The Frontline

PHILADELPHIA – Jessica Byrd and Maurice Mitchell, leaders of The Frontline – an election initiative from the Movement for Black Lives’ Electoral Justice Project and the Working Families Party – issued the following statement after Black voters put Joe Biden and Kamala Harris over the top and were declared President-elect and Vice President-elect.  

“The power has always been, and always will be with the people. The people have spoken loudly and clearly. 

“Today, we celebrate the electoral power that Black people and our Latinx, Indigenous and other allies built together. In every corner of this country we have organized, protested, and voted against police violence, against inhumanity towards hundreds of thousands of deaths from COVID-19, and for health care, living wages, education – and our futures. Even while Trump and his cronies have actively tried to intimidate and disenfranchise us through any means they can, we can no longer be ignored. 

“As the Movement sends Trump packing, we know our work is not done. We secured a Biden victory and we will be holding the forthcoming Biden Administration accountable to our communities and living up to our values of a country that values the lives of the multi-racial working class majority. Let us be clear: Today/tonight we celebrate the power of the people, and tomorrow, we’ll get right back to work in defense of Black lives on the Frontline.”

The Frontline: By The Numbers

• In one day, The Frontline had 1,900 volunteers make 2.75 million voter contacts.
• On Election Day, there were 2,500 election defenders ensuring voters could vote without interference or threats. 
• As part of this push, 550 text volunteers sent over 3 million text messages to eligible voters, encouraging them to participate in this year’s election.

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The Frontline is a powerful coming together of people across differences to meet this generational challenge. We’re going to defeat white nationalism, protect our democracy, and demand that those in power advance a people’s agenda.