As citizens flock in droves to rock the vote today, the GOP says acts of voter intimidation have sprung up in Philadelphia. The McCain-Palin campaign highlight two cases in Philadelphia. In one incident, two members of the New Black Panther Party stood outside a polling place in Philadelphia wielding batons. The two men left by time police arrived.
“People need to be able to vote without intimidation, period,†says Sean Connor, a spokesperson for the McCain-Palin campaign. One of the men said, “We will not allow some racists and other angry whites, who are upset over an impending Barack Obama presidential victory, to intimidate blacks at the polls.â€
Conner says there was another incident in Philadelphia where Republican election board officials in at least six voting places were tossed out by the judge of elections who is also a democrat. According to Time.com, reports vary as to why the GOP officials were asked to leave: either there was a lack of proper credentials or the polling place was overcrowded. The state Republican Party won a law suit filed allowing all Republican poll watchers to be provided access.
“What I’m hoping is these are isolated incidents and folks are able to vote without fear and intimidation,†Connor says.
Renita Burns is the editorial assitant at BlackEnterprise.com