United States: Progressives and African Americans await Joe Biden at the turn
Audio 01:23
Demonstration of the Black Lives Matter movement in Philadelphia, October 27, 2020. AFP - Mark Makela
Text by: RFI Follow
6 min
D-2 before the inauguration of Joe Biden.
The new president has promised to want to heal the United States of its divisions.
But he will also have a lot to do to maintain the unity of his own political family.
Within the Democratic Party, the left wing has steadily gained in influence.
Likewise, the African-American electorate also has high expectations.
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From our special envoys in Philadelphia
,
Stefanie Schüler
and
Bertrand Haeckler
Progressives are attracting more and more voters, especially young people, and now want to see their ideas taken up by centrist Biden and his new administration.
"
I have seen progressive lead an incredible field work to bring Joe Biden at the White House
"
,
notes Jamie Gauthier elected to the City Council of Philadelphia, a city that Biden should, among others, his decisive victory in the state of Pennsylvania.
►Also read: United States: Joe Biden wants to act quickly after taking office
“
This implies that the future president will have to return the favor.
We have already pushed it to the left on several points in its program.
And we will continue,
”
she continues.
One of these points is the fight against
climate change
.
“
Overall, the Biden administration takes climate change more seriously than any administration before it.
During the campaign the left was even able to convince Biden to take stronger positions on the climate.
And that's good,
”says Nikil Saval.
"Popular goals"
This socialist, newly elected to the Senate of Pennsylvania under the banner of the Democratic Party, would like the same to be true for questions of police reform, housing or health insurance.
“
I believe the goals we are fighting for are popular.
And we want our priorities, which are the priorities of the majority of Americans, to become the priorities of the Democratic Party, which must be a true leftist party
, ”he continues.
At 29, Leyla supported the candidacy of Bernie Sanders before voting for Joe Biden in the presidential election.
“
If the Democrats want to continue to have the voices of young voters, they are going to be forced to work with the progressives.
"
The African American electorate has high expectations
After the
Black Lives Matter
movement
and its omnipresent demonstrations across the United States against systemic racism and police violence, after also the massive mobilization of African Americans to offer victory to Joe Biden, the black community is also waiting the new president at the turn.
“
Right now, we need police reform.
Let me give you an example: the “arrest and search” method: when a police officer suspects you of having drugs or something else on you, he can immediately arrest you in the street
”, says Abdul-Aliy Muhammad, defender of rights. civic.
“
Blacks are much more affected by this method than other citizens.
And when that happens, you run a greater risk of being shot and also incarcerated.
So we need federal law.
And if it is not in the projects of Biden and Harris it will not go
, ”he continues.
Continue the fight in the street
Jamie Gauthier is an elected Democrat on the Philadelphia City Council.
During the Black Lives Matter protests she was on the front line, and intervened between the police and the demonstrators.
Today, she wants to be optimistic.
“
Biden comes to power with a promise to tackle housing issues, create well-paying jobs for workers, improve the health care system and improve education.
I don't think last year's protests fell on deaf ears
, ”she said.
In doubt, Abdul-Aliy Muhammad, he is already planning the next demonstrations.
"
Even under a Democratic president, no change will take place without people mobilizing in the street,
" he says.
And he's not the only one to think so.
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