Michelle Obama took to Twitter to announce her “Voting Squad,” a group of people meant to hold each other accountable to vote — and make sure friends, relatives, and neighbors are registered and prepared to do the same.
Obama’s squad includes Selena Gomez, Liza Koshy, Shonda Rhimes, Megan Rapinoe, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington, Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, Faith Hill, Janelle Monáe, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Chris Paul.
Along with Obama, the people on her squad are also the co-chairs of the nonpartisan voter participation organization behind the initiative, When We All Vote.
In the tweet, Obama encouraged others to join their efforts on When We All Vote’s website. You can also find information there on how to create your own squad, and how to apply to be a “Voting Squad Captain,” volunteers that commit to monthly training phone calls and participate in get-out-the-vote actions in their communities.
With less than a year to the 2020 elections, it's time to start thinking about your #VotingSquad [1].
I’ve got mine:
Shonda.
Liza.
Selena.
Tom.
Lin-Manuel.
Tracee.
Faith.
Kerry.
Chris.
Janelle.
Megan.
Rita.Join us at https://t.co/cBTTn9yuTH [2] and learn how you can get involved. pic.twitter.com/e1QJPECWBL [3]
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) November 7, 2019 [4]
The Voting Squad initiative builds off of When We All Vote’s efforts from 2018. In the months leading up to the 2018 midterm elections, the organization says it organized more than 2,500 local voter registration events around the country, while engaging with 200 million others online to explain voting’s significance.
“Voting is bigger than any one issue, candidate or party, and the more people that participate, the stronger we are as a country,” Kyle Lierman, the CEO of When We All Vote, said.
Obama and her squad want to make sure that every American feels the same way.
“Last year, millions of new voters made their voices heard for the first time. Now, the stakes are even higher and we are looking to you.” Obama said in the video announcement. “Our country — our democracy — is counting on you.”
However, conservatives quickly lashed out at the former First Lady, for the crime of encouraging people to vote.
And I will warn you, some of these responses are pretty disgusting, with many of them accusing Michelle Obama of being born male:
The more Americans that vote, the more screwed dems are. They need illegals. They need to find boxes of ballots after polls close.
— Mike White (@mwhite1961) November 12, 2019 [5]
Chewbacca!!
— Fishing Alliance (@FishingAlliance) November 12, 2019 [6]
You are rich but very, very, very worthless to those who know what you and Barack are really like. Racists, hateful, uppity black folks who won’t associate, with those in your own neighbourhood. The neighbourhood where you came from, not the one you bought into.
— S (@WeThePeople35) November 8, 2019 [7]
BIG MIKE!
— Craig Gardner (@ciesaro) November 10, 2019 [8]
pic.twitter.com/qCAv8v5dZz [9]
— intrepid (@intrepi10471618) November 10, 2019 [10]
So you're going to get a bunch of Trannies together? @MichelleObama [11] #ForeverFirstTranny [12]
— iGi Social Media Network Digital Marketing SEO (@iGiSocialMedia) November 10, 2019 [13]
pic.twitter.com/0BtMemBtKT [14]
— LightSeeker (@LiteSeeker18) November 10, 2019 [15]
MO is a racist and spreads hate
— Maryjo Stone (@Artgirlfun) November 13, 2019 [16]
Ya’ mean Michael, dontcha?
— L Bartoli (@LBartoli3) November 13, 2019 [17]
Obamas just cant keep away from the public. Probably because they cant stand each other in that big expensive lonely house.
— Mick (@Mick93545042) November 12, 2019 [18]
pic.twitter.com/aq9rjUajsr [19]
— Mark 🇺🇸 (@MarkOrlandi1) November 10, 2019 [20]