Michelle Obama fires up young voters

‘It’s about you,’ she says at South Florida event

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Michelle Obama brought her voter registration campaign to the University of Miami on Friday, rallying thousands of students and residents to “have a say in the issues we care about.” It was the final stop of her Week of Action tour for When We All Vote, at the University of Miami’s Watsco Center, before a crowd of about 6,000. The former first lady co-chairs the nonpartisan organization, which aims to encourage voting. In front of an audience whose shirts read “Register to vote,” “#MSDStrong,” “Andrew Gillum for Governor” and “I support Planned Parenthood,” Obama stressed that voting is the way to make sure citizens’ voices are heard. “It’s time for us to move out of the way and let you lead,” Obama told the young people in the audience, many of whom flashed the university’s “U” hand sign as she addressed them directly. “This is no longer about me; it’s not about Barack; it’s about you.” Obama stressed she was “not stumping for any one candidate” and didn’t say the names of any elected officials. But she said she is frustrated by the “daily chaos,” “pettiness” and “meanness” of politics, adding that whenever she feels like shutting it all out, she thinks of her dad, who made sure he voted in every election. “He went to vote for the same reason he went to work – to provide for his family,” Obama said. She stressed that every vote counts, saying that “you all know a thing or two about that here in Florida.” In addition to the infamous 2000 presidential election recount, Obama cited a Cocoa Beach City Commission election in 2016 in which Commissioner Karalyn Woulas won by eight votes. “If a candidate gets elected with a less than 37 percent turnout rate, and we assume the opponents get some of those votes, then that means the percentage of people who actually voted for that candidate is even smaller,” Obama said. “So if you’re an elected official who wins on those margins, who are you looking out for once you’re in office? ... If a storm hits and the lights go out, which neighborhood are you going to make sure gets its power back on first?” The lineup preceding Obama included actor Keegan-Michael Key, singer Kelly Rowland, attorney and political advocate Angela Rye, and gospel artist Erica Campbell. Rye told the audience the Week of Action included 2,000 voter registration events across 49 states. “When we all vote, we reclaim our power,” Rye said. “Don’t let anyone tell you that your vote doesn’t matter, that your voice doesn’t matter ... when we all vote, we are unstoppable.” Rally attendee Britney Marie Harris, a 27-year-old professor and motivational speaker in South Florida, said she was excited after hearing Obama’s speech. “I was telling my friends that I think in the presidential elections, we all come out in numbers, but with the local elections, not so much,” Harris said. “So I think it was great to get us energized and just excited about the upcoming election, and I think that’s what I personally needed just to spark that fire under me.” She said the speakers made her feel proud to have the right to vote. “It’s such a privilege that many of us take for granted that a lot of people might not have, or they don’t cherish it,” she said. “So I am beyond excited to go out and vote. I’m ready.”

“I think that’s what I personally needed just to spark that fire under me.” Britney Marie Harris, after Obama spoke

PHOTOS BY ANDREW WEST/FORT MYERS NEWS-PRESS Michelle Obama speaks at the When We All Vote rally at the Watsco Center at the University of Miami on Friday.

Rally attendees try to catch a glimpse of Obama after her speech Friday. About 6,000 people showed up to hear the former first lady and other speakers.