FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, August 9, 2024
Cornel West for President
[email protected]

[Madison, WI] – The West/Abdullah presidential campaign proudly announces that it has significantly exceeded the required signature threshold for ballot access in Wisconsin, solidifying Dr. Cornel West's position in the upcoming presidential election. This achievement highlights the strong grassroots support for Dr. West's transformative vision in one of the nation's most closely watched battleground states.

"In a state where the latest trends show a tight race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, our successful signature drive in Wisconsin is a clear indicator of the people's desire for an alternative voice in this critical election," said Dr. Cornel West. "We are energized by the enthusiasm and dedication of our volunteers and supporters who believe in our mission to fight for truth, justice, and love.

Dr. Melina Abdullah, the vice presidential candidate on the West ticket, commented on the achievement: "Wisconsin's overwhelming response to our campaign is heartening and speaks volumes about the collective yearning for a vision and policies that uplift and empower the people. During a time when the promise of democracy seems limited, Dr. West and I seek to expand the choices offered, abandoning the ‘lesser of two evils’ approach advanced by the corporate duopoly.”

Colin Madison, a volunteer petitioner and Love Warrior in Wisconsin, shared his perspective: "I think Wisconsinites see our campaign as setting itself apart by not being a 'lesser of two evils' (that American citizens are so used to), but instead a true 'force for good' in our broken, corrupt, and big-money-aligned political system."

The West/Abdullah ticket promises to engage deeply with issues that resonate with Wisconsinites, including economic transformation, racial justice, and environmental sustainability, setting a sharp contrast to the policies championed by the major party candidates.

To date, the West/Abdullah campaign has secured ballot access in Wisconsin, Maine, Florida, Mississippi, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, Colorado, South Carolina, Utah, Oregon, Alaska and Vermont, pending finalization of certification in certain states.

About Dr. Cornel West

Dr. West, affectionately known to many as Brother West, is the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary.

Dr. West is the former University Professor at Harvard University, Professor Emeritus at Princeton University and the first Black person to receive a Ph.D. In Philosophy from Princeton University. He has written 20 books and he is best known for his classics, Race Matters and Democracy Matters, and for his memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. He will deliver the historic Gifford lectures at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in Spring 2024.

Dr. West enters the 2024 Presidential contest at a time in which he describes a national crisis of moral bankruptcy and spiritual obscenity driven by a derelict duopoly of both major parties that equally places profits over people and the planet. West asserts that running as an Independent candidate affords him the opportunity and duty to deliver policy prescriptions incorporated by and for the people, instead of political parties beholden to corporations and special interest groups who feel no solidarity with poor and working-class people of all races, gender identities, and age groups.

The Cornel West Campaign to empower poor and working people everywhere stands at a pivotal moment in history, committed to being a true campaign for people around the globe. Our aim is and will always be to unite in solidarity with movements of truth and justice, who seek a choice beyond empire, white supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy, and the confines of the corporate-dominated two-party system.

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. In April 2024, Abdullah was announced as vice-presidential pick for Dr. Cornel West in his run for president of the United States on a platform of “Truth, Justice, and Love.” She is the first Muslim to run for the vice-presidency.

Learn more about Cornel West at CornelWest2024.com. 

Learn more about Dr. West’s Policy Pillars at CornelWest2024.com/Platform.

For more details and press inquiries, please contact [email protected].