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Volume39,Number 10 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. ? THURSDAY, November 1, 2012
Photos by Layla Garms
Georgia Porter (left) and Preston McConnell (signal
ing four more years for the president) pose outside
the Mazie Woodruff Center last week.
Early voters
make their
voices heard
BY LAYLA GARMS
THE CHRONICLE
The early voting fervor struck East Winston last
week, as hundreds of Forsyth County residents flocked
to the Mazie Woodruff Center and 14th Street
Recreation Center to do their civic duty.
As of the end of the day on Tuesday, 3,977 and
3,460 residents had cast ballots at the Woodruff Center
and 14th Street Recreation Center, respectively. In all,
33,484 residents had taken advantage of the early vot
ing countywide as of Tuesday, according to the
Forsyth County Board of Elections.
Richmond, Va. native Georgia Porter was among
the thousands who cast their votes at the Woodruff
center on
Lansing Drive
Porter, a retired
housekeeper, has
been registered
to vote since
1972. In that
time, the great
grandmother of
one has never
missed the
opportunity to
cast her vote in a
presidential
election.
The Carver
High School
A sign in front the Woodruff Center
beckons to early voters.
alumna doesn't own a car, but she refused to let that
deter her from showing her support for President
Obama. She enlisted the support of the Forsyth County
Democratic Party, which aided her by providing trans
portation to the polls last week.
"My son's always working and when he gets off,
he's tired, so I wanted to make sure I got my vote in
this time," related Porter, who lives just a short drive
from the Woodruff Center.
Friday was Porter's first time voting early in an
election. The 76-year-old said she voted early in mem
ory of a fellow member at Union Chapel Baptist
Church who would not have been able to participate in
the 2012 election if not for early voting.
"We had a lady that passed and we were going to
honor her by voting early," Porter explained. "It was
pretty easy after I got the hang of it. It's been a great
experience."
Preston McConnell, a retired R J. Reynolds electri
cian, drove Porter to the Woodruff Center. Porter is
one of 10 voters McConnell, a registered Democrat,'
has driven to the polls this election cycle. The city
native transported hundreds of voters to the polls in
2008.
"I was out there everyday from six in the morning
until the polls closed," related the 68 year-old. "If they
call me anytime the polls are open, I'll come and get
them."
See Voters on K9
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New Goler Memorial
pastor is filling big shoes
BY LAYLA GARMS
THE CHRONICLE
Ooler Memorial AME Zion
Church has a new leader.
Rev. Dr. George Banks, a
Wake Forest alumnus, will
preach his initial sermon during
a special service Sunday.
"We are excited about the
opportunity to officially be
introduced as the pastor to the
larger congregation and excited
about what God is going to do
here at Goler. We're excited
about the opportunity to do our
part to help make Winston
Salem be the best city in
America, if not the world,"
declared Banks, who relocated
here from Knoxville.Tenn. with
his wife Keisha and their three
"rambunctious" boys last week.
tlogbylfkOm
See Bank* on A12 Rev. Dr. George Banks stands outside his new church home.
Putting Down Roots
flan by LayiaOanw
Volunteers work to pl*nt saplings along New Watkertown Road Saturday during the 20th Annual
Community Roots Day. See the full story on page Bl. _
V.
Tour asks for R.EJS.PJE.CX
for President Obama
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
"Stop Disrespecting My
President!"
1911 United, a Washington,
D .C .-based
Super PAC
(Political
Action
Committee)
founded by
members of
Kappa Alpha
Psi and
Omega Psi
Phi Fraternity,
is taking that
message to a
number of
Skimmer
presidential election battleground
states.
The 1911 United bus was hard to
miss when it rolled into Winston
Salem late last week. It features,
among other things, a dramatic por
trait of the President Obama, the 1
"Stop Disrespecting My President!" <
PleaoabyTMdLack
The bus lakes a rest on the campus of Wake Forest University.
heme and "11.06.12," the day
America will decide if President
Dbama gets four more years or if
3ov. Mitt Romney will become the
nation's 45th president.
1911 United's call to "Stop
Disrespecting My President!" res
mates with many African
Americans, who believe that the
nation's first black president has not
been given the same level of respect
of his predecessors. Blacks point to
the infamous "You lie" charge made
by U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) as
President Obama addressed a joint
See 1911 United on A7
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Under the Big Top
Unique project allows students to discuss bias
BY LAYLA GARMS
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During tent-covered outdoor ses
sions last week, students at Mount
Tabor High School explored the com
plexities of racial diversity, cultural
differences and the stereotypes asso
ciated with them.
Wake Forest University Art
Professor David Finn said he con
ceived "The Big Tent" as a way of
using art to delve into the issues sur
rounding race and culture and spark
some honest conversations in a safe
and accepting environment.
Participants gather under die colorful
tent and use the works of art on the
Seeltat on Alt
Photo by Layta
Om
Mt. Tabor
Mtuiautt
wit w
txhibitt
under the
colorful
Big Tent.
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