This Election Day blossoming leaders in Manhattan and the Bronx made their voices heard, despite being too young to vote
“I can’t vote but you can,” the young group of students chanted.
Hundreds of Democracy Prep elementary and middle school students took over the streets of Harlem and the Bronx to encourage residents to head to the polls.
They asked community members to pledge to vote since they can’t.
School officials said that events like this show kids they are never too young to advocate for causes important to them.
“I’m saying to everyone that I can’t vote, I can’t vote but you can. It’s important that people vote because all of our voices matter,” said 2nd grader Aiden Castillo.
The students received more than 500 pledges to vote before noon.
It’s part of the schools Get-Out-The-Vote campaign, which highlights the importance of civic engagement.
“I think it’s a reminder how important all of our voices are and while our scholars aren’t able to vote they are still able to affect policy and they’re able to affect different people's mindsets in the community,” said Rashid Duroseau, the Civics Program Director for Democracy Prep Public Schools.