National Urban League Congratulates President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris

By National Urban League
Published02 AM EST, Sat Nov 23, 2024
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NEW YORK (November 7, 2020) -- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris 

“The National Urban League is proud to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, the first woman elected to the office and the first Black person. It is our sincere hope and expectation that their election marks the beginning of the end of a tragic period of loss, economic despair, and racial strife.

“Black voters across the country overcame massive voter suppression and unprecedented adversity brought on by the COVID pandemic to make their voices heard in this election.  Black lives and Black livelihoods were at stake in this election. Black voters have determined this outcome. 

“Massive voter turnout in cities with large Black populations was key to a shift in four states that determined the outcome of the election.  Voters in Philadelphia and Atlanta appear to have turned out in even greater numbers than in 2008 when Barack Obama was swept into office, while voters in Milwaukee and Detroit turned out in higher numbers than any election since then.

“The American people have chosen steady leadership over recklessness and divisiveness.  We look forward to working with the Biden-Harris administration to further our agenda of economic empowerment and social justice for Black Americans and other marginalized communities.

“To paraphrase the words of President-elect Biden upon selecting Sen. Harris as his running mate, today little Black and Brown girls are seeing themselves as the stuff of presidents and vice presidents.  Her election also represents the passing of the torch of leadership to a new generation, born after the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

“We call on all Americans to join us in turning the page to a new chapter of history, setting aside our differences so we can defeat the pandemic and rebuild a more inclusive economy.”