ACLU Launches Know Your Rights Bus Tour to Empower Voters in Several States

NEW YORK – In a major move to bolster voter education, the American Civil Liberties Union has launched its Know Your Rights Bus Tour, a series of stops across several states to create an energizing community experience that combines entertainment and fun surprises with critical information about our most fundamental rights and freedoms, empowering historically disenfranchised voters in Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

The Know Your Rights Bus Tour will educate voters in these states on their rights in a number of issues to ensure they are prepared for this election. At each stop, the ACLU will be joined by advocates like award-winning producer, director, and comedian W. Kamau Bell; legendary rapper Danny Brown; content creator Jameelah Jones; and author of the banned book, “The ABCs of Queer History,” Seema Yasmin; among a variety of other artists, influencers, community members and ACLU experts, to make sure voters know their rights and pledge to vote.

Each stop will feature a unique activation to share knowledge about critical civil rights and civil liberties.

• Savannah (9/10) and Athens (9/12), GA
  • Know Your Right to Read Banned Books Events: The ACLU is partnering with local independent bookstores and featuring the author of banned book “The ABCs of Queer History,” Seema Yasmin and content creator Jameelah Jones, for a conversation about books that have been banned by local governments. Attendees will be able to highlight their favorite banned books as well.
• Raleigh, NC: 9/14
  • CarolinaDaze: The ACLU, the ACLU of North Carolina, Common Cause North Carolina, and other grassroots organizations are sponsoring the CarolinaDaze Music & Arts Festival, powered by young North Carolinians dreaming of better daze ahead. The ACLU will be on hand asking Know! Your! Rights! trivia and awarding prizes to contestants.
• Philadelphia, PA: 9/17
  • Know! Your! Rights! Game Show: The ACLU will have its first-ever live game show, hosted by W. Kamau Bell. During the show, you can cheer on a surprise group of contestants as they compete to show how well they know their rights and test their knowledge of local trivia for incredible prizes. Attendees will also be able to watch a live taping of the ACLU’s podcast, “At Liberty.”
• Detroit, MI: 9/19
  • GOTV Concert with Danny Brown: Danny Brown, a legendary rapper, singer and songwriter fresh off his Quaranta tour, is bringing the energy to his hometown of Detroit, in a free get out the vote (GOTV) concert to amp up the energy for our voting rights. Prior to the concert, W. Kamau Bell will be live hosting a special episode of the ACLU’s podcast, “At Liberty.”

“Empowering voters with knowledge and ensuring they have the tools to exercise their rights is crucial for a thriving democracy,” said Kriston McIntosh, chief communications and marketing officer of the ACLU. “The Know Your Rights Bus Tour is a pivotal step in educating voters in these states this election.”

Key Objectives of the Tour:

• Education: Providing comprehensive information on important civil liberties and civil rights issues.
• Election Day Preparedness: Educating voters on their rights on Election Day, including what to expect at the polls and what resources are available.
• Motivation: Ensuring voters understand the value of voting and how voting is the basis for all our most treasured civil rights and liberties.

The ACLU invites community members, partner organizations, and media to attend this effort to promote voter education.

For more information about the Know Your Rights Bus Tour, including event details and how to register, please visit aclu.org/bustour.