Celebrities make last-minute pitch to voters in Norfolk

NORFOLK

With just a little over a week until Election Day, celebrities hit the streets Saturday for a last-minute effort to energize voters.

The National Urban League, an organization that encourages economic independence among African Americans, was in the area with cast members of the HBO series "The Wire" for the Vote to Empower bus tour and rally.

The event kicked off with a town hall meeting at The Murray Center. Actors Wendell Pierce, Sonja Sohn and Clarke Peters shared voting tips with rally guests, bring valid identification and a sweater just in case they are turned away for wearing campaign paraphernalia.

Husband and wife Kurt and Sarah Heisler of Norfolk are fans of "The Wire" and Barack Obama supporters. Sarah Heisler, 34, wore her navy blue "Obama For President" T-shirt to the rally. "I'm pregnant and I'm due in May. I want my baby to be born into an Obama administration."

Kurt, 33, says he's ready for change.

After the meeting, cast members went door-to-door in the Young Terrace section of the city to mobilize voters. The residents, many still in pajamas, were surprised to see celebrities on their doorsteps.

"You're the bomb on TV," Sherri Williams said when she opened her door Saturday morning.

"I want you to be the bomb at the polls," Sohn said.

"This is great to have them knocking on doors like this. This is amazing. I can't believe this," Williams said.

Sohn, a Newport News native, said she's excited about her opportunity to empower voters. "We want to bring out the forces," she said. "There are people out there who don't want the underprivileged blacks at the polls. They want to discourage people with long lines. They want to hold people back. We want to empower people."

National Urban League President and chief executive officer Marc H. Morial wants voters not only to go to the polls Nov. 4, but know their rights and participate in other elections.

"So far, people are very enthusiastic," he said. "We want people to be prepared to vote in this election and in other local elections.".

Kevin Powell, formerly of MTV's "The Real World," joined the National Urban League for the bus tour. "I was on Facebook before I got here and all the voter stuff on there is bugging me out. It can't stop Nov. 4."

With minorities on both tickets, people are bound to participate in this historic election, Powell said.

"People are treating this like the Super Bowl. Voting should be as natural as breathing."

DeAnne M Bradley, (757) 222-3897, deanne.bradley@link757.com.