Don’t Let Democracy Die:

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” – Martin Luther King, Jr

Don’t Let Democracy Die: #WokeTheVote today!

Senator Hughes and Sheryl Lee Ralph hosted a virtual #PartyWithAPurpose! 

Here are some of the special guests set to join the discussion tomorrow:

April D. Ryan, American Urban Radio Network host and CNN correspondent
Quincy Harris, of host of Fox 29’s The Q
Ukee Washington, CBS3 news anchor
Susan Taylor, Founder & CEO National CARES Mentoring Movement
State Rep. Donna Bullock
State Rep. Morgan Cephas
State Rep. Roni Green
Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr.
Councilmember Cindy Bass
Philadelphia City Commissioner Omar Sabir
Danielle Jeter, Gov. Wolf’s Commission on African American Affairs

Don’t Let Democracy Die: Black doctors share their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic

Senator Hughes has been adamant that we cannot let democracy die during the COVID-19 pandemic, and he continues to push that message through his “Don’t Let Democracy Die” series each Saturday morning.

The virtual conversation series returned May 9 to discuss how black doctors are responding to the crisis with information, testing and a push for policy solutions. There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting the black community, and the senator and a panel of area doctors discussed black doctors’ response to the pandemic.

Saturday’s panel included:

Dr. Calvin Johnson, Former Pennsylvania health secretary
Dr. George Dalembert, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Dr. Priscilla Mpasi, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Dr. Krys Foster, Jefferson Family Medicine
Dr. Delana Wardlaw, Temple Physicians Inc.
Dr. Elana McDonald, Memphis Pediatrics/Pizzica Pediatrics
Dr. Whitney Cabey, Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine

Don’t Let Democracy Die: Coronavirus and its Impact on Frontline Workers

The health and safety of our frontline workers is at stake every time they go to work during this coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Many of those workers are black and brown folks forced to go to work without personal protection equipment. Additionally, many of our frontline workers are making much less than a living wage and without any hazard pay for the work they are doing. 

Guests representing front-line workers:

Wendell Young, UFCW 1776 president
Chuck Donnelly, UFCW 1776 shop steward
Vince Shin, TWU LOCAL 234 executive board member
Salima Pace, 1199C secretary/treasurer
Judy Martin, 1199C member
Denise Major, United Homecare Workers of PA member
Kaleigh McDonald, Morristown Medical Center nurse

Don’t Let Democracy Die: Coronavirus and its Impact on the Black Community

The coronavirus has been the impetus for Senator Hughes creating the Don’t Let Democracy Die series, which is why this week he is addressed the community most affected by the coronavirus: the black community. People are being turned away from testing, have valid fears for wearing masks and appear to be disproportionately affected by this virus. Watch below the senator for a critical conversation on what we can do to support and uplift the black community during this pandemic.

Panelists included:

Sheryl Lee Ralph, actor & activist
Marc Morial, National Urban League president
Barbara Arnwine, Founder and President of the Transformative Justice Coalition
Dr. Priscilla Mpasi, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia pediatrician and co-chairwoman of the Women’s Physician’s Council of the National Medical Association
Harold T. Epps, of Bellevue Strategies and former commerce director for the City of Philadelphia
Chris Woods, president of 1199C
Donna Frisby-Greenwood, president and CEO of the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia

Don’t Let Democracy Die: Young People on Power, Priorities and Policy

Young people have so much power and now is the time to wield it. Senator Hughes held another edition of Don’t Let Democracy Die: Young People on Policy, Power & Priorities on Saturday, April 18th at 10:30 a.m.

The senator was joined by Nicholas O’Rourke, Pastor of Living Water United Church of Christ; Precious Samuel, founder of Samuel Consulting Group; Tamir Harper, activist and American University Student; and Aniyah Ayres, Founder of Aniyah’s Mission. Each panelist  shareed their perspectives on the topics of the day, as well as their vision for the direction youth should go to protect democracy.

Don’t Let Democracy Die: Black Women on Policy, Power & Priorities

Senator Hughes continued the Don’t let Democracy Die series on Saturday with a powerful conversation “Black Women on Power, Politics, & Priorities” featuring Sheryl Lee Ralph, actor and activist; Jamira Burley activist and social impact consultant; Jasmine Sessoms of She Can Win; Adjoa Botwe Asamoah of ABA Consulting; and Kadida Kenner of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center.

Senator Hughes Launches Don’t Let Democracy Die Virtual Community Conversations

In honor of the 52nd anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Senator Hughes held a virtual community conversation in honor of Dr. King’s legacy and our duty to use the vote as our voice. We must rush towards democracy, especially during these unprecedented times.

Pennsylvania’s Primary has been moved to June 2 because of the coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from voting. New voting laws in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania make it much easier to register online and request mail-in and absentee ballots via the internet.

Here are some helpful voting links:

The issues we vote on and officials we elect are the forces that shape our democracy. The best way to have our say is through the vote. Let us work in the spirit of Dr. King to wield the power of the ballot and bring about the justice our nation needs.