It’s Almost Time!
The Democratic National Convention kicks off tomorrow night in Chicago. The whirlwind of change our country has experienced still feels surreal. For the first time in history, only a few months before Election Day, a sitting President seeking re-election stepped down and his Vice President, a woman of color stepped up and in.
Wow. Vice President Kamala Harris is our Presidential nominee and it’s beautiful. I plan to be glued to my TV to watch all the convention speakers — starting off with President Biden on Monday night. I feel giddy. I’m eager to absorb all the positive energy and excitement that the convention will generate. I want to soak up all the good feelings from these two “joyful warriors,” Harris and Walz, into my mind and soul.
But, I also want to learn. Likely, by now, many of us have seen and heard Harris speak on TV at rallies or watched YouTube videos or viewed hilarious TikTok @HarrisHQ. However, at the convention, we may learn more about Harris’s policies and her “big picture” vision for our country. I’m interested in all her domestic policies, but I’m especially interested in her thoughts about criminal justice, because, like her, I’m a former prosecutor.
As a criminal justice reform advocate, I want to better understand her position on equity, accountability, and crime prevention. I decided to research a bit. On C-Span in 2006, when she was the San Francisco District Attorney, at a convening of African American leaders, she spoke about the relationship between the black community and police. She spoke with vigor and a deep sensitivity as she explained - what many may not fully understand - that communities of color want police to protect them (just like any other community). However, they are also tired of experiencing consistent and pervasive racial profiling and brutality.
She also outlined the need for investment in reentry programs (job training, housing support, and substance abuse treatment, for example) for individuals exiting state prisons, because these programs prevent crime. As we watch the convention, I hope we learn more about her vision.
From what I can tell, she’s outlining an impactful road forward for our country and all of its citizens.
See it on LinkedIn first.
