By Pastor Alan Johnson
Senior Pastor
Emanuel Lutheran Church
Nov. 5 is fast approaching, and I am compelled to share with the community why I believe that we must do everything in our power to elect Kamala Harris as our next president and Tim Walz as our next vice president. As a longtime community leader, having spent my life in service to my neighbors, I believe in not only the fundamental goodness of people, but in the fundamental power of unity.
There is one candidate running for president who is a unifier committed to bringing folks together. And that candidate is unquestionably Kamala Harris. Vice President Harris is a champion for the people. Her career of service is underscored by her belief in community. When I see and hear Vice President Harris, I see her as a light. I see her representing positivity, joy and a real belief that together we can achieve what no one can achieve alone. That is the message that I believe we need in communities across the nation.
Vice President Harris has delivered tangible results for all of us – not just the wealthy few – and her policies and platform are what we need in Philadelphia and across the nation. Under the Biden-Harris administration, Harris’ leadership was instrumental in passing enormous fiscal relief that saved our economy from total collapse. And now that we are emerging from COVID pandemic, Harris will continue to lead the fight for an economy that works for all of us.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has lived a life of hate, of division, of degradation. Racism. Misogyny. Xenophobia. Narcissism. That is who Donald Trump is, and he will never change. He has promised (and we should believe him) to be a “dictator on day one,” and we cannot allow it.
It is hard to overstate the depths of Trump’s depravity. I think his hubris can be summarized by when he told us in 2016 that, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” What a disgraceful man, and under no circumstances can we allow him a second term to unleash chaos and hate on our nation.
I believe that South Philadelphians see and feel what is at stake this election, and I am confident that together, we will elect President Kamala Harris. And together, we will continue to move our nation forward to ensure that every person, no matter who they are, has the opportunity to thrive.
And lastly, every voter should make sure to check their registration status (even if you think you are registered) today, and then, talk to their friends and family about doing the same. If you are planning to vote by mail, which is safe and secure, you need to request your ballot now. There’s a great resource at Vote.PA to answer all your questions. ••
Pastor Johnson lives in South Philadelphia and has been Senior Pastor at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 937 S. 3rd St., for 14 years. His views are his own and not representative of the church.
