Biden to Visit Charleston | Racial Tensions?

Paresh Jadhav

10 months ago

Few incumbent presidents have made such an early primary state investment to engage their core constituency; for Biden that means reinvigorating Black voters ahead of February primary.

Through the American Rescue Plan, financial relief for struggling American households – including Black households – was made available. Meanwhile, expanding opportunities for black-owned small businesses through reform of federal procurement processes opened more avenues of possibility.

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What will Biden say?

Biden will use the stories and experiences of ordinary Americans to demonstrate that his presidency has had an effect. This year, he invited RowVaughn Wells – mother of gunshot victim) and Saria Gwin-Maye, an ironworker – as witnesses to demonstrate how his infrastructure bill has made an impactful difference for communities such as theirs. Additionally, leaders representing abortion rights groups as well as efforts to reduce prescription drug markups were present to make his case.

Biden has attacked Republicans for holding hostage the country with demands for budget cuts in debt negotiations, while pushing to increase taxes on billionaires while expanding child care, sick leave, and parental leave benefits.

Democratic hopes of turning around dismal Black turnout at future elections will be put to the test during his address in South Carolina. Even an impressive performance may do little to alter its fortunes nationally as its thin campaign infrastructure in states likely to become much more competitive next fall is unlikely to make an impactful difference.

Will he address President Trump’s comments about immigrants?

Biden has cast Donald Trump as an authoritarian ruler and himself as an advocate of democracy during his campaign trail speeches, thus positioning himself to use this visit to Mother Emanuel as an opportunity to criticize him on issues like his plans to imprison millions and expand travel bans that have been widely condemned as racist and Islamophobic.

At a recent rally, Donald Trump made comments suggesting immigrants coming to the US are “poisoning our blood”. Biden’s campaign quickly responded by likening this comment to Hitler’s use of similar language in Mein Kampf to discourage immigration and cultural mixing.

Question is whether Biden would continue with these immigration policies in 2024 if elected president, especially as several surveys such as New York Times and Siena College polls indicate Black voters could play an integral role in key battleground states if they feel discontented with Trump’s border crackdown and other immigration policies.

Will he talk about the Charleston church shooting?

Democrats fear that Black voters could become disenchanted with President Donald Trump or lose interest in voting as the primary season draws nearer. Biden owes much of his 2020 victory in South Carolina to Black voters; therefore this trip aims to show them they aren’t being taken for granted by his campaign.

Air Force One will arrive late morning Monday at Charleston International Airport before making his way directly to Mother Emanuel AME Church on Calhoun Street for an 12:30 p.m. speech addressing an earlier deadly racist mass shooting.

Biden’s campaign says his choice of venue embodies the stakes of this election and sends a strong message about unity against hatred and political violence, as well as honoring victims’ families’ efforts for justice and healing.

Will he talk about racial tensions?

Biden will visit Mother Emanuel Church — site of a mass shooting nine years ago — as part of his 2024 re-election campaign, which starts Monday. During his talk there, Biden is expected to focus on how democratic institutions must be protected to combat hate and extremism.

Biden’s campaign aides believe his choice of Mother Emanuel Church as his campaign’s chairperson encapsulates the high stakes involved in 2020 elections and highlights its historic link with Black voters, who gave renewed hope and momentum for his bid after early losses.

Top Democrats are concerned that Black voters are disenchanted with their party, or becoming disengaged, after Obama failed to pass a comprehensive civil rights bill and Trump employed white supremacy as an electoral weapon – both factors which may contribute to declining turnout at this year’s midterms. Their concerns could determine if Democrats become president for the first time since Reconstruction.