Ambassador Andrew Young speaks at ASU - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Ambassador Andrew Young speaks at ASU

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ALBANY, GA (WALB) -

With the presidential election just days away, Ambassador Andrew Young shared his insight into politics and the importance of voting at Albany State University.

The former congressman, civil rights activist, Mayor of Atlanta and UN Ambassador knows a thing or two about politics, one of those is never underestimating the power one vote can make.

At a time when the political environment is testy and divided, Ambassador Young pointed to a time when society was much the same.

"Our ultimate objective was to get the right to vote. And with the right to vote we could elect people of good will," he said.

Speaking before a crowd at ASU's ACAD Auditorium, Young talked about coming to Albany in 1961 with Martin Luther King, Jr.

It was the civil right's movement that afforded African Americans the right to vote. I asked Ambassador Young if young people today understand the struggle to have that right.

"I don't think they understand fully, but I think they've got a sense of their own urgency," he said. "They're concerned about their future. They're concerned about their jobs. They're concerned about how they're going to pay for their education," he said.

"Are our interest in going back or are our interest in going forward?" Young asked the crowd of mostly ASU students.

He spoke about how he supported President Eisenhower in 1956 and other Republicans, even though he's a Democrat.

"It wasn't that I was voting for the man, I was voting for the issue and the plan," said Young, who turned 80 years old this year.

The topic of race in this presidential election is one that is often brought up, but Young says it's not as big an issue as some might think.

"Everyone is assuming the south is red for racial reasons," he said. "The south is not divided by race as it was in the 60's and 70's."

He points to issues such as women's rights, the economy and the effect it has on young people that will play a major factor in this race

"I think there is going to be an overwhelming turnout of young people, black and white who are ready to push this country forward. I think it's going to be a much bigger turnout that anybody imagines."

Ambassador Young also sat down with WALB's Karla Heath Sands for an interview that will air in an upcoming episode of Dialogue.

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