The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement has called for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to hold a “virtual snap primary” and criticized the anointment of Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s presidential candidate, citing concerns about where she stands on certain issues. In a statement on Tuesday, BLM admitted that while they had not preferred President Joe Biden, they could not “ignore the troubling actions of the Democratic Party” and called for a primary throughout the United States before the Democratic National Convention took place in August.
As of Tuesday, Harris was reported to have secured enough delegates to be named the party’s presidential candidate. BLM emphasized that they do “not live in a dictatorship” and that “delegates are not oligarchs.” They added that any attempt to evade or override the will of voters in their primary system must be condemned, and demanded an informal, virtual snap primary before the DNC convention.
The statement from BLM came after President Joe Biden revealed on Sunday that he was not seeking another term as president and endorsed Harris as the party’s presidential nominee. BLM called for the Democratic National Committee to host a virtual snap primary across the country prior to the DNC convention in August, urging the Rules Committee to create a process allowing public participation in the nomination process, not just by party delegates.
The group described the current political situation within the Democratic Party as being “unprecedented” after Biden had withdrawn from the presidential race and decided not to seek re-election. BLM added that they could not ignore the troubling actions of the Democratic Party. The group referenced the party’s refusal to host debates during the primary, which voters wanted. They also mentioned how the DNC changed the primary schedule and created rules that made it impossible for other candidates to appear on the ballot. After Biden’s poor debate performance at the June 27 presidential debate, the DNC Party elites and billionaire donors allegedly bullied Joe Biden out of the race.
Following Biden’s exit from the presidential race, several Democrats such as Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), former President Bill Clinton, his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) have issued endorsements for Harris. BLM added that the party’s “elites and billionaire donors” were trying to “manipulate Black voters by anointing” Harris.
Now, Democratic Party elites and billionaire donors are attempting to manipulate Black voters by anointing Kamala Harris and an unknown vice president as the new Democratic ticket without a primary vote by the public. This blatant disregard for democratic principles is unacceptable. While the potential outcome of a Harris presidency may be historic, the process to achieve it must align with true democratic values. We have no idea where Kamala Harris stands on the issues, now that she has assumed Joe Biden’s place, and we have no idea of the record of her potential vice president because we don’t even know who it is yet.
This is not an attack on Kamala Harris or Black women, and right now we aren’t questioning Kamala’s qualifications or capabilities,” said Shalomyah Bowers, a Black Lives Matter leader. This is about the nominating process.