Preparations to mobilize
Bright eyed and bushy tailed, several first time voters will head to the polls this November and many are college aged students. Yearning to understand their place in this historic and tense race, young adults remain a significant factor in the vote for the 2024 election.
With less than a month away from election day the Harris-Waltz Campaign team has the important task of mobilizing young voters, especially in swing states. According to The Atlanta Tribune the team will officially be visiting eight HBCUs around the homecoming season. The first college they visited was Winston-Salem State University, on September 28th to celebrate their founders day.
The continued Fight for our Freedoms
Last fall, Vice President Harris embarked on a “Fight for Our Freedoms Tour”. On this tour Harris visited several educational institutions including the following HBCUs: Hampton, The Atlanta University Center (Morehouse, Spelman, Clark Atlanta, and Morris Brown), and North Carolina A&T. During the tour Harris personally connected with students on their experience attending Historically Black colleges, especially as she is an Alumna herself. Attending Howard University and graduating in 1986, Harris explored her identity and purpose in the same environment as many black college students are today.
Harris also encouraged voter registration and emphasized the importance of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, health care rights, and gun safety. These topics continue to remain at the forefront of conversations between her, and her opponent former President Trump on the eve of this election.
During her Fight For Our Freedoms Tour, however, Harris wasn’t campaigning as president, but as Vice President. A year later, she stands in a completely different role, now vying to be U.S. President. It has now been around three months since Harris’ open endorsement from President Biden. These pivotal 79 days have engaged a powerful shift in the race for the next president of our country. The Vice President has been able to engage endorsements from a wide variety of audiences including many republicans according to CBS news.
Purpose
Yet as the race draws nearer, it is imperative that Harris secure the young vote. The decision to campaign at numerous HBCUs serves as a clever way to target an audience that may be under informed regarding voter registration.
Courtney Johnson–Executive Assistant to the President of Hampton Universities NAACP Chapter– was given the opportunity to attend Vice President Harris’ Fight for Our Freedom” Tour last year. In regards to the importance of voter registration at HBCUs Johnson says “As students of color, we have a strong stance in elections. We hold a great percentage of voters. Learning and educating will allow us to be more aware of politics which is important.”
Come time to head to the polls in November , the hope among all political parties and factions is that the youth will make their presence known.
HBCUs Being visited
According to an article by Donnell Suggs for fox5atlanta.com The Harris-Walz HBCU campaign team will visit the following HBCUs on these dates:
- Oct. 12, 2024 at Lincoln University
- Oct. 12, 2024 at Virginia State University
- Oct. 19, 2024 at Howard University
- Oct. 19, 2024 at North Carolina A&T State University
- Oct. 19, 2024 at Clark Atlanta University
- Oct. 26, 2024 at Morehouse College
- Oct. 26, 2024 at Spelman College
