One of us is Gen X and the other is Gen Z, and we agree on the stakes of this election.If Donald Trump wins in 2024, he will appoint his cronies. control the armed forces and law enforcement agenciesAnd he will use that power to remain in office until his death. The chances of our constitutional democracy surviving into next year are about even.
This is not an exaggeration, it is personal. In Generation X, we grew up hearing stories of families fleeing the horrors of World War II or fighting Jim Crow. In Gen Z, we not only heard about the mob, we witnessed it. Charlottesville in 2017 to January 6th riot We have seen and studied how violent nationalist movements can attack the rule of law and open the door to atrocities.
Today's rise in violent nationalism worldwide follows historical patterns of urbanization. While cities attract vast amounts of wealth, talent, and influence, rural communities feel neglected and left behind.a 2019 survey The center-right think tank, the Niskanen Center, has described how this has led to rural America becoming a “zero-sum, ethnic group that embraces scapegoating populist rhetoric about the threat of 'un-American' immigrants, minorities, and liberal elites.” It explains how it led to the central idea. Cynical fabricators have combined these local grievances into a monoculture that flies the Confederate flag from rural Oregon to rural Maine.
In this context, Trump fits a historical mold. He promises to send federal troops into American cities so he can defeat elected leaders and eradicate “.”pest” he promises send troops to our borders and to neighboring countriesin part block muslims Immigrants born in Mexico or Haiti andIt's poisoning our blood.”He also classic american thugIn the tradition of Indiana KKK Grand Wizard DC Stevenson: Scammers, fraudsters, criminals and violent sex offenders Nevertheless, he used his charisma to cult-like believer.
If history shows us a problem, it also offers a solution: urban youth movements.
The civil rights movement against Jim Crow andvelvet” and “colorRevolution in a former communist country.For example, when Yugoslav President Slobodan Milošević tried to stay in power after his defeat in the 2000 elections, the student body Otto Paul! It rallied the divided opposition and forced him from power.
In America today, young urban voters overwhelmingly reject the rural fascism that has taken over the Republican Party. Voter files show that while Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020 were not rock stars among urban youth, voters under 45 in the most densely populated census tracts He said he voted Democratic in both 2020 by 50 to 60 point margins. analysis According to data company Catalyst.
In 2024, the newest group of urban voters will be Gen Z, aged 18-27. Roughly 2 million urban Gen Z residents live in the five closest battleground states, which favored Biden by a 50,000-vote margin in 2020. don't get excited Regarding President Biden, they I wasn't excited last time. or in 2016. If they vote, they will be voting against what Mr. Trump means not just for democracy, but for gun violence, reproductive freedom, and the climate. Gen Z has huge potential power if they just show up and vote.
Unfortunately, that's the problem. Young people in urban America tend not to vote, and their turnout is 20 to 30 percentage points lower than other voters. Young people have the power to stop fascism, but they cannot always use it.
This low turnout isn't because Gen Z doesn't care or understand. That's because the political messages used to “engage” them don't resonate. “There’s nothing about us without us.” has become the rallying cry of this generation, underscoring the need for active involvement in the design of political movements and advertising campaigns aimed at “engaging” this generation.
Young people quickly recognize and reject inauthentic campaigns and outdated cultural references (“Pokémon, go vote.”) Created by an elderly consultant in a faraway boardroom. It's no wonder that campaigns focused on Gen Z that don't properly incorporate youth perspectives fail. Any sense that campaigns are exploiting young people will be a death sentence for engagement, the Democratic Party, and democracy.
If we want to stop President Trump, we need to listen to the voices of urban youth and empower them with an approach that truly brings them into the conversation. Patriots who oppose Trumpism need to proactively engage young people and collectively develop strategies to get their peers to vote. The only way to understand effective culture, content, and messaging is to go to the source.
Generation Z is still active.Consider Ulster County's viral stories “I voted” sticker — Designed by Gen Z, this tool quickly went viral, driving people to vote and making people feel like they were part of something social, something bigger. Gen Z brings ideas and energy. Gen Xers can bring operational and financial support. If we work intergenerationally, we can strengthen our efforts to engage young voters and protect our democracy.
This strategy represents a departure from the status quo. Of course, we need rural and suburban voters as well as older urban voters, but that's not enough. Obama-era tacticsThis is not a place where races can be won.
Winning will require unprecedented investment in urban areas and a commitment to building real relationships with young people who can offer unique perspectives on the ground and in digital campaigns. If successful, it will ignite one of the most powerful political voices this country has ever seen: the voice of Gen Z.
Dmitri Melhorn is a political strategist. investing in the usainvests in organizations that strengthen democracy.
Thanasi Dilos is the Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of . civic unpluggedis an intergenerational-led organization that provides our peers with the training, funding, and community they need to become citizen innovators.
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