Black churches in Guilford County organize voter turnout initiative

Black churches across Guilford County held a press conference Thursday in Greensboro to announce the launch of a get-out-the-vote initiative.

The collective effort called "Black Church United" aims to bring congregations together for community outreach to increase voter turnout. Pastors from churches across the state showed up in support of the initiative.

Rev. Steve Allen leads First Baptist Church in Raleigh, but is originally from Greensboro. He said at the press conference democracy is at stake and this is not a time to be silent.

"Our job is to vote because we want our children to experience all of democracy, every opportunity, and we want them to be measured by the content of their character," Allen said. "That still has value."

Pastor Deon Clark of Equation Church said Black congregations have a responsibility because of their strong influence in communities.

"It's our job to not only teach them how to vote, but why they're voting and how it can help because voting starts here on a local level before it even gets to a national level," Clark said. "Local elections are more important than national elections, and we have to teach our community and our people that that's the most important thing."

Participating churches will hold a Souls to the Polls meeting on Oct. 17 beginning at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in downtown Greensboro.