ClemHarris.com

08/31/2024

A Call To Action Has Been Ignited!

Today, I had the great honor of introducing Congressman James Clyburn, a civil rights icon from South Carolina, indefatigable champion of social justice, and profound believer in the nation’s ability to course correct towards a “more perfect union.”

Congressman Clyburn came to town to help ignite a sustained effort to elect Democratic nominee, State Senator John Mannion as the next representative for New York’s 22nd Congressional District.

To set the context, I reminded the audience that as we watch history unfold last week with Vice President Kamala Harris the first Black woman, the first South-Asian woman, and second woman in history to receive the nomination of president from a major party, 60 years earlier Fannie Lou Hamer made the following statement at the DNC in Atlantic City:

“Is this America, the land of the free and home of the brave, where we have to sleep with our telephones off the hook because our lives be threatened daily, because we want to live as decent human beings, in America?”

When taking into consideration the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to give broad immunity from criminal prosecution to Donald Trump as he sought to steal the election, when, given the impending darkness that shall befall our march for a more equitable and inclusive multiracial and multicultural society if Project 2025 becomes a reality, I concluded, Fannie Lou Hamer’s question is as relevant today as it was 60 years ago.

Onward!

08/21/2024

Dear All, especially family and friends in Philadelphia, tomorrow I return to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, to discuss my work in “If There Is No Struggle; There Is No Progress: Black Politics In Twentieth Century Philadelphia,” and what the lessons of history can tell us about upcoming election.

The program, hosted by the American Philosophical Society, will be held in Benjamin Franklin Hall, 427 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

Doors will open at 5:00 pm, then a public reception with wine and cheese at 5:30. The program begins at 6 and will run for an hour.

For those who wish to view remotely you can do so at: https://www.amphilsoc.org/events/struggle-and-progress-black-politics-20th-century-philadelphia

This event is free and open to the public.

Onward!

08/16/2024

Dear All, on Thursday, Aug. 22nd, I, along with co-authors and editor Jim Wolfinger, will discuss our book and the upcoming election.

The program, hosted by the American Philosophical Society, will be held in Benjamin Franklin Hall, 427 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

The doors will open at 5:00 pm, then a public reception with cheese and wine at 5:30.

The program begins at 6 and will run for an hour.

For those who wish to view remotely you can do so at: https://www.amphilsoc.org/events/struggle-and-progress-black-politics-20th-century-philadelphia

This event is free and open to the public.

Books will be available for sale afterwards.

Onward!

As we look towards a tightly contested presidential election this fall, Philadelphia residents will see frequent visits from candidates eager to win over voters in a critical swing state’s largest city. Those candidates will doubtless make their case to Black political organizations whose influenc...

04/25/2024

My Campaign for New York’s 22nd Congressional District Has Come to an End

Upon review of the objections to my petitions by a member of the Hood campaign, it was determined by the State BOE that my campaign’s volunteer efforts in obtaining the required number of registered Democratic Party signatures to get on the primary ballot fell short by a small number.

While I am disappointed that the Hood campaign engaged in a egregious effort, which intentionally sought to keep me off the primary ballot and deny Democratic voters an opportunity to decide upon my candidacy for Congress, I nonetheless want to thank my volunteers and supporters who shared my desire to broaden the base of the Democratic Party and to address critical issues affecting New York’s 22nd Congressional District as well as the nation such as:

A. Growing threats to the nation’s democracy from the mainstreaming of political extremism and authoritarianism

B. The nation’s unique epidemic of gun violence and mass murder associated with gun violence, and the growing threat posed by ongoing production and distribution of weapons of mass destruction such as AR15s

C. Combating Poverty and Environmental racism

D. Building coalitions among historically marginalized communities across race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and geographic boundaries by tackling systemic attacks against reproductive healthcare rights, Affirmative Action, voting rights, LGBTQIA rights, working families and labor union rights.

E. Protecting Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, education, Pre-K to Higher Education, veterans programs, and the environment

F. Fighting for comprehensive immigration reform economic development, tax reform as well as strong federal support for law enforcement and social justice initiatives.

My friends, I have consistently maintained that the 2024 electoral cycle will be a historic battle for the soul of the nation. It will help determine who shall have unadulterated access to US citizenship and who we will be on the global stage.

Furthermore, as a scholar of American democracy at the intersection of race, class, gender, and ethnicity I am deeply convinced that we are in one of the most important civil rights moments in the 21st century.

That being said, I had hoped that all Democratic Congressional candidates and their respective campaigns would abide by the unwritten rule that as Democrats we would not target and/or attack one another. That no matter how different our respective approaches, we were to be united on two goals: the removal of NY 22’s GOP incumbent and MAGA ideologue, Brandon Williams; and shifting the balance of power to Democrats in the House of Representatives.

Apparently, that unwritten rule was inconvenient for the Hood campaign. They targeted my petitions and by extension targeted the signatures of supporters, many of whom are from historically marginalized communities across NY’s 22nd Congressional District.

Because this campaign was first and foremost about responding to the political crisis in which we find ourselves, instead of blatant pursuit of a personal aspiration for high elective office, I will continue to work on these issues with the same passion I brought to my campaign. This includes working to ensure that the Democratic nominee prevails in November.

In the end, all campaigns for elective office must be to advance diverse interests of the people, especially the most disadvantaged. If not, campaigns for elective office are merely about the corruptive pursuit of power. And power without love for our collective humanity and for justice, as Dr. King once warned, is “reckless and abusive.”

Finally, I want to thank the many volunteers and supporters of my campaign for your incredible contributions. Our platform is part of an important discussion because of your support.

Dr. Clem Harris

04/15/2024

As a retired criminal investigator and road trooper with the New York State Police, I was profoundly saddened to learn of the tragic deaths suffered by members of the Syracuse Police Department and Onondaga Sheriff’s Department last evening in Salina. My thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones of both officers and members of their respective agencies.

03/24/2024

The images below are from recent visits with Pastor Max Jones and members at the Aposolic Church of Jesus Christ, located on Cortland Ave. and Morgan’s Barbershop on Midland Ave. in Southwest Syracuse.

At both locations I engaged voters and shared my thoughts on number of critical national issues, including those facing New York’s 22nd Congressional District.

I also discussed issues that will constitute top priorities once I arrive in the U.S. House of Representatives.

They included but were not limited to:

A. Growing threats to the nation’s democracy from the mainstreaming of political extremism and authoritarianism.

B. Tackling the nation’s unique epidemic of gun violence and mass murder associated with gun violence.

C. Combating Poverty and Environmental racism

D. Tackling systemic attacks against reproductive healthcare rights, Affirmative Action, voting rights, LGBTQIA rights, working families and labor union rights.

E. Protecting Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, education, Pre-K to Higher Education, veterans programs, immigration, environment, economic development, tax reform as well as strong federal support for law enforcement and social justice initiatives.

My friends, the 2024 electoral cycle will be a historic battle for the soul of the nation. It will help determine who shall have unadulterated access to US citizenship and who we will be on the global stage.

There has never been a more pressing period to elect leaders, as Dr. King once said, who are not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity.

This is our civil rights moment, and we must put the needs of humanity above all else. I need your support.

Please make a small contribution and/or volunteer at:

https://clemmieharrisforcongress.com/

03/14/2024

Dear All, especially my friends in the Utica, Metropolitan Area and Mohawk Valley Region, please join me along with Rev. Dr. Mary Webster and Friends of Dr. Clemmie Harris for Congress for catered event wherein I will share my vision for how we will move New York’s 22nd Congressional forward and by extension help retake the U.S. House of Representatives.

I will share my thoughts on number of critical national issues as well as those facing the district including but not limited to:

A. Growing threats to the nation’s democracy from the mainstreaming of political extremism and authoritarianism.

B. The nation’s unique epedemic of gun violence and mass murder associated with gun.

C. Poverty and Environmental racism

D. Systemic attacks against reproductive healthcare rights, Affirmative Action, voting rights, LGBTQIA rights, working families and labor union rights

E. Protecting Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, education, Pre-K to Higher Education, veterans programs, immigration, environment, economic development, tax reform as well as strong federal support for law enforcement and social justice initiatives.

The event will take place Monday, March 18th from 6:00 to 7:30 at the Veterans Outreach Center, the Cafe, located on 726 Washington Street, in Utica.

My friends, the 2024 electoral cycle will be a historic battle for the soul of the nation. It will help determine who shall have unadulterated access to US citizenship and who we will be on the global stage.

This is our civil rights moment! We must put the needs of humanity above all else.

Please share this with your family and friends. I look forward to seeing you there.

https://clemmieharrisforcongress.com/

03/08/2024

My Friends, the 2024 electoral cycle will not only be a historic contest for power, it will also be an intense battle for the soul of the nation, who shall have unadulterated access to US. citizenship and who we will be on the global stage.

NY 22’s GOP incumbent Congressional Representative, Brandon Williams, is not merely a MAGA extremist, he is someone who is on:

The Wrong Side of History
The Wrong Side of Decency
The Wrong Side of Empathy
The Wrong Side of Equity

As a Centrist Democratic candidate for NY’s 22nd Congressional District, I have made ending threats to our democracy posed by extremism on the right and left by embracing the political center and bipartisanship.

I am someone who seeks to end the unique national epidemic of gun violence and mass murder by gun violence by banning AR15s and reframing the gun debate as a public safety, public health, mental health, economic development, and education issue instead of merely a Second Amendment issue.

Someone who will advance tax reform that will help the middle class, small businesses, working families, and the poor by calling for billionaires and multinational corporations to “Pay Their Fare Share!”

Someone who will advance legislation that will: provide middleclass tax cuts; tax cuts for workers; Child Care Tax Credit, tax cuts for small businesses.

Someone who will advance legislation to secure Constitutional protections for Women’s Reproductive Healthcare.

Someone who will advance legislation that will restore race and ethnic Constitutional protections for Affirmative Action; strengthen protections for voting rights and LGBTQIA rights.

Someone who will strengthen support for Medicare, Medicaid, CHIPs, Social Security, and Education from Pre-K through College, including student loan forgiveness.

Someone who advocates for strong federal support for veterans, law enforcement, and social justice initiatives.

Someone who will fight for the environment and economic development by helping to bring carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 and by advancing technologies and the creation of infrastructure around clean and renewable energy.

Someone who supports Israel’s right to defend against Hamas, and someone who calls for ending the humanitarian crisis, supports diplomatic efforts to bring hostages home, secure peace, a two-state solution, and reconstruction of Gaza.

Someone who supports strong support for Ukraine against Russian aggression Russia’s threat to NATO.

Someone who will help reform immigration by supporting legislation that strengthens border protection, decreases bureaucratic waiting periods regarding processing migrant applications, especially when it comes to securing work permits, by adding more border patrols, judges, and civil servants.

The 2024 electoral cycle is about power and the soul of the nation.

That being said, we must remember MLK’s reminder about the pursuit of power.

“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”

This is our civil rights moment! We must put the needs of humanity above all else. I need your support.

Please make a small contribution and/or volunteer at:

https://clemmieharrisforcongress.com/

03/04/2024

Our Grassroots Campaign Is Growing!

Today, we returned to Tucker Missionary Baptist Church and Bellegrove Missionary Baptist Church, both of which are located in South Syracuse along Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, to continue the rollout of our petition drive.

I am deeply grateful to Reverend DeCarto Draper, and our friends within the membership of Tucker Baptist Church, for their warm reception and enthusiastic support of our campaign and petition drive.

I am equally grateful to Bishop Ray King, Rev. Yolanda King, Frank Fowler, former Chief of Police for the City of Syracuse, and all our friends at Bellegrove for their support, especially those who signed and volunteered to carry petitions.

I am also profoundly grateful to Bishop King for allowing me an opportunity to address his congregation.

Consistent in every forum, I emphasized to Bellegrove that my victory will not only help Democrats retake the House of Representatives, with a Democratic majority I will be a formidable and unflappable leader when it comes to:

A. reframing the gun violence debate from a discussion around the Second Amendment to a discussion that sees gun violence and mass murder associated with gun violence as a public safety, public health, mental health, economic development, and education issue.

B. advancing legislation that addresses structural causes of poverty by strengthening the social safety net and provide equally strong federal support for small businesses, especially economic equity initiatives for disadvantaged business enterprises, the federal version of Minority and Women Business Enterprises at the state level;

C. advancing legislation that will restore racial and ethnic considerations within Affirmative Action; deliver strong federal support for affordable housing, with emphasis on lead abatement; create pathways to home-ownership; strengthen federal support for healthcare, especially reproductive health care; strengthen federal support for education, Pre-K-12 and higher education, strengthen federal support for labor unions, climate control, voting rights, women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, veterans, law enforcement, and social justice. And help repair our broken immigration system.

I reminded everyone that the 2024 electoral cycle will not only be an intense battle for the soul of the nation, it will help determine who shall have unadulterated access to US citizenship and who we will be on the global stage.

My friends, this is our civil rights moment! We must put the needs of humanity above all else.

I need your support. Please make a small contribution and/or volunteer at:

https://clemmieharrisforcongress.com/

03/04/2024

Yesterday morning, I traveled to Homer, a small town in Cortland County, now a part of New York 22, to meet with members of the Cortland County Democratic Committee.

I emphasized that my unique career in public service, including as an Army Combat Drill Sergeant, Trooper and BCI investigator with the New York State Police, Senior Advisor to former New York Governor David A. Paterson, and now Professor of History, Africana Studies, and scholar of American democracy at Utica University, not only provides me with an understanding on what steps this country must take to help all working families achieve their goals; my experience makes me the best candidate to expand the base, reconstitute the Democratic coalition, and, most importantly, help heal political extremism by defeating MAGA extremist and NY 22 GOP incumbent, Brandon Williams.

I emphasized that as centrist Democrat, someone deeply interested in bringing political forces from the right and the left into the middle, constitutes the best form of leadership to move our district, and by extension, the country forward.

I emphasized that my victory will not only help Democrats retake the House of Representatives, with a Democratic majority I will be a formidable and unflappable leader when it comes to:

A. reframing the gun violence debate from a discussion around the Second Amendment to a discussion that sees gun violence and mass murder associated with gun violence as a public safety, public health, mental health, economic development, and education issue.

B. advancing legislation that addresses structural causes of poverty by strengthening the social safety net and provide equally strong federal support for small businesses, especially economic equity initiatives for disadvantaged business enterprises, the federal version of Minority and Women Business Enterprises at the state level;

C. advancing legislation that will restore racial and ethnic considerations within Affirmative Action; deliver strong federal support for affordable housing, with emphasis on lead abatement; create pathways to home-ownership; strengthen federal support for healthcare, especially reproductive health care; strengthen federal support for education, Pre-K-12 and higher education, strengthen federal support for labor unions, climate control, voting rights, women’s rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, veterans, law enforcement, and social justice. And help repair our broken immigration system.

I reminded everyone that the 2024 electoral cycle will not only be an intense battle for the soul of the nation, it will help determine who shall have unadulterated access to US citizenship and who we will be on the global stage.

My friends, this is our civil rights moment! We must put the needs of humanity above all else.

I need your support. Please make a small contribution and/or volunteer at:
https://clemmieharrisforcongress.com/

03/02/2024

Like all electoral cycles, 2024 will be principally centered on access to power.

It will also be an intense battle for the soul of the nation, who shall have unadulterated access to US. citizenship and who we will be on the global stage.

That being said, we must remember MLK’s reminder about the pursuit of power.

“Power without love is reckless and abusive, and love without power is sentimental and anemic. Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice, and justice at its best is power correcting everything that stands against love.”

Have a blessed day everyone!

Onward!