By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
In response to concerns about voter fraud and intimidation at the polls, Not In Our Town Bowling Green is working to assure voters that the election system is secure.
During Thursday’s meeting of the organization, a Black person shared her fear about President Donald Trump’s repeated statements questioning the validity of the election process and his insistence that his supporters watch for problems at the polls. Not In Our Town members spoke out against the threats to the voting process.
“It just broke my heart that people fear participating in this right in our country,” said Emily Dunipace, co-chair of NIOT.
Rev. Gary Saunders suggested that NIOT collaborate with political parties in Wood County to come up with a statement to reassure voters.
At Friday’s meeting of the Bowling Green Human Relations Commission, Dunipace asked members of that group to get the word out that voting is safe.
“We should reassure that the voting process is secure,” she said. There are several checks and balances in place, “and it works.”
Dunipace reminded that early voting starts on Oct. 6, and suggested that people getting absentee ballots should put them in the drop box outside the county courthouse rather than in the mail.
“Those are things we have control over,” she said. “Make sure to spread that message.”
Not In Our Town is planning another program in its “Community Conversations” series. This one will focus on civil discourse, and will be held at the end of October.
The panel with focus on “how can we disagree in an agreeable way,” Dunipace said.
The city Human Relations Commission is planning a “Community Reads” program using the book, “So You Want to Talk About Race,” by Ijeoma Oluo.
The book “invites empathetic learning and meaningful constructive dialogue about how to deal with racial injustices and biases.”
There are three discussion dates set, with one section of the book to be covered on Zoom on each date of Nov. 9, Dec. 7 and Jan. 11. There will be three discussion times each day: 7 to 8 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and 7 to 8 p.m.
More details will be forthcoming.
“This title is in pretty strong demand,” Dunipace said. So efforts are being made to get several copies of the book. “Our goal is to make sure nobody is left out.”
“The topic is so relevant now,” said David Anderson, chairman of the Human Relations Commission.
Mayor Mike Aspacher has donated funds to pay for several copies of the book.
“I’m pleased to see this group is seizing the moment and showing leadership in the community,” Aspacher said.
