Citizen Change
Template:Short description Template:Multiple issues Citizen Change is a political service group, founded in 2004 by rapper Sean Combs, and backed by musical artists Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey and 50 Cent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The stated aim was to get young people and minorities to vote.<ref name="People">Template:Cite web</ref>
History
The campaign's message, promoted on t-shirts and other things, is "Vote or Die!", a phrase adapted from Join, or Die, a well-known cartoon by Benjamin Franklin.
2004 United States presidential election
Combs said at the time that its mission was to make voting "hot" and "sexy."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 2004 campaign included a line of "Vote or Die" t-shirts, an album, a voter registration push in cities and campuses nationwide, and commercials on such outlets as MTV and BET.<ref name="People"/>
2008 United States presidential election
Combs invoked the phrase, "Obama or Die", at the BET Awards 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In popular culture
- In the South Park episode "Douche and Turd", Combs and his associates chase Stan Marsh around with weapons and literally threaten to kill him if Stan does not vote.
- In 2012, the "Vote or Die!" t-shirt concept was resurrected for the Democratic National Convention in the form of parody "Vote Obama" t-shirts.