By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
Over 1,400 Black Women Express Strong Support for Biden/Harris Ticket Amid Calls for Biden to Withdraw
On July 17, over 1,400 Black women, including leaders from prominent civic engagement organizations, publicly voiced their support for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. This support comes in response to recent calls from some Democrats and political figures urging Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race, following his lackluster debate performance against former President Donald Trump and concerning poll results suggesting a potential defeat in November.
The signatories, which include influential figures from groups such as Black Voters Matter, the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, and Higher Heights for America PAC, argue that it is undemocratic and disrespectful to suggest that a candidate who won their party’s primary should step aside due to current challenges. They emphasize that the decision to challenge Biden should have been made during the primary elections, not now.
Historically, Black women have been a crucial voting bloc for the Democratic Party, significantly contributing to voter turnout in key elections, including the 2020 presidential race where Biden secured victory. This influence is evident in their recent get out the vote campaigns, which began in the fall of the previous year and intensified during the primaries.
Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, highlighted the importance of this support, noting that the letter represents a powerful message that should be heeded. Keisha Lance Bottoms, a senior advisor to the Biden campaign and one of the letter’s signatories, defended Biden's position, drawing on her own electoral experiences to assert that Biden deserves to continue as the Democratic nominee.
The letter also serves as a warning to the Democratic Party that any replacement for Biden must gain the approval of Black women voters and leaders. Ange Marie Hancock, executive director of the Kirwan Institute at The Ohio State University, noted that this cautionary message underscores the necessity for the party to have a clear plan moving forward.
During the 2020 election, many of these organizations supported Biden’s promises to select a Black woman as a running mate and to nominate a Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court. Biden fulfilled these commitments by choosing Kamala Harris as his vice president and nominating Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.
In their letter, the signatories condemned Trump as a threat to democracy and praised the Biden Harris Administration for its legislative achievements and dedication to advancing rights and democracy for all Americans.
