Michelle Obama Headlines Voting Rally In Coral Gables
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) -- Former First Lady Michelle Obama headlined a voter registration rally in Coral Gables Friday evening.
The celeb-studded program included former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland, gospel singer Erica Campbell and "Key & Peel" star Keegan-Michael Key.
Obama ticked off a litany of dismal statistics about low voter turnout, especially during midterm elections like the ones coming up in November.
"Voting is a fundamental right. It is the only way in our democracy to have a say isn't the issues we care about. Essentially it's our stake in our children's future," Obama said.
About two dozen students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School wearing matching shirts sat together at the event.
The Parkland students have been part of a massive state and national push to register young voters in the wake of a February shooting at their school that left 17 dead, rallying hundreds of thousands across the country and in D.C. for March For Our Lives.
Stoneman Douglas senior Drew Schwartz attended the rally and said he'll be voting for the first time in November. The 17-year-old said common sense gun laws are among the issues most important to him.
"One of the most important issues is representation and for people to make sure their officials are representing their beliefs and not supporting their own interests," he said.
Obama recently launched 'When We All Vote,' a national, nonpartisan not-for-profit organization saying she's on a mission to change the culture around voting and increase participation in elections.
"I am not here to tell anyone who to vote for. I'm not stumping for any one candidate. To be completely honest, I am here because it feels like we are locked in a dangerous cycle," Obama added.
Obama recently told volunteers at an event that she's not doing this to campaign for any candidate or tell anyone how to vote. Instead, she said she wants people to understand why every single vote matters and to make voting a priority no matter how busy they are.
(© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
