In Gainesville on Monday, Team Harris-Walz and the Florida Democratic Party hosted a Black Men for Harris roundtable event with State Senator Shevrin Jones and community leaders to encourage Floridians to vote early for Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor Tim Walz, and Democrats up and down the ballot.
During the roundtable, speakers highlighted Vice President Harris’ New Way Forward for Black men and their families that will lower costs, make homeownership more attainable, and give everyone an opportunity to not just get by, but get ahead. The Vice President recently released her Opportunity Agenda for Black Men focused on equipping them with the tools to achieve financial freedom, lower costs to better provide for themselves and their families, and protect their rights. Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda will raise costs for Black middle-class families by nearly $4,000 per year and take this country backward.
Florida State Senator Shevrin “Shev” Jones, who continues to serve Florida’s 34th Senate District in South Florida, has experience championing issues for Black Americans. Jones said, “Black men want the same things that everybody else want.” Jones added healthcare, a better education system and thriving economic development to support small businesses will increase success rates for Black men. “I tell people all the time, when Black women and Black people win everybody else wins,” Jones said.
Adrian Weeks, Pastor at St. Matthew Baptist Church supports the Vice President’s New Way Forward agenda for Black men. Weeks said, “I think the Vice President has an awesome plan that incorporates African American males — building over a million homes in the United States — in her first years being elected.”
Quinten Simmons-Johnson, Florida Deputy Operations Director of the Florida Coordinated Campaign moderated the event. Other community leaders included Ray Mcknight, President and Chairman of 100 Black Men of Greater Florida, Malcolm Askew, Realtor and Co-Founder of Support BLKGNV and Cayden Parker, Community Youth Leader.
