Perez, Harrison, O’Malley, Weingarten to Kickoff Resistance Summer with Parnell in South Carolina
June 2, 2017
WHAT: Archie Parnell For Congress Canvas Kickoff
WHO: DNC Chair Tom Perez
DNC Associate Chair Jaime Harrison
Governor Martin O’Malley
AFT President Randi Weingarten
SC-05 Democratic Nominee Archie Parnell
WHEN: 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM ET
WHERE: Kenneth Monroe Transformation Center (Parking Lot)
745 Saluda Street, Rock Hill Area, South Carolina 29730
Ahead of the trip, Perez, Harrison, Parnell, and Weingarten released the following statements:
Joint statement from Tom Perez and Jaime Harrison:
“As organizers kick off Resistance Summer in all fifty states, we’ll be joining Archie Parnell in his fight to represent the people of South Carolina’s 5th District in Congress. Archie is the voice South Carolinians need in Congress and his strong grassroots campaign is representative of our movement to rebuild the party from the ground up. So, we’ll hit the pavement and knock on doors in Rock Hill—exactly what we Democrats need to do nation-wide in order to transform this surge of grassroots energy into votes. Congress needs a loud wake-up call, and we believe that electing Archie would put President Trump, Speaker Ryan, and their ilk on notice.”
Statement from SC-05 Democratic Nominee Archie Parnell
“I’m excited to welcome DNC Chair Tom Perez to South Carolina this weekend, and we look forward to giving him a first-hand look into how my team has been reaching out and listening to 5th District constituents. Every one of these South Carolinians deserve a say in their government, and right now, Washington is failing miserably to serve the middle-class families in our district. The cronies we see in charge do not reflect the simple American values that I was raised to believe in: love your country, love your neighbor, stand up to bullies and finish the job.
“I still believe in that America, and I know the people of South Carolina do too. It’s time to come together so that we can return to those values to Washington.”
Statement from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten
“Working families need Archie Parnell’s voice in the U.S. Congress. He is a champion of access to quality healthcare, good jobs and great public schools for all children. He is a fighter for children, for fairness and against the cruel Trump-DeVos efforts to defund public education and to siphon off billions to private school vouchers, which discriminate and have not helped children succeed.”
Background on Resistance Summer:
The Resistance Summer program is a nationwide Democratic Party initiative designed to bolster state parties by investing in local organizing projects over the summer. Since Donald Trump’s inauguration, there has been an explosion of grassroots activity opposing this administration’s abuse of power and the Trump-Ryan agenda, which prioritizes tax cuts for the rich over the needs of middle-class and working families.
The American people are demanding a Democratic agenda focused on expanding opportunity, better wages, affordable health care and a secure retirement. Resistance Summer is not just about holding Trump accountable – it’s about electing Democrats who will prioritize the needs of middle class and working families.
The program is a competitive matching grant program, where the DNC will help fund the important work done by state parties to achieve their organizing goals. Recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach is ineffective, each program will be unique to each state’s strategic priorities and organizational capacity.
Through Resistance Summer, the Democratic Party hopes to educate, organize, and mobilize grassroots energy from Democrats in all 57 states, territories and Democrats Abroad to help build our party’s base of political power, resist Trump’s attacks on hardworking families, and elect Democrats up-and-down the ticket.