[ "We need you to deliver the bold ideas that our generation
cannot live without—stop the climate crisis, fight for the rights
and dignity of immigrants, impose real gun control—and run on a bold
platform that will get our generation out to vote."]
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PROGRESSIVE YOUNG VOTERS TO BIDEN: ENERGIZE US AND WIN OR IGNORE US
AND LOSE  
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Kenny Stancil
April 25, 2023
Common Dreams
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_ "We need you to deliver the bold ideas that our generation cannot
live without—stop the climate crisis, fight for the rights and
dignity of immigrants, impose real gun control—and run on a bold
platform that will get our generation out to vote." _

, Photo by StickerGiant

 

In response to U.S. President Joe Biden's Tuesday announcement
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he is seeking reelection in 2024, four youth-led advocacy groups urged
the incumbent to push for progressive priorities during the remainder
of his first term and campaign on policies that motivate young voters
to cast ballots for him.

In a letter
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to Biden, March for Our Lives, Gen Z for Change, Sunrise Movement, and
United We Dream Action wrote: "If we're going to excite one of the
leading voting blocs for Democrats, we need you to deliver the bold
ideas that our generation cannot live without—stop the climate
crisis, fight for the rights and dignity of immigrants, impose real
gun control—and run on a bold platform that will get our generation
out to vote."

"As the organizers of millions of young people across the country, we
know that in order to secure wins against fascism in the 2024
presidential election, Millennials and Gen Z will have to turn out to
vote in full force," the groups argued, sounding the alarm about the
dire consequences likely to ensue if the increasingly authoritarian
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Party takes control of the White House.

"Young people are not just a necessary part of a winning Democratic
coalition, but the keystone precondition for Democratic victory...
When Democrats energize and mobilize our generations, they win
elections. When they don't, they lose."

"Following the results of 2018
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and most recently the Wisconsin Supreme Court election in 2023
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it is clear that young people are not just a necessary part of a
winning Democratic coalition, but the keystone precondition for
Democratic victory," says the letter. "The equation is simple. When
Democrats energize and mobilize our generations, they win elections.
When they don't, they lose."

"Going into 2024, our youth coalition is deeply committed to defeating
fascist, right-wing extremism and the eventual Republican presidential
nominee," the letter continues. "Young people are clear that the
runaway extremism of abortion bans, threats to trans students,
criminalization of immigrants, and the all-out assault on our climate
are existential threats to our generation and generations to come."

However, when the Biden administration makes "bad decisions"—such
as approving
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Willow oil drilling venture and other fossil fuel projects,
entertaining the revival
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migrant family detentions, or otherwise "settling for the status
quo"—it becomes "harder for us to get young people to the polls,"
the groups lamented. "That's why we need you to listen and co-govern
with us if we're going to be able to mobilize the young voters we need
to win."

The organizations implored Biden "to lead with our generation's values
and policies at the forefront of your campaign and your next year in
office," contending that his 2020 platform was essential to defeating
former President Donald Trump—who is seeking
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Republican nomination for 2024 despite facing various legal issues
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progressive policymaking, particularly last summer, inspired the young
voters who ultimately minimized
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Democratic Party's losses in the 2022 midterms.

In the spring of 2022, "young voters were largely disillusioned
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politics and were not excited to vote," states the letter. "That
changed once you passed a historic climate bill
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passed overdue gun safety legislation
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and sought to cancel student loan debt
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in the second-highest youth midterm turnout in the past 30 years. Now,
more than ever, we cannot abandon this two-part strategy—run on bold
ideas young people can rally behind and have significant legislative
victories to back them up."

"Going into the 2024 presidential election, it is clear that our
opponents are getting even more ruthless and extreme," the groups
warned. "Across the country we've seen abortion
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bans, [and] book
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in schools imposed by Republican extremists. We've seen Republican
electeds say they will do nothing
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gun violence, expel
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who disagree with them from office, and attempt
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ban educational opportunities and threaten the livelihood of
immigrants in our communities. They must be stopped."

"We urge you to not leave our generation behind as you build your new
campaign," says the letter. "Do not take our generation for granted."

"We are a generation that grew up through crisis—from watching
storms decimate our communities to practicing school shooter drills to
living through a global pandemic," the letter adds. "Throughout all of
these crises, young people have shown up to demand the
transformational change the country needs. We are fighters for a
better world. That will not change in 2024."

_Kenny Stancil is a staff writer for Common Dreams._

* Joe Biden
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* Presidential Campaign
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* Young people
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* progressive politics
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