Michelle Obama sounded an ominous warning Tuesday night, telling thousands of people in Atlanta that “disillusionment and apathy” could determine the outcome of the presidential election.
She called on Americans to “break the cycle of disillusionment and apathy.” Our job is to show people that two things can be true at once: that it is possible to be outraged by the slow pace of progress and to be committed to your own pursuit of that progress.”
The former first lady was in Atlanta as part of her nonprofit When We All Vote, which encourages voter registration. Many in her audience were young students from Atlanta’s historically black colleges and universities.
“It is possible to be discouraged by what is happening and still choose to do everything in your power to make things better, to speak out, to organize, to donate and yes, to to vote,” she reminded the crowd.
Michelle Obama held a voting event in Atlanta
Kamala Harris is struggling to retain black male voters as she battles Republican rival Donald Trump. Polls show the presidential race is effectively tied. Both parties are doing everything they can to get their voters to the polls.
Michelle Obama, who campaigned for Harris, has repeatedly warned about what will happen if people don’t vote.
‘The process continues, with or without you. Decisions are made, judges appointed, laws passed. So when you talk to people who are considering sitting on the sidelines, I want you to tell them how this system really works,” she said.
She reminded them of the 1996 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore.
“The entire presidency in that election was decided by 537 votes in Florida,” she said of that election, which came down to a handful of votes in one county.
Her stop in Georgia came as the state wrapped up early voting.
According to the secretary of state, more than 3 million people in the state have already cast their votes.
Georgia is one of seven battleground states that will decide the elections.
Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are both encouraging voters to go to the polls
Many in the audience at the Michelle Obama event were young students from Atlanta’s historically black colleges and universities
Michelle Obama argued that politics was more important than anything else.
“We have a lot of people who crave likes from their followers but aren’t interested in the needs of their community,” she said. “We have people who are excited to vote for reality shows, but not willing to vote for their actual reality.”
“The process,” she warned, “will continue with or without you.”
Her appearance at her nonprofit was non-political: She did not speak about any specific candidate. But it came just days after she campaigned alongside Harris in Michigan, where she painted a harsh reality for women if Donald Trump wins the White House.