Jane Fonda and Patrisse Cullors rally Benton Harbor crowd in a get out the vote effort

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BENTON HARBOR, Mich – Actress and activist Jane Fonda teamed up with Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors in a get out the vote effort in Benton Harbor.

The duo spoke to a packed room of Benton Harbor area residents about issues like Michigan’s “one fair wage,” gerrymandering and social issues.

“Our votes literally matter so much right now because our lives depend on it,” Patrisse Cullors said.

Jane Fonda said amongst the many issues she’s focused on gaining support for specific efforts like Michigan’s one fair wage is very important.

“We are going to mobilize and get out the vote, particularly in communities of color to support one fair wage which means raising the minimum wage to $12 and including tipped workers so that on top of the $12 they get tips,” Fonda said.

One fair wage is an effort to gradually increase the minimum wage from its current level of $9.25 to $12 by 2022 and from $3.52 to $9.60 for tipped workers in that same period.

Supporters of the measure wanted it to be a ballot initiative on this election cycles ballot but the state legislature passed it and supporters are mobilizing to protect it.

“We can’t ignore these things, this is why this mom has become an activist and being here today particularly with one of the moms from Black Lives Matter that’s another mom who didn’t know she was an activist until her life changed,” St. Joseph voter Kim Jorgensen Gane said.

Jane Fonda and Patrisse Cullors will join actress Taraji P. Henson in another get out the vote effort in Detroit on Sunday.

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