Are Florida/Alabama safe?

[FairyLights56]

Dd is in her first year studying politics at uni. The Labour society are organising a trip over the summer for a group of students to go to Florida or Alabama to campaign for Democratic candidates in the midterm elections. She'll be there for 5 weeks.

She's signed up to go, and is paying for it with her own money, so I obviously can't stop her.

I'm just really worried about her safety - is it safe to go around canvassing for democratic candidates in rural Florida or Alabama?

She's only been to New York/San Francisco before, so I've been trying to explain to her that not all of America is like that.

Am I unreasonable to be worried?

What are you actually worried might happen to her?

What do you think is going to happen?

We have a place in Florida. It's shockingly Republican there.

Well I suppose I have a mental image of her and her (ethnically diverse) group of friends being chased by a crazy Republican with a gun...

I'm sure she'll be fine. Shootings do happen in America often, but for a variety of reasons (look at the stories of toddlers killing their parents after they've been sat near a loaded gun!). The chances of her being shot for canvassing are very slim. I guess I'd be taking the approach in your position of reminding myself that we can't prevent every small risk in life, it's sensible to consider risks but not to avoid doing the things we want to due to the very tiny risk something bad might happen. People get killed driving to work or crossing the street sadly, it's a risk we take every day.

I'm sure she'll have a brilliant time and learn a lot, please don't let your anxities become apparent to her as it might dampen her excitement or make her feel responsible for your emotions.

Could happen, they do shoot each other a lot but suspect individual odds aren't high.

Whether anyone will listen to a bunch of British kids talking about american politics is another matter. Sounds a bit of a case of students over estimating their importance.

She needs to check her travel insurance covers what she is doing.

I'm sure she'll be fine, but the concept seems really odd.

If a bunch of American students that don't live in the UK knocked on my door and told me to vote Labour/Conservative/whatever I wouldn't be very impressed!

I thought it sounded strange too - British kids telling Americans how to vote - but I guess they'll be leafleting, gathering voter information and encouraging voter registrations as well.

Apparently the society does this every year, and lots of other unis do similar things.

Doesn't make it sensible....but if she's paying and insured, her problem.

Yes, I'll make sure she has good insurance

I'm a lefty Brit, living in a republican part of Florida. She will be fine. Southern US manners, and a total love of an accent will see her a long way.

I thought your post was going to ask about crocodiles or alligators.

I thought your post was going to ask about crocodiles or alligators.

I'll try and make the title more specific next time!

Agree check travel insurance, if she is involved in a car crash and the insurance won’t pay she will be in big trouble. Florida is probably OK not sure about Alamabama, could be a bit god and guns

@Personwithhorse

Thanks - I'll make sure it covers car accidents. I suppose they'll be driving everywhere in rural Florida/Alabama

It's 2018, not 1964. Your daughter will have many doors slammed in her face, but she won't be shot. It's the snakes, terrible food, and evangelicals who view Jesus as a close personal friend she should worry about. I'm a lifelong New Englander whose ancestors have lived within two days walk for three centuries. The Deep South is like another planet where they use the same money.

Erica
You’ve described it perfectly.

When Maya Angelou, 6ft and black, was invited to do a book tour of the South, she was dubious. Her friend, Jessica Mitford, 5ft nothing, the daughter of a Lord and very white, told her not to worry, she'd come, too.

Whenever they checked into a motel, Jessica took charge and introduced Maya as her daughter....

They had no trouble and I'm sure your daughter will be OK. It will be mostly voter registration.

I agree with WhirlwindHugs , a really odd concept and I imagine it’ll be quite unwelcomed.

I wouldn’t feel safe doing it and frankly I wouldnt trust the US’s current administration to react to political activities from foreigners very well. Aren’t they still trying to lock up people who protested trumps’s inauguration?

She should be fine. I've been to both and I'm still here! The majority of people were lovely. The dodgy areas are well known and she won't be going there!

The insurance policy needs to cover political activity and work ( unpaid or not) as a whole. Otherwise every single section will be invalid.

A standard tourist policy may not work. She needs to check.

My DD loved in northern Maine which we refer to as the Deep South of the Far North. She canvas for the Democrats and I admit I did vaguely worry. It turned out fine (although that part of the state voted Trump).

I'd be surprised if they sent your DD to people's front doors tbh. I think someone asking Alabamans in a foreign accent how they plan to vote would not be the best idea.

Lives in northern Maine, not loved in northern Maine

The Deep South is a very long way from NYC or the West Coast, both culturally and geographically, so your daughter is certainly in for an eye-opener. As an idealistic young British student it will do her good to find out that not everyone in the world is a secular liberal leftie.

I wouldn’t worry about her personal safety, though. In my experience Southerners are unfailingly polite, courteous and well-mannered people, ma’am, despite all the batshit-crazy right-wing god & guns stuff.

It sounds like an amazing opportunity, though I understand your concerns. I travelled throughout the USA a fair bit as a young woman and would echo what others have said about Southern manners. I have found Americans to be some of the friendliest people, and they love a British accent. She will need to take a lot of the Republican views she hears with a pinch of salt, and be aware that the concept of 'friendly debate' or banter isn't quite the same as we have in the U.K. Definitely check her insurance and she must take advice from the organisers on the ground. There has never been a more fascinating time to get a front row seat in US politics and trends have already shown the Democrats getting support in unlikely areas thanks to a determination to undermine Trump.

Politics aside, the gun issue is important too. It's a foreign country (more so than places like France or Spain, IME) and you do need your wits about you. Don't sass the police, ever (not saying she would), or anyone in a uniform for that matter; if she sees a fight breaking out or similar, move away. I'm sure she is a sensible girl and will have an incredible time. I'm quite envious actually!

If a bunch of American students that don't live in the UK knocked on my door and told me to vote Labour/Conservative/whatever I wouldn't be very impressed!

It is seriously weird and I was a first year Politics student at one point in the distant past.

However, since those parts of the world insist on sending missionaries to Africa, they deserve it