First lady Michelle Obama is scheduled to speak at a Women's Vote event Friday afternoon at Main Street Arena in downtown Charlottesville. We have the details on what you need to know ahead of the visit.
There is a traffic alert for those in downtown Charlottesville. Expect congestion in downtown Charlottesville just before and after Obama is ushered into the arena. The arena and a good chunk of the area around it will be on lockdown Friday, to both cars and people. Water Street will be closed from noon until 4:00 p.m. on Friday.
Joe Rice with the city of Charlottesville said, "The downtown mall area will be open to pedestrian traffic. There will be police presence to get people around as well. But if you can avoid the area, do."
With a crowd cap at 2,500, parking should not be a massive problem in the downtown area. Those with a ticket to the event are being directed to park in parking garages including Water Street and East Market Street.
"We think it's going to be an inconvenience because it's going to be slow getting in and getting out," said Bob Stroh with the Charlottesville Parking Center. "But we think we have the capacity to manage the parking."
Michelle Obama will use Charlottesville to launch the campaign's new "It Takes One" program, an attempt to engage new supporters and grow the Obama for America's grassroots organization.
She said, "Don't ever underestimate the impact you can have. As Barack has said all along, it takes one voice to change the room and one room to change a community and one community to change the direction of our nation."
Tickets for the event are now sold out. The first lady is slated to start speaking at about 2:00 Friday afternoon.
Obama for America
Press Release
Today, Obama for America announced additional details of First Lady Michelle Obama's visits tomorrow to Virginia, where she will speak at a Women's Vote 2012 event in Charlottesville and later deliver remarks to grassroots supporters in Fredericksburg. The first lady will speak about what's at stake in this election for Virginians, encourage supporters to register to vote and volunteer for the campaign, and thank volunteers for their hard work to help re-elect President Obama in November.
Charlottesville Pre-Program
- Welcome remarks will be delivered by Women for Obama Co-Chair and Former Virginia Delegate Jean Cunningham.
- The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Members of the Boys & Girls Club.
- The invocation will be given by Pastor Hodari Hamilton of First Baptist Church in Charlottesville.
- The National Anthem will be performed by Peter MacNeil Barber, recent graduate of Western Albemarle High School.
- Remarks will be delivered by Charlottesville resident Amy Laufer and Neighborhood Team Leader Patty Haling.
- First Lady Michelle Obama will be introduced by Linda Perriello.
Fredericksburg Pre-Program
- Welcome remarks will be delivered by Fredericksburg Mayor Katherine Greenlaw.
- The invocation will be given by Rev. Dr. Nathanial Young, NAACP Virginia Conference President.
- The National Anthem will be performed by Elizabeth "Chris" Johns of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg.
- Remarks will be delivered by University of Mary Washington Professor Dr. Dennis Nissim-Sabat.
- First Lady Michelle Obama will be introduced by Neighborhood Team Leader Ruth Smith.
