1 00:00:01,840 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: In the morning Breakfast Club Morning. Everybody is DJ Envy, 2 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: Angel Yee, Charlomagne the guy. We all the Breakfast Club. 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: We got a special guest in the building, GABC. Hello, 4 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: good morning. You're from the BPACK Black Progressive Action Coalitiontion. Yeah, 5 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,919 Speaker 1: B PACK and Blackpack. We are a national organization that's 6 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: the voted to turn it out black voters across the country. 7 00:00:25,280 --> 00:00:27,600 Speaker 1: And we do this not in election years and medterm 8 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: elections that's happening right now, but every single day because 9 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 1: for black people, our lives and our freedom is always 10 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: on the ballot. And so that's what we do and 11 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,440 Speaker 1: who we are voting. How's it looking right now early 12 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 1: voting twenty eight almost twenty nine million Americans have already 13 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: early voted. So like there's lie that we've been hearing 14 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: that there's an enthusiasm gap, that we're not seeing democrats 15 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:51,199 Speaker 1: or young people or black people come out at the 16 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: same rate. False, we're sitting there come out at record rates. 17 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: And so it's happening already. We see in battleground states 18 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: like Pennsylvania where John Fetterman is on the ballot he's 19 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: running for Senate, and Georgia. I know y'all have been 20 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: talking about Georgia a lot, y'all, Uncle Herschel, these have 21 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: places where we're seeing democrats really show up and show 22 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: out in an early vote. So we feel good about that. 23 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: Is it difficult to get some of the black voters 24 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: out because they feeling like every time they do come out, 25 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: it feels like politicians don't show up for them. You know, 26 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:25,960 Speaker 1: it's difficult caught because one just the history of black 27 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: folks in this country right make a lot of things difficult. 28 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:32,479 Speaker 1: But what we have seen throughout history is that the 29 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 1: most consequential moments in American history where we have progressed 30 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 1: our country forward, black people have been at the center 31 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 1: of that. Black people have been advocating for that. And 32 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 1: so black folks more than any other group of Americans, 33 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: know what it means to have your freedom on the 34 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: ballot and they know that the power in the vote, 35 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: and so things are difficult right now. You know, goods 36 00:01:54,520 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: are more expensive, Inflation is rising. You know, an expensive 37 00:02:01,160 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: food is expensive, every drink is expensive. You know, I'm 38 00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: scared to leave my house. Every time I leave my house, 39 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 1: I feel like I spend a rack. But ridiculous it 40 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 1: is so I get people being frustrated in this moment, 41 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 1: But I think we also have to understand that progress, 42 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: our power isn't our vote in progress is sometimes slow. 43 00:02:22,639 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean that we shouldn't have elected officials that 44 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:27,959 Speaker 1: have our values, that understand our issues. When folks ask 45 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: me that question, and I get that a lot. The 46 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: things that we should be looking for and elected officials, 47 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: it's clarity on our issues. Do they understand what is 48 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 1: facing our community? Right? Do they understand? Are they willing 49 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: to listen and learn about what's happening? Number two? Do 50 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 1: they have a plan to execute on this? Right? So 51 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: that's tangibles, a lot of talking points, but they have 52 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 1: no solutions. Cool, you know you have some ideas. That's 53 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: what elections are about, right, That's what we do in 54 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:57,080 Speaker 1: this election. We evaluate people's plans. But then the most 55 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: important part, and the part that we often forget is 56 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: once they are in office, holding them up accountable to 57 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: those plans, making sure that we are showing up and saying, hey, 58 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 1: you said you were going to do this in your election, 59 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 1: did you do it right? People have an opportunity every two, 60 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 1: four or six years to get people out of office. 61 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:16,920 Speaker 1: I wish we had those opportunities in relationships. I wish 62 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: that if you start dating somebody to be like like, 63 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 1: we would be healthier and relationships if that was true. So, like, 64 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 1: you know, elections are about making the best choice that 65 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: you can with the information you have right now. We 66 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: can't see into the future, we can't protect our people 67 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: will behave, but what we can look at his history. 68 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: I think a lot of times, I think I feel 69 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: like with these elections, it almost feels like you're forced 70 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: to pick somebody that you don't necessarily want, right Like 71 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: even with Joe Biden, a lot of people you know, 72 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,600 Speaker 1: didn't necessarily that wasn't their first choice, but he was 73 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: the only choice at the time, and it was like, well, 74 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 1: I guess I have to, you know. And I think 75 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: that happens a lot. I feel like with with especially 76 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: with our coaching community, blacks and brown I just feel 77 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: like a lot of times I feel like we get 78 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,119 Speaker 1: smacked in the face all the time, right and you say, Okay, 79 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 1: we're gonna vote for a black judge, we vote for 80 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: the black judge, and then the black judge that looks 81 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: like us, it feels like he does more hurt than help. 82 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 1: Then you look at all these other communities. Right you talk, 83 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 1: you look at Kyrie and you see, you know what 84 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,840 Speaker 1: he said about the Jewish people, and immediately they donated 85 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:22,840 Speaker 1: five hundred thousand, and he has to take classes or 86 00:04:22,880 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: whatever it may be. But then you look at some 87 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:26,799 Speaker 1: of these owners that said some things about black people 88 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: and they never had to take no classes, no money. 89 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: So it feels like it's constantly against us, and it 90 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: has to be to the point where it's like, why 91 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 1: am I voting? Yeah, how does it help? How does 92 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 1: it benefit me on my kids? Or I'm going to 93 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: say one thing too though, I think it's really important 94 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: to also encourage people who you think would represent you 95 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: well to run for office, because I think too often 96 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,240 Speaker 1: people who would be great in those positions aren't even 97 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 1: thinking about that. And so we should encourage people who 98 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 1: were like, you know what, you would be a great 99 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: counsel person, or you would be a great let's get 100 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: you on the path to do that. And sometimes that 101 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: does take financial support, Yes, I mean that's a real 102 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: barrier to a lot of folks running for office. Most 103 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 1: of the people that are in Congress are millionaires, right, 104 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: A lot of them are well off. Get your money right. 105 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: But you know a lot of folks like um like 106 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: to make fun of a person like AOC because she 107 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: was a bartender before you know, she became a member 108 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 1: of Congress. But I'm okay with that, right, Yeah, I'm 109 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 1: okay with a person that had to work their way 110 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 1: through college. Right. I'm okay with a pipe fitter or 111 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:32,120 Speaker 1: a plumber becoming a member of Congress or running for 112 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: elected office. My daddy is a pipe fitter and plumber. 113 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: We have to have to set those candidates financially, and 114 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:42,720 Speaker 1: that's important too. And then even right now, like as 115 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: we get close to these elections, we see so many 116 00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: ads on TV, and there's so many different things coming. 117 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: We don't know what's too and what's not right, Like 118 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 1: in particular in New York, we're looking at Leezeldon versus 119 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: Governor Kathy Hokel And when I tell you, I see 120 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 1: a Lee Zelden ad like every five seconds, every everywhere, 121 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,359 Speaker 1: and the thing is that he's saying. And then Kathy 122 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 1: Hooker was up here also, they both have been up here, 123 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: and so a lot of times it's dispelling the narratives 124 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,279 Speaker 1: that are put out there. But sometimes people just say, 125 00:06:08,320 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 1: I'm like I feel like politicians can just say anything 126 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 1: anything about the other person, whether or not it is true, 127 00:06:13,240 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: and then it's really up to us to fact check. 128 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: But sometimes people aren't fact checking. Yeah, and I think 129 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 1: we have to That is yes and no, right, So yes, 130 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: people sometimes politicians say wild things and say things about 131 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: each other. But we have seen a change in the 132 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: tenor just look at what happened to Speaker Pelosi's husband. 133 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,720 Speaker 1: There is a time in politics where elderly man being 134 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: attacked in his own home will cause horror across the board, 135 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,360 Speaker 1: no matter what's your political affiliation, no matter who you are, 136 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: and that did not happen, and it's very sad and 137 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 1: it's very very scary. So I think you're right. There 138 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: are concerted efforts right. Lee's Eldon is a part of 139 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 1: these concerted efforts. Herschel Walkers a part of these concerted 140 00:06:55,240 --> 00:07:00,400 Speaker 1: efforts to lie to black and brown voters. We have 141 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: to know that that is happening and they are not 142 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:06,159 Speaker 1: on our side, and we have to look at history 143 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:08,720 Speaker 1: and we have to assess the facts. And you know, 144 00:07:08,839 --> 00:07:10,880 Speaker 1: you don't have to be a political scientist and have 145 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 1: a PhD in communications to call out a lie. We 146 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: call out lives all the time, right, We do that 147 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:20,320 Speaker 1: all the time, and so let's not have the horror 148 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: that people feel when they see politicians just say wild 149 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: things about each other. We should feel that, but we 150 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: should also allow that to inform how we are making 151 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: those choices, because that if that is something that they 152 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: say out loud in front of you, imagine what they 153 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,320 Speaker 1: say about you behind your back. The problem is a 154 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: lot of people can't fact check. They don't have the 155 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: time to fact check. You know, as a kid, when 156 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: you've seen politicians on TV and they were talking, usually 157 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,040 Speaker 1: after you would see a wrap up and they would 158 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 1: try to fact check. But now with this phone, yeah, 159 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: this phone live is more than anything else in this world. 160 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: When you look at something and you think it's true, 161 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 1: but it's not true, so you don't know who to follow, 162 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: where to go to fact check. I mean Wikipedia, which 163 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: most people get their information is wrong. Because I'm a 164 00:07:58,320 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: gardener on that and I've never been a gardener. You 165 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:05,600 Speaker 1: can find something to back up anything. You can't. You 166 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 1: can find something to back up everything. That's why. But 167 00:08:08,280 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: organizations like Black Pack or Important because we do this 168 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 1: kind of deep work to build trust among black voters. 169 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: We've knocked on over three million doors in Pennsylvania and Nevada, 170 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: in Michigan and Wisconsin, in Virginia and North Carolina and Georgia. 171 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,240 Speaker 1: Because we need to do this work, and we're not alone, 172 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 1: and there are tons of national organizations that are doing 173 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 1: this work. There are even more local organizations that are 174 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: doing this work to dispel the myths, and we're here. 175 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:41,400 Speaker 1: Like media has an obligation, you all recognize your obligation 176 00:08:41,480 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: to the public and what you're saying is really important 177 00:08:43,640 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 1: and people look to you for your opinion. So I 178 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 1: think what we're doing now having this conversation helps to 179 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:52,640 Speaker 1: dispel the myths. Listening and find your organizations that you 180 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: trust that have been on the right side of history consistently. 181 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,439 Speaker 1: If you see an organization that's talking about something, you've 182 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:03,439 Speaker 1: never heard of them. They're saying the wildest thing, right. 183 00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: People don't have time to go and fact check everything. 184 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 1: But you got your spidy sense, you got your gut, 185 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:11,559 Speaker 1: you got what your grandmother told you at some point. 186 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 1: You know, like, we have ways to assess if something 187 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: is really okay. So tell me if this is real, 188 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: because I've seen that their statistics that are leaving the 189 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: Democratic Party at a higher rate than anybody else. Is 190 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: that myth? Or is that true? Listen? I have a 191 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,439 Speaker 1: friend more Reice Mentrol who runs the Working Families Party 192 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: that says, you know, grass grows where you water it, right, 193 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: And I think when it comes particularly to black men, 194 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 1: there are tons of challenges that we've seen in this election. 195 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 1: We've seen this and misinformation to allow people to stay home. 196 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:48,640 Speaker 1: We've seen that in twenty twenty. What is happening now 197 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,560 Speaker 1: is people are actually believing it and not just staying 198 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:54,920 Speaker 1: home because they don't trust the system, but considering voting 199 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,680 Speaker 1: for people that they never would have before. A couple 200 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,800 Speaker 1: of things that we should take away from that one 201 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:03,040 Speaker 1: we have to continue to do this work that Black 202 00:10:03,120 --> 00:10:05,400 Speaker 1: Pack and b Pack have been joined in talking to 203 00:10:05,480 --> 00:10:10,319 Speaker 1: black voters all the time, right constantly saying, Hey, is 204 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: Joe Biden doing what you asked him to do? All right? 205 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,319 Speaker 1: Yeah he is, because when if you look at the data, 206 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: he has delivered on ninety percent of the things that 207 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 1: he talked about in the campaign, delivering for black folks. 208 00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 1: So I think we have to really ask those questions. 209 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 1: And I also think it's true that that this is 210 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:30,880 Speaker 1: a time and a volatile time that folks are looking 211 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:36,000 Speaker 1: for answers right and sometimes the answers are not right, 212 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: but it is an answer, and so we have to 213 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: continue to do the work to let folks know that 214 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:42,760 Speaker 1: we have a real choice to make in this election, 215 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 1: and voting for someone again doesn't mean that you got 216 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,400 Speaker 1: to be married to it forever. You're gonna have an 217 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,400 Speaker 1: opportunity to hold them accountable, and you're gonna have an 218 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 1: opportunity to choose someone else if we want someone else 219 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: to run for office. You have a choice in this election. 220 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 1: And I think that's the number one thing we have 221 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,880 Speaker 1: to impress upon people. Joe, vote Democrat because we're telling 222 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: you too, because because your grandmother has, because everybody that 223 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: you know has. That's not that's not what we're telling 224 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: you to do. What we're telling you to do is 225 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: look at people's plans, look at their ability to act 226 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 1: on those plans, and look at what they have done 227 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,439 Speaker 1: for you in the past. Right part, you were part 228 00:11:17,480 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 1: of the team that helped Eric Adams come may of 229 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:26,079 Speaker 1: New York. Absolutely not. I yeah, I ran an independent 230 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:29,079 Speaker 1: expniture from Maya Wiley. Now Eric Adams is my mayor 231 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,280 Speaker 1: I want him to be successful. I want this black 232 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: man to be successful. I will always do everything I can. 233 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:37,719 Speaker 1: But that's not where I started. Where Eric, did you? 234 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: How did you get into this right now? Like we 235 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 1: usually don't like that, Like ye service political director at 236 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: the Influence Labor Union propel Eric Adams to become mayor. 237 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: But anyway, how did you get started in? No? No, 238 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: I think you got so. Yeah, I get in politics. 239 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: So I grew up in the South end, in the 240 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: Midwest group in Alabama and Ohio, and I actually got 241 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:13,559 Speaker 1: involved Huntsville. I'm a you're gonna see some of my cousins. Yes, yeah, 242 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 1: you'll definitely see my uncle, some of my cousins. I mean, 243 00:12:16,520 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: my father has eleven first brothers and sisters or brothers 244 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:21,719 Speaker 1: and sisters, so we got a big family. So you're 245 00:12:21,720 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 1: gonna see my cousin away. You should. Anyway, No, I 246 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: got started um around two thousand and three the Iraq War. 247 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: I was in college and my brother went into the 248 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,520 Speaker 1: army and was stopped lost. I went to University of Toledo, 249 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 1: go rockets and um. Before he was discharged from the military, 250 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: he had to go fight in the war in Iraq. 251 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:43,960 Speaker 1: So I got really involved in the anti war work 252 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: and protesting. And this man, John Kerry was running for president. 253 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:49,280 Speaker 1: He was like, I'm an in the war in Iraq, 254 00:12:49,679 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: and you know, I'm nineteen year old Gabby like me 255 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:53,800 Speaker 1: and John Kerry going in the war in Iraq, and 256 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 1: I like work my little heart out for him. Um, 257 00:12:56,760 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 1: he didn't win. My brother eventually came home. You know, 258 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 1: Middle East is still in a quagmire. But it really 259 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: sparked a desire in me. I always had a desire 260 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:09,440 Speaker 1: to help people, but I found politics was a way 261 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:10,960 Speaker 1: for me to have an impact on a lot of 262 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,920 Speaker 1: different issues. Because there isn't one issue I care about. 263 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:17,400 Speaker 1: I care about them all and I care about our people. 264 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: And so that's how I got started. It has continued 265 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:24,080 Speaker 1: and worked on all kinds of campaigns within organizations. So 266 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: leven I and I say, I use is the labor 267 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: union I worked for here in New York City. So 268 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: that's how I got started. And that's my story, and 269 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 1: I think a lot of folks have a similar story. 270 00:13:34,040 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: At a point that propelled you into action. For me, 271 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 1: it was my brother. For others, it might be experience 272 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: they had in their childhood. It might be then listening 273 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,160 Speaker 1: to the show and they're like, let me go. I've 274 00:13:45,160 --> 00:13:47,040 Speaker 1: never thought about that, let me go to that. So 275 00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 1: there are many pathways to this kind of work. So 276 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: let me ask you this. Right, when people vote, sometimes 277 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:54,560 Speaker 1: if you don't do your research, you might just vote 278 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 1: on your party line. For you, have you always only 279 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,800 Speaker 1: voted Democrat? Have you ever voted for a Republican? You know, 280 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,680 Speaker 1: I've never voted for a Republicans. I haven't had one 281 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: with whom my value is aligned with more than the Democrats. 282 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 1: Have I voted for Democrats that I think We're not 283 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:13,640 Speaker 1: my first choice, absolutely right, But for me, when I 284 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 1: when I look at what's important to me, when I 285 00:14:15,679 --> 00:14:20,920 Speaker 1: look at the legacy of what of what different not 286 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: different parties, but what different UM elected officials that I 287 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 1: think have my values done, They've always they've always been 288 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 1: democratic and and maybe a little bit further now, would 289 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,200 Speaker 1: I ever vote for a maybe in this current environment. 290 00:14:36,240 --> 00:14:41,200 Speaker 1: I don't understand why, um that why I would, But 291 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: I've always uh you know, voted my values and us 292 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: always alige. I think about the two party system because 293 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 1: we've heard a lot of people criticizing that too. I 294 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: think the two party system is what we have here 295 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 1: in the United States. And one thing that we shouldn't do, 296 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: and I encourage folks not to do, it's not let 297 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 1: the perfect be the enemy of the good. Like we 298 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: have a functioning democracy right now as we speak. You know, 299 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: a lot of this is on the line in this election. 300 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:10,000 Speaker 1: If you care about elections, if you care about this democracy, 301 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: if you care about institutions being there for our community, 302 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 1: like this is a really critical election for folks to 303 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:20,600 Speaker 1: be in. I think that everyone participating in democracy is 304 00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 1: a good thing, whether you're a Republican Democrat, whether you're 305 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 1: a third party like the Working Famili's Party or the 306 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: Conservative Party here in New York State. I like, I 307 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: personally believe that all these things should be a part 308 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 1: of our democracy. But I'm realistic about the system that 309 00:15:35,560 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: we have to operate in right now now. Black Lives Matter? 310 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: Has that helped to hurt your your cause an organization? 311 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: Because people it's hard for people to see what the 312 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,520 Speaker 1: organization is compared to the hashtag, compared to the movement. 313 00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 1: So I know a lot of times people look at 314 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: it like it's that organization good? Are they just out 315 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 1: there for money? So? Has that helped to hurt what 316 00:15:53,840 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: you've been doing. I mean, first of all, like our 317 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:01,960 Speaker 1: name is Blackpack, so we are here for black people. However, 318 00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:06,120 Speaker 1: black people need us to be. I think that Black 319 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:09,880 Speaker 1: Lives Matter movement was really consequential for a lot of things, 320 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: to put a spotlight squarely on things that we live 321 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: and deal with every single day. And so I think 322 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 1: our Black Lives Matter, we really owe it our community 323 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: as a whole, not just black and brown folks, but 324 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 1: Americans in this entire world really owe a debt to that. 325 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: But you know what, our work, the work that we 326 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: have been doing Black Packs since twenty sixteen, is so consequential, 327 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:36,960 Speaker 1: and it's and it continues to be and it always 328 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: will be no matter what movement pops up, whether there's 329 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: Black Lives Matter where that we're talking about me too. 330 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:46,760 Speaker 1: These are all things that collectively strengthen our political awareness, 331 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,360 Speaker 1: right because black lives matter. I saw some people in 332 00:16:49,400 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: twenty twenty protesting that I would have never thought were 333 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 1: out in this street. So what movements like that do 334 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:59,560 Speaker 1: is raise political consciousness, allow people to see themselves in 335 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,880 Speaker 1: a different way, and kind of you know, rising tide 336 00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: lifts all boats. When we have more folks that are 337 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: actively participating no matter how they came to it, if 338 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:11,679 Speaker 1: they came to political uh, if they came into political 339 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 1: awareness because they went to a Black Lives Matter protest 340 00:17:14,240 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: and now they're voting and organizing that its communities. That 341 00:17:16,920 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 1: is great. We've seen that across the board. What are 342 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 1: some things in particular right now that's going on that 343 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 1: actually make you angry when you think about what's happening. 344 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:26,760 Speaker 1: I want to know what's at the top of your 345 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:29,160 Speaker 1: list of the things that you're You're like, we should 346 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:32,960 Speaker 1: all be mad about. I mean, no, you know, I'm 347 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: not giving him anymore today. Y'all have talked about that 348 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 1: enough and no, um, he isn't the thing that works me. 349 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: The thing that you know, really concerns me and should 350 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 1: concern us. Are you know, the attacks at our institutions 351 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,159 Speaker 1: When we talk about our freedom being on the line 352 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,160 Speaker 1: right now, that's what we really mean right now. The 353 00:17:56,160 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: Supreme Court Monday heard arguments about dismantling affirmative action. Right, 354 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,719 Speaker 1: So let's just play this a little bit. So if 355 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:08,119 Speaker 1: we dismantle affirmative action, what colleges have told us across 356 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:10,480 Speaker 1: the board, whether they are elite universities or state universities 357 00:18:10,520 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 1: that this is gonna decrease access, this is going to 358 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 1: decrease diversity. We are gonna see less black and brown 359 00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 1: folks go to college if we do this, Supreme Court, 360 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: it's like, oh, all right, no problem to us, um, 361 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 1: So let's play it for it that happens we see 362 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 1: less and less black and brown folks going into universities 363 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 1: in the future. Rarely do you see any leader in 364 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 1: this country that doesn't have a college degree, Not a 365 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: member of Congress, rarely, not a CEO of a fortune 366 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:43,480 Speaker 1: five hundred company, not the most influential reporters. You certainly 367 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 1: don't not kind of see anyone, Um almost you know, well, 368 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:54,240 Speaker 1: you know I said, I said usually listen always, but yes, okay, 369 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:58,680 Speaker 1: don't beat up on it here. But the point is that, 370 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: you know, halways of leadership usually go through higher education, right, 371 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 1: And so we're attacking this institution, we're making it harder 372 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 1: for certain folks to be a part of it. That 373 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 1: is worrying to me because what that means is in 374 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:15,280 Speaker 1: twenty years, we're probably going to have a very male 375 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 1: and a very pale leaders across this country. They might 376 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:20,840 Speaker 1: not have the experiences that I have had as a 377 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:23,640 Speaker 1: black woman. That is upsetting to me when we see 378 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:27,360 Speaker 1: the Supreme Court say, hey, the Environmental Protection Agency, which 379 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 1: is what they did in June, doesn't have the authority 380 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:34,560 Speaker 1: anymore to regulate greenhouse and gas emissions. Right, We're in 381 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: a climate catastrophe as we speak. We feel it every day. 382 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: Seventy degrees today in New York and November November I 383 00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 1: was hot all week, right, And folks will say, oh, well, 384 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:49,920 Speaker 1: the climate change is all the time. No, it does 385 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 1: not change in this way. And so institutions like the 386 00:19:54,160 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: Supreme Court, which is appointed. The Supreme Court we have 387 00:19:56,960 --> 00:20:00,879 Speaker 1: right now is largely overturning roll versus like these are 388 00:20:00,920 --> 00:20:05,400 Speaker 1: all super consequential decisions that should make. That should frighten us, 389 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:09,479 Speaker 1: because while that's happening at the Supreme Court, we have 390 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: legislatures changing the way our children are educated, changing the curriculum. 391 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: We are banning books like let's talk about the attacks 392 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: on democracy. Right now in Arizona, there are people monitoring 393 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:27,119 Speaker 1: ballot drop boxes, armed camouflage, taking pictures of people, taking 394 00:20:27,119 --> 00:20:29,919 Speaker 1: pictures of their license play, following them home. These are 395 00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:33,680 Speaker 1: all very scary things. Now we're telling you this not 396 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: to scare you out of voting, but to allow you 397 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,280 Speaker 1: to see that our we have power in our vote, 398 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:42,720 Speaker 1: We have power in the way that we are educated. 399 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,160 Speaker 1: If we did not, they would not be working so 400 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,240 Speaker 1: hard to take it that we're going to go vote, 401 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:49,960 Speaker 1: And so they trying to intimidate everybody. I said the 402 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 1: whole thing about the Boogaloo boys, and yeah, it's scary, 403 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:56,879 Speaker 1: but but we have the ability and the powers that 404 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:59,399 Speaker 1: have an impacted. So when people say why should I vote, 405 00:21:00,280 --> 00:21:02,880 Speaker 1: what I say is, why are you willingly giving your 406 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:07,200 Speaker 1: power away? Why why are you telling yourself I don't 407 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:09,560 Speaker 1: deserve to be in this conversation. I don't deserve to 408 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: have the representation that I need, that our communities need, 409 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:15,199 Speaker 1: that my family needs. And so there are lots of 410 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: things that are piss of me off right now. But 411 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 1: I think the dismantling of the institutions that have made 412 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:25,200 Speaker 1: us this country who it is and have provided folks 413 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,800 Speaker 1: like me. I'm a generation away from picking cotton. My 414 00:21:28,840 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: father pick cotton. My grandfather was a sharecropper and did 415 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 1: not die not knowing how to read. Wow, and here 416 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:38,360 Speaker 1: I am talking to you all. That's the American dream, 417 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:41,200 Speaker 1: But that no longer. Most people do not have access 418 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:44,400 Speaker 1: to that now. Influencewatch dot com said that b Pack 419 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:47,359 Speaker 1: is said to be a dark money group. What is 420 00:21:47,359 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 1: a dark money group? I don't know what a dark 421 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:51,959 Speaker 1: money group is. If a dark money group to you 422 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:56,320 Speaker 1: is an organization that mobilizes and turns out black people 423 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,160 Speaker 1: to vote and wreck your numbers, yes, then yes where 424 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:02,880 Speaker 1: a dark organisation. If a dark organization is one that 425 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: holds elected officials accountable, yes, we'll help you get into office, 426 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:08,440 Speaker 1: but we're also going to hold you accountable and we're 427 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:11,160 Speaker 1: going to show up, then yes, we're a darc running organization. 428 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:15,119 Speaker 1: I think that influence whatever. I'm gonna even give them 429 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:18,639 Speaker 1: a name again. Um, you know, it's targeting people who 430 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 1: are building political power and trying to make it. These 431 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 1: spook your organizations. No, you know what black Pack does 432 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: tell black people that they're powerful, that their vote matters, 433 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:30,080 Speaker 1: and then they need to turn out to vote. What 434 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:39,520 Speaker 1: about you running for office? Absolutely not. So there are 435 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:42,880 Speaker 1: some people that are more behind the scenes people. There 436 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 1: are some folks that like really love helping others. That's me. Um. 437 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:50,760 Speaker 1: I have worked for elected officials, helped elect a lot 438 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:53,359 Speaker 1: of elected officials. That is that is the role that 439 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 1: I play. I don't want me an elected office either, man, 440 00:22:56,720 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 1: I would be insufferable. No, I don't. It's just it's 441 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:02,639 Speaker 1: it's not for me. Every person has a pathway. I 442 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 1: think that's the wonderful thing about elections and about politics. 443 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:09,360 Speaker 1: There's a lot of ways for you to have an 444 00:23:09,359 --> 00:23:12,480 Speaker 1: impact in it. And it isn't just about running for 445 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:15,920 Speaker 1: her office. Angela, You're one hundred percent right. The people 446 00:23:15,920 --> 00:23:17,760 Speaker 1: who should run for office are not the people who 447 00:23:17,880 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 1: usually stop up right. That's what I'm thinking, because it 448 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:23,640 Speaker 1: feels like what you need is, honestly, people who can 449 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:27,479 Speaker 1: mobilize people, people know how to get things done, have plans, 450 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:31,640 Speaker 1: can put those plans into action. Yeah, well I don't 451 00:23:31,640 --> 00:23:33,480 Speaker 1: know if I could do that job in this job. 452 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:39,280 Speaker 1: Why not log Oh. I was like, well, that one's 453 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:43,000 Speaker 1: going there. I'm gonna have my own show, okay, starting 454 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,879 Speaker 1: in January actulation, And much like Gabby, I feel like 455 00:23:45,960 --> 00:23:51,200 Speaker 1: my role is these efficients we I mean, look, we've 456 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 1: had chio say up here. I know, you know, he's 457 00:23:53,720 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 1: my congress or my compliment. We live in the same 458 00:23:56,760 --> 00:24:01,959 Speaker 1: area Hakeem Jeffreys as well, you know, and so obviously 459 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,520 Speaker 1: we had Kathy Hokland, Lee's elden up here and so 460 00:24:04,600 --> 00:24:07,080 Speaker 1: I think you know my role is to give a 461 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 1: light to something. I don't know if I could be 462 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:10,360 Speaker 1: on the radio and be running for office, I don't 463 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:12,159 Speaker 1: know if that would be No, it's up to you. 464 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: It's your time because because you know the fair time acting, 465 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,040 Speaker 1: you know I would have to give whoever's running against 466 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 1: me the same amount. How could I not? You see 467 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 1: what happened to Chris Cuomo? So how donate to your 468 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:26,640 Speaker 1: organization if they want to get behind you and maybe 469 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: don't want to run like you, or join the organization. 470 00:24:32,160 --> 00:24:34,639 Speaker 1: So you can go to Blackpack dot com b L 471 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:37,920 Speaker 1: A c k pac dot com to learn more about 472 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:42,360 Speaker 1: our organization. If you are looking for resources for this election, 473 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:45,639 Speaker 1: you want to know where your voting location is, uh, 474 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 1: you know your pulling location is ours? You can go 475 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:51,040 Speaker 1: to a Blackpack vote talk and he's on the ballot 476 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:53,080 Speaker 1: so that you can go through it before you get there. 477 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 1: Like I always say, make sure that you have a 478 00:24:55,359 --> 00:24:57,719 Speaker 1: plane go look it up. See who these people are 479 00:24:57,760 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: if you don't know, because sometimes there's people you're like 480 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:02,439 Speaker 1: where these people and you just randomly picky, but know 481 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 1: who you're voting for, know who you're voting for, and 482 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:06,400 Speaker 1: make a plan to vote. We know that when people 483 00:25:06,400 --> 00:25:09,239 Speaker 1: make a vandom float to vote, they are much more 484 00:25:09,400 --> 00:25:11,960 Speaker 1: likely to do so. And so encouraging your listeners to 485 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 1: make a plan to vote, whether they want to vote early, 486 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 1: they want to vote on an election day, how are 487 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:20,200 Speaker 1: you getting too your polling location again? Folks can go 488 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:23,200 Speaker 1: to blackpack vote dot com to learn more about voting 489 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,240 Speaker 1: in their state, and to blackpack dot com to learn 490 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:28,880 Speaker 1: more about an organization and to be able to join 491 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:32,360 Speaker 1: and donate. Like I said, our members and our volunteers 492 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:36,760 Speaker 1: are texting, calling, knocking on doors every single day. We 493 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:40,720 Speaker 1: have never left. In some states like Pennsylvania and Michigan, 494 00:25:41,080 --> 00:25:44,600 Speaker 1: we never stopped talking to black folks and real organization 495 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,560 Speaker 1: that we'll talk to any like. There is no qualification. 496 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:50,639 Speaker 1: You don't have to have voted in X elections or 497 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:54,119 Speaker 1: supported X candidates if you are black, were believe in 498 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 1: you're innate power to change our country because we've done 499 00:25:57,000 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 1: it many many times before. How does that feel someone 500 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:02,480 Speaker 1: come into your door announced. We had a whole conversation 501 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: about canvas saying, yeah, it's hard because how many people 502 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: witness used to come. I'm not expecting someone I have 503 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:15,360 Speaker 1: to send people in like a ups outfit. No. Yeah, 504 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:19,119 Speaker 1: actually people are are nicer than you think. I you know, 505 00:26:20,640 --> 00:26:24,400 Speaker 1: everywhere you be surprised. I get a warmer reception if 506 00:26:24,400 --> 00:26:26,920 Speaker 1: someone was like, go knock on doors than Carnarsi, or 507 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:29,120 Speaker 1: go knock on doors in Long Island. I would choose 508 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:34,239 Speaker 1: Canarsi every single day of the week because people are lovelier. Um, 509 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 1: you know, nothing against Long Island. I'm not reallywed to 510 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:40,159 Speaker 1: get that coffee now, while people are, I know they 511 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:44,199 Speaker 1: It depends state to state. States have the ability to 512 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:46,800 Speaker 1: control elections, which is why secretary of states are so 513 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 1: important in most places because they control elections. And if 514 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,399 Speaker 1: you have a secretary of state that leaves that Donald 515 00:26:53,400 --> 00:26:56,600 Speaker 1: Trump won the presidential election and we'll do anything to 516 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:58,720 Speaker 1: make sure that he wins again in twenty twenty four, 517 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: that's a bit of a red fly. Right. Let's not 518 00:27:00,880 --> 00:27:05,040 Speaker 1: support those people that believe that elections should uh should 519 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:09,800 Speaker 1: only be recognized if your particular candidate wins um and 520 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:13,639 Speaker 1: so those rules about you know what happens in line? 521 00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:16,440 Speaker 1: Can you give somebody that is cold a blanket? In 522 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: some places you cannot I think I don't even know why, 523 00:27:19,480 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 1: why that's how that even happened. I just don't well, 524 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 1: because too we don't want to know how that happens. 525 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:27,080 Speaker 1: Because too many black folks are turning out to vote 526 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: in record numbers and early. So the first folks try 527 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:32,720 Speaker 1: to restrict you know, you have to have certain type 528 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:35,800 Speaker 1: of IDs. Then they try to restrict hours. Oh, you 529 00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:38,359 Speaker 1: can only go at these certain hours. And black volks 530 00:27:38,359 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 1: were like, you can do all those things. I am 531 00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 1: still voting and they still vote it. And now it's like, okay, well, 532 00:27:44,880 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 1: now that you have long lines, now that you can 533 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 1: only vote at certain times of day, you're gonna have 534 00:27:49,080 --> 00:27:50,760 Speaker 1: to wait in this eight hourly and you can know 535 00:27:50,800 --> 00:27:53,600 Speaker 1: food unless you bring it yourself, no one can help you. 536 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: And so like these are these are intentional and planned. 537 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 1: These I like people should be upset that they are 538 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:07,359 Speaker 1: elected officials almost entirely whom are Republicans right now that 539 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:09,679 Speaker 1: are trying to find ways to take away You're right? 540 00:28:09,720 --> 00:28:11,879 Speaker 1: They take away I right to bother you autonomy, you know, 541 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:15,439 Speaker 1: with the road decision hanging away our right to breathe 542 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 1: clean air, with the EPA decision taking away rights here 543 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 1: and there if you're okay with those things been taken 544 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:24,400 Speaker 1: from you by all means, are you hopeful that since 545 00:28:24,400 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 1: you bought up Donald Trump that he'll be accountable for 546 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: January six or any of the things that he's done. 547 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:32,440 Speaker 1: You know, I try not to say anything about Donald 548 00:28:32,480 --> 00:28:34,680 Speaker 1: Trump and what will or will not happen to him, 549 00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 1: because he is a private citizen that has little control 550 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 1: over my life right now, right and so I don't 551 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 1: really try to give him the time and space in 552 00:28:43,800 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 1: my mind. What I will say is that, you know, 553 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:51,120 Speaker 1: Donald Trump is just one of the indications of what 554 00:28:51,280 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 1: folks who do not want us to have power have 555 00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:57,160 Speaker 1: been up to for decades. It didn't start with Donald Trump, 556 00:28:57,320 --> 00:28:59,320 Speaker 1: it didn't start with Sarah Paline, and start a long 557 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:03,320 Speaker 1: time ago, you know, um, preparing for this moment right now, 558 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:06,120 Speaker 1: we are living the wildest dreams of people who have 559 00:29:06,400 --> 00:29:09,480 Speaker 1: tried to keep us oppressed ever since we landed here 560 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:13,120 Speaker 1: in sixteen nineteen. For black folks is what I'm talking about. 561 00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:18,120 Speaker 1: So um, I'm not you know, whether he's help accountable 562 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 1: has nothing to do with imagine being able to run 563 00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:24,160 Speaker 1: again after all of that. You know, the Constitution allows 564 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:26,840 Speaker 1: him to do that. I can't stop anybody. I'm saying, 565 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:30,120 Speaker 1: even if if he gets convicted of something, then maybe not, 566 00:29:30,800 --> 00:29:34,479 Speaker 1: maybe not. But I think that what he has shown 567 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,760 Speaker 1: is he has no regard for laws, for the constitution, 568 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:41,800 Speaker 1: for things that we have always done in this country, 569 00:29:41,920 --> 00:29:45,200 Speaker 1: like recognize elections. He has no regard for that. Other 570 00:29:45,240 --> 00:29:47,320 Speaker 1: countries think of us when they look at our whole 571 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 1: everything that's going on here. They got their problems to Yeah, 572 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 1: but you know when we travel other places, people be like, 573 00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 1: y'all are crazy. We appreciate you. Thank you for having 574 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 1: me so much, just putting a pleasure. Seni advisor to 575 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:04,360 Speaker 1: BPACK Black Progressive Action Coalition, thank you once again one 576 00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:07,800 Speaker 1: more time. Website so people. Website is BLACKPAC dot com 577 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:11,760 Speaker 1: b O A c K p AC dot com, blackpack 578 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:13,800 Speaker 1: dot com. Thanks so much. Al Right, it's to breakfast 579 00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:14,240 Speaker 1: Local more