The Phi Beta Sigma fraternity hosted a U.S. Senate forum in Jersey City with labor leader Patricia Campos-Medina, U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (D-3), and civil rights leader Larry Hamm.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Artist and writer Amy Wilson, along with activist Chris Gadsden, moderated the forum at St. John’s Baptist Church. Wilson asked Hamm, the People’s Organization for Progress (POP) chairman, for an introduction.
“I’ve been a social justice activist for 53 years. The last time I was here was for the funeral of Andrew Jerome Washington. We continue the fight for Justice for Drew,” Hamm noted.
Campos-Medina explained her background fighting for labor union members and women as a labor union leader and as part of Cornell University no, while Kim explained his background in security and national security.
“When Donald Trump got elected President, I decided I needed to do something different,” he declared.
In 2018, Kim helped flip a Republican seat in the House of Representatives in the closest race in the country at the time. He is the bonafide frontrunner in the race with First Lady Tammy Murphy dropping out last month.
Wilson noted that African African-American poverty is a serious issue and asked the candidates what they would do to reverse this trend.
Hamm said he would introduce a bill to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $17 an hour. He also wanted to sponsor a bill for reparations.
“The income gap is just too large,” Hamm argued.
Campos-Medina agreed on increasing the minimum wage to $17 an hour and also wants to eliminate the tipped wage.
“Those who work for tips are mostly women and women of color,” she noted.
“All of us want to be able to raise the federal minimum wage. What we’re really talking about is a living wage,” Kim replied, continuing that African American contractors should get more business from the federal government.
“What are your current views on reparations?” Gadsden asked.
Kim said he supported a House bill to launch a commission on the issue.
“It’s something we haven’t been able to get across,” he added, further stating that small business support and a child tax credit could help.
“There was a Black Wall Street at some point … and it was decimated. We need to figure out how we create access to capital for African American entrepreneurs,” Campos-Medina said.
Hamm noted that H.R 40 was a bill introduced by former U.S. Rep. John Conyers in 1986 to address reparations and we still haven’t made much headway.
“African Americans have been the most loyal voters of the Democratic Party. It is disgraceful we can’t even get the reparations bill out of committee,” he asserted.
“What is the federal government’s role in ensuring affordable housing and the existing affordability is protected?” Gadsden asked.
“During the Great Depression … the federal government began a national housing construction program. We must bring the federal government back into the business of contributing to public housing,” Hamm replied.
“We need to fund an increase in housing vouchers,” Campos-Medina argued. She also spoke in favor of rent control and the expansion of affordable mortgages
Kim said Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is blocking these efforts from happening.
“There’s more we can do to support 1st time home buyers,” he added.
Wilson asked about the Israeli-Gaza War, noting that Kim supported a bill providing aid to Israel recently.
“This violence has gone in far too long. It was a tough vote. I’ve been a big champion of pushing assistance globally,” Kim explained.
He noted the bill included aid to places like Ukraine, Sudan and Haiti as well.
“All of us recognize the need for a ceasefire and in getting the hostages released,” Kim added.
“We should end all military aid to Israel,” Hamm declared and was critical of Kim supporting the bill.
“We need a permanent and immediate ceasefire. What Hamas did was wrong,” Campos-Medina said.
Gadsden asked what the greatest threat to our national security is and if social media apps have a tangible impact, positive or negative, on our children.
“The greatest threat to our security comes from right-wing nationalist groups,” Campos-Medina argued.
“We actually need to regulate our social [media] platforms,” she added.
“I was at the Capitol on January 6th, seeing Americans fighting other Americans. Climate change is an existential threat. We have a huge mental health crisis in our country,” Kim explained.
“The United States is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today,” Hamm exclaimed, repeating his displeasure with Kim for supporting aid to Ukraine and Israel.
“Please limit the conversation amongst the candidates,” Gadsden declared.
Wilson pointed out that there are more open jobs than unemployed Americans and asked how they would address undocumented citizens.
Campos-Medina supported a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented Americans.
“We also need to create a path for legal immigration,” she added.
“I’m a son of immigrants. They don’t actually want to fix it. It’s a good political weapon. I helped pass … a path forward for Dreamers. We don’t have the workforce we need to compete globally,” Kim stated.
“I would make it illegal to separate families,” Hamm said, noting that families separated during COVID-19 haven’t been reunited.
“Who do you support to be the next Governor of New Jersey?” Wilson asked.
“I am publicly endorsing [Newark Mayor] Ras Baraka for governor,” Hamm replied.
“I am currently focused on winning this race,” Campos-Medina said.
“I haven’t made that decision yet. It’s a decision people get to make,” Kim said.
In his closing statement, Hamm noted the presence of the family of Drew Washington in the audience and the need to end police brutality. He said he would work to establish a national standard for excessive force.
“We cannot allow Wall Street to continue to control our politics. “It’s about time to send a woman to the United States Senate!” Campos-Medina exclaimed.
Kim said he voted for the George Floyd Policing Act in the House and would continue to support it since it failed to pass the Senate.
“I’m scared about what comes next. I still believe we can change. I’m excited one way or another … that we’ll bring diversity to New Jersey,” Kim declared.
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