.svg)
Biden Out Harris In. What This Means Moving Forward
On Sunday, July 21st, 2024, President Joseph Biden issued a written statement via social media that he is not continuing his campaign for reelection and will focus solely on fulfilling his presidential duties for the remainder of his term. President Biden then later announced his endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Partys’ nominee. This announcement comes almost a month after President Biden’s debate against former President Donald Trump, where many across party lines expressed deep worry for President’s Biden’s cognitive abilities. With the recent assassination attempt on former President Trump, candidate changes, and the election just four months away, the 2024 election is sure to be historic.
This election season has been riddled with chaos. As of May 2024, former President Donald Trump has now been convicted of 34 felony counts of falsified business records. The Supreme Court later ruled that presidents have immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts, delaying the criminal case against former President Trump relating to the 2020 election. To add to the chaos, on July 13, 2024, less than two weeks prior to President Biden stepping down, a suspect opened fire at a Pennsylvania Trump campaign rally, fatally shooting two people and striking former President Trump’s ear. Amid these major events, many voters were still undecided as large voting blocks refused to support President Joe Biden’s re-election amid his support for Israel in the Palestinian genocide, failed promises of student loan debt cancellation, rising costs, and age.
The news of Biden stepping down has quickly stirred movement amongst Democrats and supporters. Many leading Democrats such as Bill and Hillary Clinton, the Congressional Black Caucus, Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and more have since endorsed VP Kamala Harris. However, the formal announcement of the Democratic nominee will be on August 19th at the Democratic National Convention. If selected, Vice President Harris will be the first woman of color to lead a major party's ticket. While the Harris Campaign has started later in the electoral season, it amassed a historic total of 81 million dollars in 24 hours.
Several reproductive and human rights have been rolled back making a reproductive justice voting agenda crucial in this upcoming election. It is imperative to uplift the voices of Black women and other people of color. According to Intersections of our lives 2024 poll, 31% of Black women consider women’s rights and abortion as top issues and 65% of Black women see voting as an important mechanism of change. Presidential candidates interested in garnering popular support must protect and defend human rights and reproductive freedoms. A reproductive justice centered political agenda meets the needs of all individuals regardless of race, gender, or class, as it is premised on the right to lead safe lives, in a safe environment, and the exercise of bodily autonomy.
Fostering an informed and involved democratic society begins with voting. Democracy remains steadfast when citizens are empowered to voice their preferences and actively shape their nation's future. The deadline to register for the general election in Georgia is October 7th, 2024 and the national election date being November 5th, 2024. Voters can stay engaged by reading up on candidates at federal and local level, deep dive into the policies of concern,, and encouraging peers to vote. Voters must make their voices heard to ensure their concerns are represented.
Please join us in the fight for our rights, lives, and reproductive freedoms by signing up to be a SisterLove E-advocate today.
