WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Associated Press called Georgia’s Senate runoff election results. The people have elected Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, delivering Democrats 50 Senate votes, and, with Vice President-elect Harris as the tie-breaking vote, the Senate majority.  

Tammy Boyd, Chief Policy Officer of Black Women's Health Imperative (an organization founded in Georgia) and Just Democracy coalition member, issued the following statement in response:

“With this victory, Black and Brown voters have yet again demonstrated their incredible power to mobilize and fight for progressive change. Black organizers in Georgia worked tirelessly to spur historic Black voter turnout — even in the face of racist voter suppression tactics. 

Now, as the 117th Congress gets to work, its first priorities must be eliminating the filibuster and granting statehood to Washington D.C. The filibuster allows a minority of senators to block legislation favored by the majority, and with so much on the line — coronavirus relief for vulnerable communities, access to affordable health care, gun violence prevention legislation and more — we cannot allow an arcane rule to block progress. And without equal representation for the 700,000 mostly Black and Brown residents of D.C., communities of color will continue to be vastly underrepresented in the halls of power.

We implore Congress not to waste the opportunity to deliver bold, structural change for our communities. Our country’s racist institutions, like the Electoral College and our conservative-packed courts, made this election result a feat, rather than the outcome of a fair and inclusive democracy. Now, the stage is set to create a different type of institution — one that actually represents the people.”

 

About Just Democracy

Just Democracy is an intersectional coalition with racial justice at its core — uplifting voices from all walks of American life that are too often left out of the conversation. The coalition is made up of over 40 Black and Brown-led organizations working across issue areas. It mobilizes thousands who know that advancing social and racial justice issues first requires bold structural democracy reform.

To speak with a Just Democracy spokesperson, please email press@justdemocracy.us.

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