In a turn of events no one could have predicted, Black Lives Matter is calling on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to hold a virtual primary before their big convention in August. They want a fair process where the public, not just party delegates, get to vote for the presidential nominee.
They argue that the DNC didn’t allow debates or give other candidates a fair chance. They say the party made it hard for anyone but Biden to run and then pressured him out of the race after a poor debate performance. Now, BLM is worried that the DNC might pick Kamala Harris and a vice president without a proper public vote.
BLM says it believes this process is undemocratic and that all voters, especially Black voters, should have a say. They stress that democracy should be protected within the party, not just against Republicans.
In July, BLM released a statement saying that the Democratic Party leaders and wealthy donors are trying to influence Black voters by choosing Kamala Harris and an unknown vice president without letting the public’s voices be heard.
They believe that even though a Harris presidency could be historic, the way it’s being done isn’t fair and doesn’t follow democratic values. Black Lives Matter now calls for a “virtual snap primary” to let voters express their opinions and concerns. They are arguing that simply being a Black woman should not be enough for someone to get votes; they need to show where they stand on important issues.
Black Lives Matter said that if Kamala Harris and her unknown, unvetted vice president are chosen without a public vote, it would make the Democratic Party look hypocritical and hurt the party’s credibility on democratic issues. They pointed out that if Kamala Harris becomes the first Black woman president without a fair voting process, people might think it’s just a move for diversity. Any progress made might not be taken seriously.
BLM executive Shalomyah Bowers emphasized that a “lot of effort and sacrifice by our ancestors” went into securing the Black right to vote. Bowers vowed that the organization would continue to stand up for the right, regardless of whether it’s Republicans or Democrats who threaten it.
Bowers explained that their focus isn’t on Kamala Harris herself but on the Democratic Party. He mentioned that if Biden had supported someone other than Harris, more people might support BLM’s call for a primary. This shows a bigger issue, according to Bowers. He said if people’s opinions change based on who is chosen, it suggests they might not be standing up for their principles.
The BLM website features a “call on the DNC” to acknowledge that Black voters “deserve public participation in the nomination process.”
The web page notes that Kamala Harris is being chosen as the Democratic nominee without a public vote. It states that even though she was Vice President, no one voted for her or her unknown vice president in a primary. To fix this, the page suggests that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) hold an online primary vote so everyone’s voices can be considered.
BLM warns that “overriding the will of voters” in the Democrat party “must be condemned.” Bowers noted, “To be clear, our target here isn’t Kamala Harris. Our target here is the Democratic party.”
The “call on the DNC” cautions that choosing Kamala Harris, or anyone else, as the Democratic nominee and picking an unknown vice president without letting people vote would hurt democracy. It could also make the nominee face challenges and criticism from the far-right.
BLM’s refusal to blindly accept Harris’s ascension adds an interesting twist on a tired old Democratic strategy. After years of being taken for granted by liberals, many Black voters are now standing up for themselves. By breaking away from the expected, BLM made a strong statement against a party that often focuses on identity politics.
In all likelihood, the DNC won’t listen. Holding a public vote flies in the face of their carefully laid plans. But BLM is very influential for many in the Black community, and the left disregards them at their peril.
