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What is Louisville Urban League? Group hosts 'Protest to Power' caravans to urge voters at early poll stations

The group organized a caravan ending at one of Louisville's four early polling centers on the first day of voting, offering food and music to those who joined their pep rally

Non-profit group Louisville Urban League has collaborated with several local and national organizations to encourage Kentuckians to make their voices count during the general election. As reported by whas11.com, the group organized a caravan ending at one of Louisville's four early polling centers on the first day of voting, offering food and music to those who joined their ‘Protest to Power’ pep rally. They also tweeted: "Join @LouisvilleUL, @BlackVotersMtr, @untilfreedom, LUL Guild, @lulypconnected, @kftc, @LouNAACP, #BreonnaTaylor Foundation, @RussellPromise & more TODAY beginning at 11 AM as we come together to VOTE EARLY!"

People who took part in the rally got a ride to the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage to vote. As per whas11.com, Felicia Garr, a voter who took part in the caravan, said, "I just finished voting, and I celebrated at the end because I'm hoping good will win over evil... I'm emotional about it. When are we going to get to the point that equality and justice for all is really true? I'm hoping we as a people, mankind, votes this time that shows good overrides evil and everybody loves everybody."

Urban League president Sadiqa Reynolds said, "There are so many issues on the line for us. It is imperative that people raise their voices. We have been protesting, we have done what we can in the streets — we have to take the protest to the polls."

Their partners include those who have participated in protests in Louisville since the death of Breonna Taylor. Taylor's mother Tamika Palmer, who was at the rally, said, "To get the changes we need, it's important for us to be out here and asking people to come out and vote. Just the way the whole case played out...some of those people in those positions need to be moved out of those positions, they're not doing the job they need to do to help us."

The caravan will be heading to other polling locations in the following weeks and Louisville Urban League will host ‘Protest to Power’ every Saturday of early voting at noon, the information for which can be found here.

What is Louisville Urban League?

According to their website, they are "a nonprofit, nonpartisan, community service organization dedicated to eliminating racism and its adverse impacts on our community". The site adds, "Our mission is to assist African Americans and other marginalized populations in attaining social and economic equality through direct services and advocacy."

The group is a part of the broader National Urban League network of historic civil rights organizations throughout the United States. Currently, their service areas include Kentucky counties of Jefferson, Shelby, Oldham, Bullitt and Hardin; and the Indiana counties of Floyd, Harrison and Clark.

The agency started with $1,000, which was raised by community residents at a public dinner. According to the website, it was incorporated in August 1921 and it eventually came to be known as Louisville Urban League. It is one of the oldest HUD-certified housing counseling agencies in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. For years, the group has worked for economic empowerment in order to raise the standard of living among the under-served communities, in areas of jobs, justice, education, health and housing.