For Immediate Release

July 24, 2024

President Biden did the right thing by dropping out. Aside from his health concerns, his record on international and economic issues has left much to be desired.

Vice President Harris will assuredly be the new nominee, and now she needs to gain the trust of working-class, progressive, and young voters. She can start by committing to support an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the illegal occupation of Palestine. Israel is conducting an ongoing genocide and we must do everything in our power to stop it. Harris must also commit to following American and international law by ending illegal weapons sales to Israel as well as increasing the amount of foreign aid going into Gaza and the West Bank.

But winning back the trust of disaffected voters doesn’t end with replacing the top of the ticket. Selecting a Vice Presidential nominee with anti-Palestinian and pro-war views will depress turnout among Muslim, Arab-American, and young voters, and greatly reduce the excitement that comes with a new nominee. Additionally, the new Democratic ticket must strongly support labor’s right to organize, adequate funding and oversight of public schools, a functional and humane immigration system, and robust protections for queer and reproductive rights. A VP nominee who has failed to support the rights of workers and immigrants, diverted public education funding toward for-profit entities, or restricted access to reproductive or gender-affirming care would risk losing the support of millions of working-class voters, including those in swing states crucial to securing victory. To that end, Kamala Harris and her VP nominee must also affirm their support for President Biden’s recently announced plans to offer relief for working-class Americans struggling with the high costs of education, housing, healthcare, and childcare.

The left must unite over the next four weeks to ensure that America doesn’t fall down the path of fascism, authoritarianism, and runaway corporatism. It is in Harris' and the Democrats' best interests to listen to their base and ensure that both their new VP pick and their platform support the majority of Democrats and Americans who want social and economic justice for workers and an immediate ceasefire in Palestine.