With just 22 days to go until the US presidential election, tensions around the campaign of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris continue to rise. As Harris unveils a new programme aimed at boosting the financial and career prospects of black men, police in California have detained an armed man on suspicion of plotting an assassination attempt on Trump, US media reported.
Harris unveils policy agenda targeted at black men
The release of the Harris campaign’s “Opportunity Agenda for Black Men” on Monday came just four days after former President Obama, in comments that went viral, rebuked black male voters for their lack of enthusiasm in supporting Harris. Obama’s comments came at a time when polls show former President Trump gaining ground among black men, who have traditionally been some of the Democratic Party’s most reliable supporters.
The Harris campaign, with just over three weeks until election day, hopes to draw attention to its programme to help black men achieve “the opportunity to get ahead and thrive” by equipping them with “the tools to achieve financial freedom, lower costs to better provide for themselves and their families, and protect their rights.”
Among the proposals are 1 million loans that can be fully forgiven to black entrepreneurs and others to start businesses, support for education, training and mentoring programmes that will help black men get well-paying jobs in in-demand industries and lead their communities, including opportunities to become teachers.
The campaign also developed a regulatory framework to protect black men’s investments in cryptocurrency and other digital assets, a black male-focused health equity initiative to address sickle cell disease, diabetes, mental health, prostate cancer and other issues that disproportionately affect their health, and the creation of opportunities for black Americans in the recreational marijuana industry.
Former Louisiana Representative Cedric Richmond, a national co-chair of the Harris campaign, said the new programme aims to ensure that “black men have everything they need to thrive: to be able to buy a home, provide for a family, start a business and build wealth.” Richmond said:
Donald Trump could care less about equipping hardworking Americans with the tools needed to get ahead. While Vice President Harris is promising to equip Black men with the tools needed to pursue our dreams and aspirations, Donald Trump is promising Black in America a national nightmare.
To help spread this message, the Harris campaign says it will team up with celebrities, influencers and black male activists in key battleground states this week for “Black Men Huddle Up”. The campaign emphasises that it will also enlist the support of influential entrepreneurs to hold what it calls an “Economic Freedom Talk” series with black business owners.
The new effort comes at a time when Democrats are increasingly concerned about wavering support for Harris, who will make history if elected as the nation’s first female president, among black men, particularly young black men.
Armed suspect arrested near Trump rally amid rising threats
An armed man was arrested near a Trump rally in the Coachella Valley on Saturday, marking the second possible assassination attempt in recent months. The suspect, 49-year-old Vem Miller of Las Vegas, was apprehended at a police checkpoint about a half-mile from the entrance to the rally.
Riverside County Sheriff, Chad Bianco, confirmed that Miller was found in possession of a loaded shotgun, a handgun and a high-capacity magazine. Bianco explained in a statement:
On October 12, 2024, at 4:59 p.m., deputies assigned to the event stopped the driver of a black SUV at a checkpoint near Avenue 52 and Celebration Drive.
Miller, who was also carrying a fake rally pass, was arrested without resistance and later booked into the John J. Benoit Detention for possession of a firearm and ammunition.
While officials said there was no immediate threat to Trump or the rally attendees, Sheriff Bianco noted:
We likely prevented another assassination attempt.
This incident comes after a previous attempt on Trump’s life during a rally when a bullet grazed his ear before security intervened.
Another disturbing incident occurred in September when gunshots rang out near Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, forcing the Secret Service to evacuate it. As the election approaches, security at Trump’s events has increased, reflecting growing concerns about his safety.
