
"USAction Education Fund is proud of the work we did this cycle, and we are looking forward to continuing our civic engagement work, and building on it to advance our social justice agenda."
USAction Education Fund is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to research and education concerning issues of racial, social and economic justice. The organization works with partners in 24 states to help increase civic participation and consumer advocacy. Members of the media who wish to interview Executive Director Jeff Blum and board member William McNary, should contact Laila Hirschfeld at (202) 624-1739.
