Operation Black Vote Mobilising Birmingham's Black communities

Operation Black Vote's collaborating with Birmingham city council to urge the cities African, Asian Caribbean and other ethnic minorities to register to vote and play a full and positive role in the forth coming Local and European elections.

The poster to be unveiled includes Children from African, Asian Caribbean communities with the strap line 'We're too young to vote. What's your excuse? …Register to vote'

Christine Crawly MEP stated: I welcome this initiative. I want all Birmingham's communities Black and white to have a strong voice in these elections. Europe s identity must be diverse and inclusive if the union is to mean anything.

Headmaster Carlton Duncan from the George Dixon School stated: I want my students to have a bright future. We adults owe it to them to play our part. That means registering to vote, voting and ensuring politicians listen to the community they serve.

The unveiling will on Friday 29th Jan be at 11.45 am. The venue will be a JC Decaux poster site at New St shopping parade, outside Habitat, close to the town hall.

OBV Co-ordinator Simon Woolley stated: Because of discriminatory citizenship laws across many EU countries only 4 million Black people out the 18million are afforded the right to vote. Therefore, Black Britain needs to strong to ensure Black Europe has an effective political voice.

Notes to the editor

27% of the Black community are not registered to vote, compared with 8% in the white community (Anwar 98) The definition Black is political. It includes African, Asian, Caribbean and other ethnic minorities Over 400 sites will be used for a period of a month.