"I wanted to be a part of history."

Published November 05, 2008 @ 06:18AM PT

Yesterday, Frederick Williams cast the first vote of his life, according to Reuters. He wanted to be a part of history. He wanted to vote for someone who cares about "the small people." He wanted to be a part of electing the first African American president of the United States. So he, and hundreds of other homeless people living on LA's Skid Row, turned out to cast his vote.

To the thousands of volunteers, shelter workers, and advocates across the country who mobilized and enabled Americans without a home to exercise their right to vote: thank you. Your efforts providing information, transportation to the polls, and advocacy for equal access has engaged some of our country's most disenfranchised citizens.

[Photo: Frederick Williams, a Marine Corps veteran who lives in a transient hotel on "skid row" in downtown Los Angeles, displays his ballot receipt after casting his ballot for the U.S. presidential election, at a homeless shelter in Los Angeles November 4, 2008. Photo from Reuters.]

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Good for you! I once investigated stories of the homeless. Every day I said, " What you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me! In my research, I found people who had lost their homes because of being one paycheck away. Also in my research it said that if you are in a car or sheltor, you are homeless. However, if you are in prison you aren't homeless!!!!
Excuse me!!!! What kind of message is that giving our children?

Posted by Roberta LaForce on 11/07/2008 @ 03:51PM PT
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Mr Frederick Williams, I am very proud of you. I wish you are part the best stories of many authers as for me. Thank you for decide.
Walter

Posted by Walter Fleuristil on 11/09/2008 @ 05:42AM PT
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Author

Shannon has worked in homeless shelters and service organizations in San Francisco, the Triangle region of North Carolina, and currently in the greater Boston area. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.