Common Cause, Christy Setzer, 617-512-7572;
Lawyers' Committee, Stacie Royster, 202-662-8317
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Civil and voting rights groups today commended Clear Channel Corporation for agreeing to take down a number of billboards placed in predominantly African-American and Latino neighborhoods in Cleveland, Columbus, and Milwaukee. The groups had mounted a campaign over the past week to persuade Clear Channel to take down the billboards, which warned of criminal penalties for voter fraud and were designed to stigmatize and intimidate minority voters. The billboards were anonymously financed.
"This is an undeniable victory for those of us who care about protecting the right to vote." said Catherine Turcer of Ohio Common Cause. "Allowing people to intimidate voters and interfere with voting is un-American. Now it's time for Norton Outdoor to follow Clear Channel's lead and take down the anonymously funded billboards as well." Norton Outdoor is the company which put up the billboards in the Cincinnati area. The Clear Channel billboards were in the Milwaukee, Columbus, and Cleveland markets.
According to Clear Channel's statement to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, the company finally agreed to take down the billboards because it had violated it disclosure policy by permitting them to go up with no disclaimer as to who funded them. It is unclear whether Norton Outdoor, the billboard company which put the billboards up in Cincinnati, will be taking their billboards down as well.
"We join in applauding Clear Channel for making the right decision to take down these unseemly billboards," said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel. "They have set the right example. We're calling on Norton Outdoor to follow Clear Channel's lead. We need to say it loud and make it clear-dirty tricks and intimidation will not be tolerated in our electoral process."
"This is an inspiring victory for the communities that fought back against these billboards," said Barbara Arnwine, Executive Director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. "Free speech is a right of all Americans, and citizens used their voice to organize and oppose this targeted suppression tactic. Clear Channel did the right thing by responding to the outcry."
"Clear Channel's decision to take down the intimidating billboards is a victory for free, fair and accessible elections," said Brenda Wright, Vice President for Legal Strategies at Demos. "Norton Outdoor should follow suit and stop promoting fear tactics that discourage eligible Americans from exercising their right to vote."
Common Cause, Demos and the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law are part of the Election Protection coalition, which last week began a campaign to counter the anonymously-financed billboards with their own pro-voting messages. One billboard urges residents to "Stand Up and Have Your Say - VOTE." A second set of billboards reminds voters that "When We Vote, We Are All Equal." The billboards also include the coalition's voter hotline number, 1-866-OUR-VOTE, which provides voter information and answers to questions on voter registration and ID requirements and election procedures. The coalition will also have field programs on Election Day at polling places across the country.
Election Protection supports voters through the national Election Protection Hotline, 866-OUR-VOTE, a voter information hotline staffed by trained volunteers. This year, Election Protection also launched the Election Protection Smartphone App, which any voter can use to check their registration status, look up their polling place, or access voter education materials. Voters can download the Election Protection Smartphone App by texting "OurVote" to 90975. Voters can also visit www.866OurVote.org, which contains state-specific election and voting information.
Office: Common Cause National
Issues: Voting and Elections
Common Cause is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.