MIAMI—On Wednesday, June 26, She the People and New Florida Majority will host a pre-debate panel and debate watch party with the support of a wide range of community organizations based in South Florida. The event will be on night one of the first official Democratic debates, and will highlight what women of color want candidates to address — issues of racial, economic, gender, and social justice. In attendance will be families facing deportation, returning citizens, Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria, and more. Polling technology will register people’s reactions during the debate in real-time.
The event follows the historic She the People Presidential Forum in April, and underscores how women of color — who make up 1 in 4 voters in Florida — will continue shaping the primary and general election.
What: Pre-debate panel and debate watch party with women of color
When: Wednesday, June 26, 2019, from 6:30pm - 12:00am ET
6:30pm-7:30pm: arrival, DJ and happy hour
7:30- 8:30pm: Pre-debate panel facilitated by Aimee Allison of She the People
Speakers:
- Andrea Mercado, Executive Director, New Florida Majority
- Marliene Bastien, Executive Director, Family Action Network Movement (formerly Haitian Women of Miami)
- Quayneshia Smith, Dream Defenders
- Roxey Nelson, Political Director, 1199 SEIU Florida
9:00pm-11:00pm: Debate Watch Party
11:00pm-12:00am: Hot takes and reactions
Where: 1306, 1306 North Miami Avenue, Miami Fl 33136 (0.6 miles from Adrienne Arsht Center Debate)
Who: Hosted by She The People and New Florida; sponsored by FLIC Votes, FANM in Action, Dream Defenders Action, Organize Florida, Ruth's List Miami, 1199 SEIU Florida, SEIU Florida Public Services Union, Puerto Rican Leadership Council of South Florida, B Side Entertainment, United We Dream Action, CPD Action, All Above All, Latino Victory Action, Community Change Action, Indivisible Action, the Tax March and The Collective PAC.
Visuals: Diverse, multi-generational group of women of color working on racial justice, criminal justice reform, climate action, disability rights, missing and murdered indigenous women, reproductive justice, housing, transportation and immigrant rights.
“To win in 2020, candidates need to inspire and mobilize the core of the Democratic base -- women of color. In Florida, 1 in 4 voters are women of color,” said Aimee Allison, founder of She the People. “We are the margin of victory and we will be watching closely to see which candidates and policy platforms speak directly to our communities.”
“There is no question that Florida will be key to the 2020 presidential election. Republicans haven’t lost Florida and won the White House in decades,” said New Florida Majority Executive Director Andrea Mercado. “With record GOP spending and presence in the state, we are looking forward to seeing which Democratic hopefuls will move Florida’s diverse communities.”
