This past Saturday, cheers broke out in New York City as news networks across the country called Pennsylvania and the presidential election for Joe Biden. Following a record voter turnout, Biden defeated Donald Trump to become America’s 46th president, with his barrier-breaking running-mate Kamala Harris as the first Black and South Asian woman Vice President elect.
The effort to galvanize voters and encourage people to register was largely led by grassroots, BIPOC-led campaigns. Thanks to their work, voters, especially Black, Indigenous, and young people, turned out to end the Trump administration. Though Joe Biden may not have been many people’s first choice, this win comes as a relief. And beyond the presidential race, we have other major victories to celebrate:
Nationwide, 19 out of 20 law enforcement reform measures passed, increasing police accountability and funding alternatives.
Progressives in New York and around the country won key races, putting more BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ in office, including LA District Attorney and County Sheriff of Hamilton County in Ohio.
The Working Families Party maintained its ballot line, with 287K New Yorkers voting Biden/Harris under the WFP.
Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota legalized marijuana, while Oregon decriminalized all drugs and legalized psilocybin for medical use.
California granted voting rights to formerly incarcerated people, while Nebraska and Utah stripped language about slavery from their constitutions.
Florida raised the minimum wage to $15, Arizona will fund education by taxing the rich, and Colorado approved paid family leave.
But the work is not over. The “return to normal” promised by Biden’s presidency is a return to a world where BIPOC communities are still subject to violence and oppression. We must hold the new administration accountable to ensure their actions support marginalized communities, while continuing the fight for housing justice, freedom from state violence, and a clean environment — amplifying how each disproportionately impacts BIPOC folks. Check out SURJ’s post-election actions and sign this pledge to join SURJ NYC as we work to Protect the Results for more.
We must also acknowledge that, even after four years of seeing his administration’s blatant white supremacy, the majority of white voters still voted for Trump. As white folks, it is our job to work to bring other white folks into the movement to build an anti-racist future. For support in having those conversations, sign up for an upcoming Calling In workshop.
There’s much to do before Trump leaves office and after, but we’re ready.
Sending care and fortitude for the days ahead,
SURJ NYC