Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign is focusing on “good vibes” and her identity as a woman of color, aiming to attract younger voters and social media influencers. Despite receiving support from Silicon Valley, Harris is facing criticism for her past as a district attorney and attorney general, including controversial decisions on prosecutions, police brutality, and complicity in the genocide in Gaza.
Her campaign’s reliance on identity politics and superficial messaging has drawn comparisons to Trump’s use of disinformation and manipulative tactics in the 2016 election. Critics argue that Harris fails to offer genuine progressive policies and is more focused on maintaining the status quo that benefits her privilege.
Throughout her career, Harris’s actions, such as increasing prosecutions, supporting truancy laws that led to the arrest of parents, and defending the death penalty, have raised concerns about her commitment to justice and marginalized communities. Critics also point out her record on police brutality and unwavering support for Israel amid ongoing violence in Palestine.
As the election approaches, it is crucial to scrutinize candidates like Harris beyond surface-level attributes and address the systemic issues that perpetuate injustice in the US. Real change requires a focus on progressive values like decolonization, police abolition, and indigenous sovereignty, which are often absent from mainstream political discourse.
Farrah Koutteineh, a political activist and founder of KEY48, emphasizes the importance of intersectional activism and challenging the current oppressive systems to create a more just society. By questioning the status quo and advocating for meaningful change, individuals can work towards dismantling the structures that perpetuate inequality and injustice.