Former first lady Michelle Obama urged black Americans to prioritize voting in the upcoming elections to safeguard their freedom, emphasizing the significance of their voices in shaping the nation’s future.
Obama’s message, shared through her voter engagement organization “When We All Vote,” highlighted the critical nature of this electoral moment and encouraged voter registration and civic engagement.
“Juneteenth is all about celebrating our collective freedom and fighting to protect it,” Obama said.
On Juneteenth, we celebrate our freedom, our resilience, and our progress. Today we're honoring all the Black folks who came before us – who helped build our country with their bare hands – who marched and fought to do everything they could to build a better future for us all.… pic.twitter.com/NmdjgcUK3t
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) June 19, 2024
“Our power, our rights, and even our planet are on the ballot this year,” she said. “So, now is the time to think about how you’re going to make your voice heard in this election.”
“Get yourself registered to vote, and then text three friends to do the same,” Obama said. “Do not sit on the sidelines this year, because this is a critical moment for all of us.”
“Who we select, who speaks for us, who holds that bully pulpit — it affects us in ways that sometimes I think people take for granted,” she said.
“As former first lady Michelle Obama has expressed several times over the years, she will not be running for president,” Obama’s director of communications Crystal Carson said previously.
“Mrs. Obama supports President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ re-election campaign,” she added.
Amid concerns over potential shifts in black and Hispanic support towards former President Donald Trump, there have been speculations about Obama’s political future despite her office confirming she will not run for president.
“The Democrat kingmakers [will] jettison Joe Biden and parachute in Michelle Obama” Sen. Ted Cruz previously.
Trump’s improved polling among minority groups compared to the previous election has raised Democratic concerns regarding minority voter support and Trump’s strength among Independents.
“Trump benefits from both stronger partisan intensity and a double-digit advantage among independent voters,” the Rasmussen report read. “In a head-to-head matchup with Biden, Trump gets 83% of Republican votes, compared to Biden’s 74% among Democrats.
“Among voters not affiliated with either major party, Trump leads with 46% to Biden’s 35%. These gaps are not significantly affected by the inclusion of RFK Jr., [Jill] Stein or [Cornell] West on the ballot,” the report added.
