August 24, 2020 - RNC Includes Fear-Based Appeal to White Suburban Voters


On the first night of the Republican National Convention, a white couple from St. Louis who had made news for waving guns at racial justice protestors tell viewers that Joe Biden will “abolish the suburbs,” and warn, “Make no mistake: No matter where you live, your family will not be safe in the radical Democrats’ America.” They add, “It seems as if Democrats no longer view the government’s job as protecting honest citizens from criminals, but rather protecting criminals from honest citizens.” This is one of the most overt appeals to white voters, suggesting that racial justice activism and progress is a threat to not only the status quo benefitting whites, but their very safety. Other speakers make similar racialized claims, consistent with Trump’s own claims on the campaign trail that he will protect the suburbs, and more specifically suburban women.