‘Good Trouble’ On Election Day: Newtown Activists Hit The Streets

SARASOTA, FL — Friends and activists Deacon James White and Michael White have long been involved in their community, especially during election season. But this year, they went the extra mile to reach voters, particularly those in Newtown, a predominantly African American neighborhood.

James set up a speaker system and megaphone on his car, which he’s used to reach voters — about why they should support Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden or why Donald J. Trump is unfit for office — as he drove through neighborhoods and joined motorcades and rallies. His car is a familiar sight in Newtown and other parts of Sarasota. And wherever he goes, Michael usually goes with him.

“Whenever he comes through, I usually jump in with him,” Michael said Tuesday. “We’re just trying to get the message out.”

They were particularly busy over the past two weeks as they made a final push to get Democratic voters out for early voting or on Election Day. They also volunteered for 14 days straight at early voting sites, usually at Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library in Newtown. They kept busy through Election Day – from early in the morning until the polls closed that day – driving throughout the neighborhood spreading their message.

“We’ve got to give it all we got,” Michael said.

James added, “As (the late Rep.) John Lewis said, ‘Get into trouble.’ And we found that this is good trouble, exercising your most precious right to vote.”

Mostly, the response has been “great,” James said. “It feels good seeing those thumbs up. Of course, you do get some thumbs down.”

He recalls a recent motorcade he joined in Manatee County. His group encountered a Trump caravan that tried to “intimidate” them, he said. “They said we was evil people.”

But he doesn’t let those moments get to him, because he knows how important his activism is to the community.

“It’s about trying to get the vote out, get the information out, get the excitement going,” he said.

Both activists are vocal Trump critics who want to see Biden in the Oval Office.

“Every day we’re inundated with garbage and we’re really tired of seeing it,” Michael said

James said, “(Trump’s) unkind, unloving, pandemic unaware…All about he, his family, their money.”

Michael continued, “No character, egotist.”

He recalled the kindness of Biden when he met the vice president during a 2012 event at the Robert L. Taylor Community Center in Sarasota.

“He was a real nice guy,” he said. “The way he worked that rope line, he was just so kind to everybody.”

Now, as the country awaits the results of the presidential election, James and Michael are hoping for change.

“There’s so much wrong with America. We don’t have the USA we have the DSA — Divided States of America,” Michael said. “Minorities, we’re at a bad place, but America’s at a bad place…We’re all at a bad place.”

James added, “This year is a critical year. We definitely have to be more active, more involved because of what’s before us. Our lives truly depend on it.”

Read more about statewide and local election results:

• Election Results FL 2020: Trump Wins Florida
• Sarasota Election Results: Battie, Alpert, Arroyo Win Seats