Black Lives Matter (BLM) has issued a statement calling on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to hold a “virtual primary” and criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris for “nominating” her as the party’s presidential candidate, citing concerns about her stance on certain issues.
in statement The group acknowledged Tuesday that while President Joe Biden was not its “preferred candidate,” it “cannot ignore the Democratic Party’s troubling behavior” and called on the Democratic National Committee to hold primaries across the country before the Democratic National Convention convenes in August.
Take a look — Kamala Harris quickly rises to prominence after Biden leaves office:
As of Tuesday, Harris had reportedly won enough delegates to secure her party’s nomination as the presidential candidate.
BLM added that “they do not live under a dictatorship” and that their “representatives are not oligarchy.”
“We do not live in a dictatorship,” the group wrote. “Delegates are not oligarchy. Any attempt to circumvent or ignore the will of the voters in our primary system must be condemned. Now that the sitting president is no longer in the race, we call for the holding of an informal, de facto primary.”
The group’s statement came after President Joe Biden revealed on Sunday that he would not seek another term as president. approved Harris will be the party’s presidential nominee.
WATCH — Democratic Rep. Castor: ‘I Knew’ Biden Was ‘Old’ in the Spring, But Harris Was ‘Very Loyal’
“Black Lives Matter demands that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) immediately hold informal virtual primaries across the country ahead of the DNC Convention in August,” BLM said in a statement. “We call on the Rules Committee to create a process that allows for public participation in the nomination process, not just nominations by party representatives.”
BLM said the current political situation within the Democratic Party is “unprecedented” following Biden’s decision to withdraw from the presidential race and not seek reelection.
“Now is the time to take decisive action to protect the integrity of our democracy and the voice of Black voters,” the group added. “While Joe Biden was not our preferred candidate, we cannot ignore the Democratic Party’s troubling behavior.”
Timeline of events
Sunday
•Joe Biden withdraws.
•Kamala Harris announces her campaign in support of Biden.
•Kamala Harris says she will try hard to win the nomination.
•Kamala Harris calls party representatives.Monday
•Kamala Harris keeps calling… pic.twitter.com/ZxzyxegZin— Black Lives Matter (@Blklivesmatter) July 23, 2024
BLM cited the DNC’s “refusal to host debates during the primaries” that voters wanted as the party’s “problematic behavior,” adding that if the debates had taken place, “America would witness the decline of Joe Biden in 2023.”
The group also noted that the DNC “changed the primary schedule and created rules that made it impossible for other candidates to appear on the ballot” and that “DNC elites and billionaire donors kicked Joe Biden out of the race” after Biden’s “poor debate performance” at the June 27 presidential debate.
WATCH — Karine Jean-Pierre: Biden withdrew because ‘our democracy is at stake’:
After Biden dropped out of the presidential race, several Democrats, including Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), former President Bill Clinton and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D-Pennsylvania), and Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D-Maryland), expressed their support for Harris.
BLM added that the party’s “elites and billionaire donors” are “attempting to manipulate black voters by nominating Harris.”
Now, Democratic Party elites and billionaire donors are trying to manipulate black voters by nominating Kamala Harris and an unknown vice president as the new Democratic candidate without even going through a national primary. This blatant disregard for democratic principles is unacceptable. The potential outcome of a Harris presidency could be historic, but the process to achieve it must be in line with true democratic values. We have no idea where Joe Biden’s replacement, Kamala Harris, stands on issues. We also don’t know her background, since we don’t even know who the vice presidential candidate will be yet.
“This is not an attack on Kamala Harris or on Black women, and we are not questioning her qualifications or her abilities at this point,” Black Lives Matter leader Shalomiah Bowers said. “This is about the nomination process.”
— Kat Stafford (@kat__stafford) July 23, 2024
“This is not an attack on Kamala Harris or Black women, and we are not doubting her qualifications or abilities at this time,” BLM leader Shalomiah Bowers said. Said Reuters. “This is about the nomination process.”
