Youth show support for Barack Obama

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Karen Francis
Diné Bureau

WINDOW ROCK — Some of them may not even be able to vote, but that doesn’t stop them from making their voices heard in support of Barack Obama for president of the United States.

The small trailer east of the main intersection in Window Rock with its colorful signs for Obama is noticeable from the road. In the days before the election, a steady flow of people stopped by and were greeted by young volunteers of Diné for Obama. Since the trailer has been open — for about two weeks now — more than 600 people, some from as far away as Virginia, have visited.

Kyle Curley, 21, is the main organizer, but most of the volunteers aren’t even old enough to vote. On Friday, a 16-year-old was helping out, as was Antonio Mandan, 17, one of the volunteers who wishes he could vote.

“Only two of us are registered to vote. The rest are high school students,” Curley said. He added that they are stressing for youth to “get their voices heard, whether or not we’re old enough to vote.”

The youth got their start campaigning for their choice for the next president of the United States standing at the intersection of Highway 264 and Navajo Route 12 holding up signs.

“We got good responses from people,” Mandan said.

Not all the responses were positive, they said, but the youth keep on with a goal.

“We have issues to solve — positive energy in a positive direction,” Curley said.

When other young people came to them and asked why no one was listening to them, the volunteers told them, “If you want to change it, stand with us.”

The students bring their homework after school and help out after they are done.

Curley and Mandan were giving out posters and stickers to the people who stopped by on Friday afternoon, including a truck driver and an elderly couple.

The truck driver stopped by to get a bumper sticker, but the campaign was out of them and gave him a poster. He said that he already did early voting and was with Teamsters for Obama, Local 492 out of Albuquerque.

On other days, a group went along two of the major highways on Navajo — 191 and 272 — to put up signs for the Democratic candidate. Volunteers also set up equipment, talk to voters, give out literature and decorate the trailer. On Sunday, Curley spoke at a rally in support of Obama in Tuba City accompanied by four other members of Diné for Obama.

“The last seven days we’re pushing as hard as we can,” Curley said.

The message Curley has for voters? “Think really hard about how effective inspiration is on a nation that has seen eight years of complete confusion and chaos,” he said.
Mandan said that change is needed in America and on the Navajo Nation.

“He (Obama) offers hope. Hope is something we can hold on to,” he said.

From standing on a corner holding up signs to a trailer with a P.A. system and a laptop computer to keep updated on election and voting information, the youth have come a long way.

“It was started by young people for young people but it grew to something bigger,” Curley said.

Some of the young volunteers were even invited to Obama’s Oct. 25 rally in Albuquerque .

The Diné for Obama trailer has been open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for about two weeks now. The youth are also organizing a support watch party for the election on Nov. 4, tentatively scheduled for 5 p.m. at Nakai Hall.

“The mood is to keep fighting every day until 7 o’clock Nov. 4, until we know the votes are in,” Curley said.