Judge Bolden points out the commonality among all Americans; it crosses all racial, economic, religion and social barriers. No matter what your status in this country is, you all have the right to vote, and in the eyes of Judge Ray Bolden the right to make a change. With the 2004 Presidential Elections looming in the distance; now, more than ever, it is important for those working in peace and justice to help give the power back to the people, starting with the government.

“What’s wrong with the government protecting us, that’s what it was created for… the government is our employee,” said Judge Bolden. “We have government so we can have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

He feels that to change policy you must first know and understand the process of politics. “How do you award your friends (in politics), with votes, how do you defeat your enemy’s, with votes,” says Judge Bolden. He calls it Operation 10,000. “Anybody who had 10,000 votes could change an election,” he said. Familiar with the political process, Judge Bolden knows that we need to think of ways to reach the people who don’t vote. “If the votes are not counted, it doesn’t mean a thing,” he said. He believes that once a person is registered someone needs to make sure they get to the polls to vote. “Someone needs to step up and say, come with me and I’ll take you to vote,” says Judge Bolden. “We need results… it’s important for you to get the people there to vote not just get them to register.” “Every organization should work to get the poor to vote…all efforts should be put into that,” he said.

Over half of the people living in the United States can be labeled as either middle-class or poor. However, Judge Bolden feels that many middle-class people fail to realize that they too have the same concerns as the poor. “The rich and powerful keep us divided on race, and welfare… when the truth is the middle-class and the poor want and need the same things, like prescription drugs and universal healthcare,” says Judge Bolden. “You know what would be the strongest group to compete with the insurance company,” begins Judge Bolden, “the people.” Voting tomorrow can change the course of things.

He feels that as a society we just need to focus. “We’re not focused on what really matters.” He says, “In the 60’s organizations and people saw a cause that could be won and it was won…but since, we’ve lost that peace and justice that others like Martin Luther King Jr. worked sot hard for.” He says, “you’re a creature of the living God, you are given many gifts and you’re obligated to use them.” He feels that people need to know that their environment does not enslave them. “A child of God is not limited by anything but self-doubt.”

“Nobody wants to say, I’m not doing that and take the road less traveled… we don’t teach people to do that, instead we teach conformity,” says Judge Bolden. “What’s the American Dream,” begins Judge Bolden, “to own a house, drive a nice car and have a nice job?” He thinks we need to start defining ourselves, get rid of the “phony baggage.” “The Holy Spirit wants to wake us up,” he said. Instead of just accepting, he believes that people need to demand better education and opportunity.

Judge Bolden feels that the biggest challenge facing peace and justice is the education of our youth. “The media is just bombarding them with nonsense…they don’t want to hear…somebody has got to make the youth hear,” he says. Working with the youth and trying to give examples of what they can do and what they can be is one way he feels this can be offset. “Show them they don’t have to sell drugs and have children,” says Judge Bolden, “teach them how to say I’m not doing that.”

Another possible way to solve this problem is a Liberal Arts Education. “Liberal Arts taught that you didn’t run the world,” says Judge Bolden. “It taught respect for all kinds of people because all kinds of people make up the world.” He believes that liberal thought has saved this county, but now it’s seen as a bad word. “Liberalism has always been that face to make it possible for the poor and disadvantage to achieve.” “Liberals created Juvenile Courts and made it possible for workers to unionize,” he said.

Peace and justice can be achieved; our past has shown us this fact. However, in order to get there, we as a people need to take back the power given to us. “You are born a creature of the living God, and to function in this society you must not be afraid.” “Vote, stop being what the powers say you are.”

by Mystique Adams