Independent Presidential Candidate Dr. Cornel West Announces Dr. Melina Abdullah as 2024 Vice Presidential Running Mate on The Tavis Smiley Show
Los Angeles, CA, April 10, 2024 — Dr. Cornel West, an Independent Presidential Candidate, introduced Dr. Melina Abdullah as his choice for Vice President in the 2024 presidential election. The announcement of his running mate was made on The Tavis Smiley Show. It marked a significant milestone in the campaign's commitment to fighting for a society and world based on justice and equality and empowering poor and working-class people of all colors.
"At this historic and pivotal moment, it is my profound honor to stand alongside my dear sister, Dr. Melina Abdullah, a fierce and tireless advocate for truth, justice, and transformative change,” Dr. West proudly announced. “Sister Melina’s incredible courage, keen intellect, and deep vision have greatly served the cause of liberation in education, worker rights, and racial and gender justice. Her unique Black analysis and witness help us confront our crumbling era of empire, white supremacy, and patriarchy. I look forward to working with her as we strengthen our commitment to our campaign for truth, justice, and love!"
About Dr. Melina Abdullah
Melina Abdullah is Professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA’s College of Ethnic Studies, Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter - Los Ángeles and Black Lives Matter Grassroots, where she is also Director. She is a leader in the California Faculty Association (the faculty union), both locally and statewide, and mama of three.
Dr. Abdullah earned her Ph.D. from University of Southern California in Political Science and her B.A. from Howard University in African American Studies. Abdullah has authored numerous articles and book chapters. Known by the moniker, Doc Melly Mel, she is creator, host, and producer of the radio programs Move the Crowd on KPFK 90.7 FM and This Is Not a Drill! on KBLA Talk 1580, and is a recognized expert on race, gender, class, and social movements.
She is the first Muslim to run for the vice-presidency.
Key Policy Pillars
Dr. Abdullah’s academic and activist work profoundly aligns particularly with the Cornel West campaign’s Gender, Transformative, Racial, Worker, and Education Justice Pillars:
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Transformative Justice: Her leadership in the Black Lives Matter movement and initiatives such as the #PeoplesBudget and #BlackXmas showcase her commitment to policy changes that seek to reshape society to uplift those at the margins fundamentally.
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Gender Justice: Abdullah has been a vanguard in advocating for the rights and recognition of women, particularly Black women, within both the academic and broader social ecosystems.
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Racial Justice: As a founder of the Black Lives Matter chapter in Los Angeles and an outspoken advocate for police reform and community empowerment, Abdullah's work has been pivotal in addressing systemic racial inequities.
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Worker Justice: With years of experience as a union leader, Abdullah has fought tirelessly for workers' rights, advocating for fair conditions, equitable pay, and a voice for faculty and staff in the university system.
- Education Justice: Her efforts were instrumental in making Ethnic Studies a requirement in the Los Angeles Unified School District and the California State University system, ensuring future generations understand all peoples' diverse histories and contributions.
The West Abdullah 2024 campaign invites all to join the growing groundswell of radical, people-powered change galvanizing a nation growing weary of equally destructive false “choices.” With this announcement, the campaign is pursuing an aggressive 50-state strategy to gain independent ballot access for every voter in the upcoming presidential election, encouraging citizens to value their vote and dismantle the corporate-backed duopoly.
View Official Release
About Dr. Melina Abdullah
About Cornel West For President 2024
View Full Campaign Platform: Policy Pillars
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Hashtags to follow: #WestAbdullah, #WestAbdullah2024, #CornelWest2024, #TruthJusticeLove
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