ATLANTA — Civil rights leaders urged President Joe Biden to pick Atlanta to host the Democratic National Convention, arguing that selecting the city for the party’s premier event would honor both its historic legacy and the Black-owned businesses who call the region home.
In a pair of letters released Saturday, the family of the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis, the daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other foundational figures in the movement for racial equality pressed Biden to choose Atlanta for the political showcase.
The letters coincided with Biden’s plan to travel to Selma, Alabama, to mark the 58th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” the day in 1965 that white law enforcement officers beat Lewis and other civil rights marchers as they attempted to march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
The city has engaged in an all-out lobbying effort to win Biden’s approval for the quadrennial event, which is expected to bring 50,000 visitors to the city — and highlight Georgia’s status as one of the nation’s most important political battlegrounds. Biden is expected to soon decide between Atlanta, Chicago and New York.
The Lewis family highlighted soaring Democratic turnout in recent election cycles powered by Black voters who helped propel Biden’s 2020 victory and wins by U.S. Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock in the last two Senate campaigns.
“By choosing Atlanta, you would not only be ensuring the continuation of Democratic momentum in Georgia, but you would also be paying direct tribute to John’s life, accomplishments, and his fight to strengthen the rights of all Americans,” read the letter from Lewis’ family and the John R. Lewis Legacy Institute.
“It will also provide you with a backdrop that reflects your personal values, embodies your vision for America, and connects John’s legacy to the work you continue to undertake as president.”
A separate dispatch from prominent civil rights advocates steered clear of the political implications of selecting Georgia. But it said that media reports about the race for the event often include “one glaring omission” about the pros and cons of each city.
“For the people we represent and for whom we advocate, the most important factor should be immediate Black economic empowerment,” read the letter. “In this regard, Atlanta is the clear choice.”
It was signed by Bernice King, the daughter of the slain civil rights leader; Cheryl Lowery, on behalf of the late Joseph Lowery; Felicia Bolden Mobley on behalf of the late Rev. Willie M. Bolden; Elisabeth Omilami on behalf of the late Rev. Hosea Williams, Al Vivian on behalf of C.T. Vivian and the family of the late Rev. James Orange.
The push from civil rights advocates is only the latest in a full-court press for the event that has spread far beyond Atlanta. Dozens of Democratic leaders across the South have endorsed the city’s bid, as has the mayor of Houston, which until recently was in the running.
To press their case, Atlanta boosters took out a full-page ad in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in January to coincide with Biden’s visit to Ebenezer Baptist Church. The ad evoked the posters commonly deployed by activists during the civil rights movement.
And they’ve centered their bid on the city’s rich civil rights history, something that the Choose Atlanta 2024 committee evokes with a slogan — “Make Good Trouble With Us” — that puts a twist on Lewis’ iconic mantra.
Behind the scenes, Atlanta boosters have scaled up their preparations. They have lined up tens of millions of dollars in commitments from the state’s largest corporations and key donors. And they’ve secured about 15,000 rooms across nearly 70 hotels for the showcase.
In their letter, King and other civil rights leaders urged Biden to consider the economic implications of selecting Atlanta.
“You should choose Atlanta because doing so allows you to invest millions of dollars directly into the Black businesses that are deeply woven into the fabric of Atlanta’s economy and that will be crucial partners in producing a world-class convention for your nomination.”
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