The Democratic National Committee is going on tour this homecoming season. As a way to get young Black voters involved in the democratic process, the DNC will be visiting several HBCUs this month.
In an exclusive with theGrio, the DNC announced that it would be visiting Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, Cheney University, and Lincoln University. These activations are intended to provide information to students, parents, and alumni who are visiting these universities for homecoming.
“Homecoming is about culture, community, and credibility, so our presence at these events is absolutely critical. But it’s not just political; it’s personal for all those students, the family that comes out,” DNC Chairman Ken Martin told theGrio about the upcoming HBCU campus activations.
Despite the large Black voter turnout during last year’s presidential election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, the overall Black voter turnout declined significantly, according to data. Data also shows that a significant number of young Black male voters moved to the Republican Party.
The DNC is set to carry out a variety of initiatives during this year’s HBCU homecoming season. These efforts include distributing “Commit to Vote (CTV)” cards, providing “Get Out the Vote (GOTV)” volunteer registration forms, setting up DNC-branded charging stations, offering “We Stand With HBCUs” merchandise, and hosting photo booths. In addition, DNC representatives and surrogates will engage in outreach along homecoming parade routes, at tailgates, and during block parties.
The recent string of threats to HBCUs prompted the DNC to make them the focus of these activations. Several HBCUs within the last month received bomb threats from anonymous sources. These threats came after conservative figure Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a rally at Utah Valley University.
“It underscores the need for us as a party right now, and I think, frankly, as a community to be showing up in person, not just to have those conversations, but to be there in solidarity because those threats were ridiculous,” Chairman Martin told theGrio.
