'This is proof': Biden's win reveals power of Black voters
“We believed in the power of Black voters and Black organizers in our movement." In 2008 and 2012, Black voters showed up in record numbers for Barack Obama, the nation’s first Black president — setting a new high bar. Black Biden voters were much more likely than other Biden voters — especially those who were white — to say they were casting their ballots for the Democrat rather than against Trump, according to AP VoteCast. Black Voters Matter Fund targeted more than 15 states, sending a fleet of buses on road trips across the nation. Activists said they intended to keep up momentum and expected a flood of attention and money, giving Black voters another chance to demonstrate their power.
How Sanders is helping keep the progressive movement strong
FILE - In this Feb. 25, 2020 file photo, Democratic presidential candidates, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., left, and former Vice President Joe Biden, talk before a Democratic presidential primary debate in Charleston, S.C. Sanders, who will speak at the Democratic National Convention Monday, was the last primary challenger standing against Biden. He retains the partys largest cohesive constituency in a progressive base unwavering in its support. Most importantly, young people in this country, whether theyre Black or white or Latino, Native American, Asian American, young people strongly support the progressive agenda.The progressive movement is still far from the driving force of the Democratic Party. One example is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who will help nominate Sanders at the convention and is widely seen as his successor in leading progressives.
Up next for police defunding advocates: Win local elections
A person holds up a sign advocating for defunding the police as people gather to mark Juneteenth, Friday, June 19, 2020, in St. Louis. An outgrowth of the Defund the Police movement, the WFP Justice Fund is led by the Working Families Party and the Movement for Black Lives Electoral Justice Project. The result, they said, would be a shift in local government budgets and public safety systems around the country. For example, in Chicago's 2019 elections, WFP helped increase the council's Progressive Caucus to 18 seats out of the 50 total. In Washington, D.C., city council candidate Janeese Lewis George, backed by the Working Families Party, toppled an incumbent Democrat on a defunding platform and is in line to claim the seat in November.