On Wednesday, the anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, black elected officials in Maine gathered at Portland’s Monument Square to rally voters in support of Vice President Kamala Harris’ historic run for president.
U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio joined Maine House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, local nonprofit leader and author Shay Stewart-Bouley, Darmita Wilson, a vice president of Northern Light Health, and elected leaders of color who spoke about the importance of voting in November to protect the freedom of Black voters.
Talbot Ross (D-Portland) and Beatty spoke about the Biden-Harris administration’s work on health equity and student loan forgiveness, issues they say disproportionately affect Black communities across the country. They highlighted Harris’ background as a prosecutor and her campaign promises to protect reproductive rights and increase gun safety as reasons for Maine’s Black community to support Harris.
“Kamala Harris and Tim Walz’s commitment to these ideas resonates in our communities,” said Talbot Ross. “And by rallying behind them and standing alongside them, we strengthen our collective voice in advocating for policies that advance racial justice, economic justice, health justice and equal opportunity for all.”
Beatty told attendees about her previous work with Harris and Walz in Congress and assured the people of Maine that the Democratic candidates would protect their interests if elected.
“I’m here today to tell you what’s at stake. That there are definitely two different visions in this most momentous election of our lifetimes,” she said. “A vision of hope, joy and freedom and a vision that takes us back to our past, a vision of discrimination.”
Harris’ main challenger, former Republican President Donald Trump, has built his campaign on the idea of ”making America great again,” romanticizing a time when not all Americans had equal rights.
Speakers recalled the March on Washington 61 years ago and told stories of their family members. Gerald Talbot, the father of speaker Talbot Ross, who was the first black member of the Maine legislature, was in the audience.
Talbot Ross and Wilson drew connections between their parents and grandparents fighting for civil rights and the current struggle to preserve social, health and reproductive freedoms for people of color and women.
Portland City Councilman Pious Ali urged attendees to reach out to voters in their area of influence to ensure they vote for Harris, who, if elected, would be the first woman and first woman of color to lead the U.S. presidential race.
“We will not go back to the days when immigrants are locked in cages. We will not go back to the days when people who look like me, talk like me and whose names sound like mine are afraid to go out,” he said.
