Poor people are the new swing vote, By William J. Barber II
If you’re an ordinary American who goes to work to pay the bills or takes care of a loved one most days, it’s easy to feel down when you see the headlines about the 2024 election. Donald Trump has been convicted of 34 felonies for falsifying business records to cover up hush money he paid to bury an alleged affair with a porn star during the 2016 campaign, and the Republican Party continues to think he’s their best candidate. At the same time, President Biden is struggling to hold together his Democratic base as images of devastation in Gaza continue to dominate the news. Stories of good news in politics seem few and far between. But as a preacher, I learned a long time ago that you don’t get to the good news by looking away from problems; the good news is most often found right amid trouble. Yes, politics is a mess in 2024. But, at the same time, several popular movements of everyday people struggling for economic justice have emerged that have the potential to reshape our politics. Against the backdrop of decades of rising inequality, low-wage worker movements have made huge strides since the pandemic, insisting that living wages are a moral issue for “essential workers” and seeing the largest increase in real wages in decades. Young people who’ve watched education and healthcare costs soar have come together to form effective coalitions for debt relief and won billions in loan forgiveness. Leveraging worker power, unions have waged effective strikes and negotiated new contracts while expanding to include new workers, especially in the South. Though they’re rarely in the headlines, these movements made up of millions of low-income workers have the potential to reframe political debates for people who are weary of the status quo. The good news in 2024 is that poor and working people are the new swing vote in US politics. A report from Lake Research Partners demonstrates just how powerful this untapped coalition of low-income voters could be. Looking back at the past three presidential elections, they found that in the seven states that will likely decide the 2024 election— Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Nevada and Pennsylvania— low-income voter participation was an average of 12 percentage points lower than that of their higher-income voters. Using past averages to project 2024 turnout, this study measured the difference between the margin of victory in the last Trump-Biden matchup and the number of eligible low-income voters who are likely not to vote. In Georgia, for example, Biden won by almost 12,000 votes in 2020. In North Carolina, he lost by 74,000. But in both states, more than a million eligible low-income voters will likely not vote in 2024 if past trends continue. That’s a huge potential swing vote, and the proportions are similar across the seven swing states in the study. Since the 2024 presidential race will likely be a rematch of 2020, this study used exit poll data from 2020 to ask who unlikely low-income voters would vote for if they did turn out in 2024. Of the 1.3 million likely nonvoters in Georgia, 746,000 would likely be Biden voters. Of the 1.1 million in North Carolina, some 594,000 would likely go for Biden. In short, Biden and other Democrats have a huge advantage among this demographic when they are able and willing to vote. The overwhelming takeaway of this study is that a relatively small increase in low-income voter turnout in any of these seven states would dramatically increase Biden’s chances of winning a second term in the White House. The millions of low-income people who’ve risen as leaders in movements for economic justice over the past few years have the power to decide the outcome of the 2024 election. Celinda Lake and her research partners are consultants for the Biden campaign, and there is a focus on the potential for his candidacy in 2024, but the potential power of this swing vote is much larger than one election or even one political party. Both Democrats and Republicans have ignored low-income voters for decades precisely because they are unlikely voters. But when the nonpartisan Poor People’s Campaign, which I serve as a co-chair, surveyed poor people to ask why they don’t vote, the number one reason they gave was, “No one speaks to us.” This is why our campaign has committed to holding a Mass Poor People’s and Low-Wage Worker’s Assembly in Washington, D.C., on June 29. We are bringing the everyday people who’ve demanded better wages from their bosses to Washington and insist that Republicans, Democrats, and Independents make clear what they will do to address the needs of 135 million Americans who are living on the edge in the richest nation in the history of the world. And we are committing to go home to our communities and reach 15 million of the unlikely low-income voters with the message that they have power in 2024. If they show up, especially in seven key states, their votes will decide the outcome in 2024. When they do, they will be able to help shape the reconstruction of an American democracy that works for all of us. The writer is the president of Repairers of the Breach and author of “White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy.
VCU basketball player Joe Bamisile creates app for mental health
Joe Bamisile wants to take the future as it comes. He tries not to force things. But he remains dedicated to excellence in anything he pursues.
A dream deferred?
Chesterfield Agrihood plan withdrawn amid accusations of discrimination
The organizers of Bensley Agrihood, a planned affordable housing neighborhood built around an organic farm and wellness center in Chesterfield County’s Bensley neighborhood, have withdrawn their rezoning application.
Virginia is for Willie Mays
There have been many great baseball players and many who oozed with excitement. But perhaps no one man combined greatness and excitement like Willie Mays.
Education, housing, economy key in mayoral forum
The race to become Richmond’s next mayor came into sharper focus Monday evening, as the candidates shared their plans and priorities for the office during the first mayoral forum of the election year at Virginia Union University.
Richmond area health officials promote HIV testing, prevention
In honor of National HIV Testing Day on June 27, health officials in Richmond and Henrico County are urging residents to get tested and learn about prevention methods.
Paradise Stolen
Black families were cheated out of their land on Skidaway Island. Now it’s a wealthy white enclave.
Karen Dove Barr parked her cart next to a “Golfers Only” sign. Up ahead, men in khaki shorts and polo shirts leaned on golf clubs around the 12th hole. Houses with large wooden decks dotted one side of the fairway. On the other side, miles of shallow salt marshes extended to the horizon.
Personality: Dr. Jodi Marie Winship
Spotlight on Richmond Aging and Engaging founder
As a passionate advocate for older adults, Dr. Jodi Marie Winship’s story is a testament to the power of one person’s determination to make a difference — and it’s her dedication to the health, wellness and quality of life of older adults in low-income housing that led her to establish Richmond Aging and Engaging.
Clergy, parents file suit against Louisiana Ten Commandments law
A group of public school parents, including some clergy, have filed a lawsuit against Louisiana’s new law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools, arguing the statute unfairly privileges a specific version of Christian scripture in addition to impinging on the rights of the nonreligious and those of other faiths.
Black baseball and Birmingham remembered
When Wilie Mays broke into pro baseball in 1948 with the Birmingham Black Barons, his teammates at Rickwood Field included pitcher Bill Greason. Mays would go on to rank among the greatest and most scintillating players in the sports’ history as the slugging, base-stealing, fly shagging, power-armed centerfielder for the New York and San Francisco Giants. When Mays died last week at age 93, he was the oldest living Hall of Famer (inducted in 1979). But don’t forget Bill Greason, also known as Rev. Greason.
‘Sing Sing’ screens at Sing Sing in an emotional homecoming
Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin is standing inside Sing Sing Correctional Facility for the first time since he was incarcerated here 12 years ago. In this very chapel, he reminisces, he once sold drugs — a backup plan for when the yard was closed. Not many men pine to return to the prisons in which they toiled away years of their life. Maclin, 58, lived inside Sing Sing for 15 years. But on this day, he’s buoyant.
Dali cargo ship leaves Baltimore for Virginia nearly 3 months after bridge collapse
The cargo ship Dali headed out of Baltimore for Virginia on Monday, nearly three months after it lost power and crashed into one of the Francis Scott Key bridge supporting columns and caused the bridge to collapse.
Ashley Judd, politicians and advocates gather on 2nd anniversary of Dobbs
“My story includes abortion — a guy I’ve known since I was a kid raped me,” actress and activist Ashley Judd shared with a crowd of about 100 in Richmond on Monday to mark the two-year anniversary of the overturn of federal abortion protections. “And when I became pregnant, I was so grateful that I was able to access safe and legal abortion,” she said.
Virginia Museum of History & Culture to host July 4th Citizenship Ceremony
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture celebrates Independence Day with its annual Citizenship Ceremony, welcoming approximately 75 new citizens. The event, held in partnership with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, begins at 11 a.m.
Tourism program seeks nominations for awards
Richmond Region Tourism’s BLK RVA program is now accepting nominations for its Community Awards, marking the initiative’s fifth anniversary.
U.S. surgeon general declares gun violence a public health crisis
The U.S. surgeon general on Tuesday declared gun violence a public health crisis, driven by the fast-growing number of injuries and deaths involving firearms in the country.
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues
For the week ending on Saturday, June 22, confirmed hospital admissions for COVID-19 in Virginia fell 15.3% from the previous week. One death associated with COVID-19 was reported statewide during that time frame. COVID-19 wastewater levels in the Greater Richmond area, on average, remain below detection. The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations: • Thursday, June 27, 1 to 5 p.m. - Henrico Arms Apartments, 1566 Edgelawn Circle. • Friday, June 28, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Southside Plaza WIC, 509 E. Southside Plaza. RHHD’s Resource Centers are providing free at-home tests for pick-up at select locations: • Creighton Court at 2150 Creighton Road, call (804) 371-0433. • Fairfield Court at 2311 N. 25th St., call (804) 786-4099. • Gilpin Court at 436 Calhoun St., call (804) 786-1960.. • Hillside Court at 1615 Glenfield Ave., call (804)230-7740. • Mosby Court at 1536 Coalter St., call (804) 786-0204. • Southwood Court at 1754 Clarkson Road. Unit #B, call (804) 230-2077. • Whitcomb Court at 2106 Deforrest St., call (804) 786-0555. For information on testing sites, visit vax.rchd.com. Want a COVID-19 vaccine? Those interested can schedule an appointment with RHHD by calling (804) 205-3501. Vaccines.gov also lists nearby pharmacies and clinics that offer the COVID-19 vaccine, and those interested can also text their ZIP code to 438829 or call 1-800-232-0233. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children between the ages of 6 months to 4 years old may need multiple doses of the updated vaccines depending on their COVID-19 vaccine status and whether they had previously received Pfizer and Moderna. Children ages 5 to 11 years who are unvaccinated or received a vaccine before the 2023-2024 formula should get one updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Those who were previously vaccinated should receive the updated dose at least eight weeks after their most recent dose. Those ages 12 years and older who are unvaccinated should get either one updated Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two doses of the updated Novavax vaccine. People in that age range who received a vaccine before the updated 2023-2024 formula should get one updated dose of any of the vaccines at least eight weeks after their most recent dose. Information compiled by George Copeland Jr.
Richmond awarded $150,000 grant for digital skills program
Richmond has been selected as one of 10 cities to receive a grant from the Talent for Tomorrow: Digital Equity Challenge, a joint initiative of Comcast and the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The city will receive $150,000 to support its Strategic Opportunities Leading to Valuable Experiences (SOLVE) program.
CNN faces backlash for excluding Black-owned media from presidential debate coverage
CNN has come under fire for denying media credentials to every Black-owned media entity, including those based in Atlanta, for the upcoming presidential debate on Thursday. Despite granting over 600 media credentials, not even one was extended to Black-owned outlets, sparking outrage and accusations of systemic exclusion in a predominantly Black city.
Final score
Our Sports page will look different next week. Fred Jeter, our longtime sports writer, ends his tenure with The Richmond Free Press with this issue.
