OBV bus engages thousands at Palmers Green mosque during Friday prayers

On Friday 10th April, the OBV eXpress voter registration bus made its penultimate stop of the nationwide tour at Palmers Green Mosque.

Following on from the success of OBV’s visit to Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), one of the largest Black churches in London, we were keen to also engage with other faith based communities in and around London. Friday prayers at Palmers Green Mosque, which attracts thousands of worshippers from the local community every week, provided ample opportunity to do this.

With the support of the mosque’s imam and trustees, who came onboard the bus themselves, we managed to register several people, as well as stressing the importance of voting amongst the BAME community.

The Imaam on Firday Mr Tariq said:

Operation Black Vote (OBV) work’s across London’s black and minority ethnic communities and faith groups. OBV have been touring the country to register people to vote for this election and are exclusively here today outside in the car park with their campaign bus to ensure Muslim brothers and sisters have a vote and have a voice.

A vote and a voice in all areas, including in your children's education; in housing matters; in policing and criminal justice; and in foreign affairs. The 60-foot state of the art bus can register to vote 20 people online every five minutes. Please take the leaflets they distribute, talk with them and get on board the bus to register for the May 7th elections.

The 2011 census data shows that 16.8% of the population of Palmers Green identifies as Muslim, making the collective Muslim vote in this ward one with considerable power. Overall, our four hour visit invoked a very positive reaction from the community, with many stating that they were already registered to vote and would definitely be voting on 7th May.

Cindy Asokan