Black Voters Matter Releases Statement Following Calls to Replace Biden-Harris Ticket

Cliff Albright and LaTosha Brown, Co-Founders of Black Voters Matter and April England-Albright, National Legal Director of Black Voters Matter issue this statement following Calls to Replace Biden-Harris Ticket

During the 2024 Democratic Presidential Primary, Black Voters overwhelmingly came out and voted for the Biden-Harris ticket, just as they did in 2020 in order to have an ally in the White House who would invest in our communities, implement greater police accountability, fund HBCU at higher levels, join the fight to protect voting and civil rights, alleviate student debt plaguing so many Black families, and appoint more Black judges to the federal courts—including the Supreme Court—to protect against the onslaught of regressive federal court rulings that hurt Black and Marginalized communities. 

To the majority of Black Voters, the Biden-Harris ticket has delivered on enough of those promises to stand with this ticket today. In spite of this, the recent nervous cry for Biden to step aside—led largely by white congresspeople, pundits, and donors—threatens to mute and overlook the voices of Black Voters. Such a step by the Democratic Party would not only impact the enthusiasm of Black Voters in this year’s general election, but it would impact Black turnout for decades to come while deepening the widespread belief that the Democratic Party takes our voters for granted. 

We believe it is both reckless and shortsighted to change the nominee this late in the process, and history supports our belief. A brokered/contested convention has never worked well for Dems: not in 1968, not in 1980, not in 2016 and not likely this year. To Black Voters, a contested convention which overlooks VP Harris as the assumed nominee, is a step too far, and such a strategy poses the greatest threat of benefitting the twice impeached, authoritarian rapist with multiple felony convictions. 

Also, time and time again grassroots organizers on the ground are called upon and depended upon to deliver the vote of marginalized communities. Billionaires, celebrities and political pundits have the right to their opinions but they don’t speak with or motivate our communities. Groups like ours do. Based on our years of organizing in some of the most difficult circumstances we DO NOT believe this is the moment to take a risky and ill prepared move that can further splinter the vote and add confusion to the process for voters. 

At BVM we support a democratic process that honors the voices and contributions that Black people and other marginalized communities have made to the Democratic Party. We demand that the party and its donors respect the process that was put in place, a process which for the first time ever was led by South Carolina and which resulted in over 14 million votes—many by Black voters—for the Biden-Harris ticket. On the 60th anniversary of Fannie Lou Hamer asking, “is this America”, now is not the time to go back to a period such as the 1964 Democratic Convention, where Black People were openly ignored and literally locked out of the process. Contrary to what Donald Trump, the Heritage Foundation and Republican congresspeople believe, things were not better for us during Jim Crow. 

In closing, we recognize the importance of dissent to ensure that all voices are heard during this important time. There are those in our movement who have just concerns and demands regarding the war in Gaza. Such principled policy debate is fair game, as is critique of the candidate who seeks to ban all Muslims, expel protestors from the country and give Netanyahu carte blanche. But the hyperbolic, coordinated and well-funded dissent over the past two weeks is something very different. Dissent that seeks to dismantle the Biden/Harris ticket solely on a debate performance, unreliable polls (which are actually moving in favor of President Biden) and/or quiet but racist paranoia over the vice president potentially stepping into the presidency, is not productive dissent and should cease immediately. 

We must focus solely on defeating Trump, who if re-elected will implement Project 2025 and remove all civil and human rights Black folks have fought for over 500 years . Moreover, a Trump presidency, including further transformation of the Supreme Court and the entire federal workforce, will block progress on every issue important to Black communities, including reparations. 

Let’s not give the other side new attack angles, talking points and fresh meat to attack and/or devour. Buckle up, do the work, have some courage and stay the course to create the society and the world we all need and deserve.

The post Black Voters Matter Releases Statement Following Calls to Replace Biden-Harris Ticket first appeared on Black Voters Matter.