President Biden Delivers Powerful Speech at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston
As President Biden traveled to Charleston, South Carolina to deliver a powerful speech at the historic Mother Emanuel AME Church, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison took to the airwaves to highlight what’s on the line for voters this November as Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans work to undermine our democracy, rewrite history, and strip away our freedoms.
Harrison, now the Democratic National Committee chair but a former South Carolina state party chair and US Senate candidate, emphasized the importance of Biden’s visit to South Carolina. “Joe Biden is going to walk out of South Carolina with strong support because the state knows him; the state knows how hard he’s fought for them,” he said in an interview with CNN.
Ahead of Biden’s speech, Harrison expressed the concerns of Black voters heading into a contentious election cycle. “This president is fighting for the freedom for folks to be able to go to that church, pray to their God, and do it without the threat of gun violence because somebody has some racial hatred,” Harrison stated. “Just the freedom to live your life, to take care of your kids in terms of their schools, having money in your pocket, and actually living the American dream,” as reported by the Washington Examiner.
During an interview on Morning Joe, Harrison spoke about Biden’s dedication to Black Americans. “Joe Biden understands very, very clearly what this battle is all about and how core and how central Black folks are to this battle. So instead of having Black folks at the back of the bus, under Joe Biden – we are driving the bus.”
Harrison continued to stress the importance of freedom for all Americans during an interview with FOX Carolina, highlighting Trump’s rhetoric and actions during his presidency. “This is about freedom. So freedom of all Americans, and we understand that particularly [for] Black America, freedom has not always been here and we’re still fighting for that freedom. … Joe Biden has always fought for all of America’s people, regardless if you voted for him or not. I can’t say that about Donald Trump.”
On NPR Morning Edition, Harrison went on to elaborate on the threat that Trump poses to freedom. “Donald Trump is a threat to that freedom,” Harrison said. “And folks who understand that battle for that type of freedom, the freedom to live the American dream, to be treated equally, are the Black folks and particularly Black folks in South Carolina, where 40% of enslaved people came into this country through that port of Charleston.”
Overall, Harrison emphasized the significance of Biden’s visit to the historic church and its importance to the fight for freedom and equality, particularly for Black Americans in South Carolina.