Lively DC 37 unionists cheer for McCall at the Get Out the Vote rally Aug. 27 at Barclay Street headquarters.

A lively political rally brought together AFSCME activists and leaders from around the state and Washington, D.C. to energize a massive "get out the vote!" drive in the final two weeks of the primary campaign.

Gubernatorial candidate H. Carl McCall and other union-endorsed candidates attended the Aug. 27 event at DC 37. AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee, Secretary-Treasurer William Lucy, Civil Service Employees Association President Danny Donohue and DC 1707 Executive Director Raglan George lent national and statewide support to the effort to install a pro-labor team in Albany.

DC 37 Political Action Committee Chair Leonard Allen kicked off the rally with a quip: "Don't worry Carl —We'll make sure you return to public housing!"

Executive Director Lillian Roberts challenged the activists to multiply their strength by registering others to vote. In his bid to become the governor, McCall said he felt "a bit like Moses—responding to the need to lead working people to a better place" where hard-working public employees wouldn't face layoffs.

As a new American, Margaret Aluko, a Local 1549 delegate at the rally, has been registering others. "People have to have a say, and this is the way to do it," she explained. Gwen Turner of Local 1655 said she is dedicated to getting out the vote. "People have died for the right to vote," said Turner. "It's a privilege."