An online petition has garnered significant attention, rallying over 13,000 signatures in support of Vice President Kamala Harris.
According to Newsweek, the Christian group Faithful America has mobilized against the use of disparaging religious, racist, and sexist rhetoric targeted at Vice President Kamala Harris.
The petition was created in response to derogatory terms such as "Jezebel" used by some conservative Christians. This term has historical connotations of immorality and has been repurposed in political discourse to demean women in positions of power.
This action emerges at a critical juncture as Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, prepares to face former President Donald Trump in the upcoming election.
The transition occurred after President Joe Biden concluded his campaign on July 21, citing concerns about his ability to compete effectively against Trump.
Faithful America, recognized for its progressive stance, opposes Christian nationalism. Through this petition, they aim to address the toxic blend of political and religious rhetoric being used against Harris.
The group cites harsh remarks from individuals such as Jackson Lahmeyer and televangelist Lance Wallnau. Both men have publicly utilized the biblical figure of Jezebel to criticize Harris's character and political ambitions.
Vice President Kamala Harris has faced an uphill battle within the tightly contested political sphere, with significant opposition and support. Despite these challenges, she has garnered strong backing from the Democratic party.
From the petition:
Now that Vice President Kamala Harris is the presumptive Democratic nominee who will take on Donald Trump, the far-right—including some pastors—has gone into overdrive, twisting Scripture to attack her with vile racist and sexist slurs like 'Jezebel.'
The text of the petition underscores the potential for these verbal attacks to incite real-world aggression, highlighting the need for a respectful political climate free from hate-fueled rhetoric.
Against the backdrop of these attacks, conservative commentator Tomi Lahren has voiced concerns over the Republican strategy:
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but making Kamala a martyr for her race and gender is going to really backfire on the Trump Campaign. It's such an unforced error. The strategy is only going to allow Kamala to escape her radical record and radical policies. I really don't understand why the GOP seems to enjoy pissing winnable elections down our legs.
The ongoing petition has accumulated significant attention and continues to draw signatories concerned about the intersection of politics, race, and gender in the political debate surrounding Harris.
Faithful America's petition serves as a rallying cry against the harmful confluence of racism, sexism, and the misuse of religious texts in political commentary. As the presidential campaign heats up, the significance of such movements in shaping public discourse and influencing political strategy becomes increasingly crucial.
