Black Lives Matter group demands that Democrats hold a ‘snap’ primary

Black Lives Matter says it wants the Democratic National Committee to hold a “snap” primary instead of anointing Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential nominee.

In a statement Tuesday, the racial justice group said voters should get a say in who leads the party’s ticket in November instead of leaving it to the whim of delegates.

“We do not live in a dictatorship. Delegates are not oligarchs. Installing Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee and an unknown vice president without any public voting process would make the modern Democratic Party a party of hypocrites,” the group said in a statement provided to multiple media outlets. “Black Lives Matter demands that the [DNC] immediately host an informal, virtual snap primary across the country prior to the DNC convention in August.”

President Biden, 81, dropped out of the race on Sunday, bowing to doubts within his party about his age and abilities after a disastrous debate performance in late June.

He endorsed Ms. Harris, who swiftly consolidated support from the party and says she has enough delegates to be named the nominee at the August convention in Chicago.

Former President Donald Trump and Republicans said the switcheroo forced them to waste money on attacking Mr. Biden and dismissed the input of primary voters over the last year.

BLM made similar points in its statement.

“The current political landscape is unprecedented, with President Biden stepping aside in a manner never seen before. This moment calls for decisive action to protect the integrity of our democracy and the voices of Black voters,” BLM said.

BLM, a vocal and polarizing activist group that supports Black rights, rose to prominence during the 2020 protests that erupted after the police-related death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. It is unclear if they have the same kind of sway today, or if Democratic bigwigs will acknowledge BLM’s complaint.

Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have endorsed Ms. Harris and her most prominent would-be rivals have said they won’t challenge her.

BLM said it doesn’t oppose Ms. Harris, who is of Black and Indian heritage, but would like the process to be open.

“This blatant disregard for democratic principles is unacceptable,” the group said. “While the potential outcome of a Harris presidency may be historic, the process to achieve it must align with true democratic values.”