MEMPHIS, Tenn. — National Civil Rights Attorney Ben Crump along with local Memphis leaders put out a call to action, specifically to Black men, ahead of the upcoming Presidential Election.
Over the weekend, President Obama made remarks toward Black men, claiming a lack of support for presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
"When we think about the...call he sent out, what he was saying, I believe, is that the votes of Black men are coveted in this election like they haven't been in last elections," Crump said.
On Monday, Crump joined other state and Shelby County elected officials publicly supporting Kamala Harris.
Memphis City council chairman JB Smiley, Jr. said although he may not agree on everything Harris stands for, he believes she does embody some areas he's most passionate about.
"Particularly, for me, when I talk about gun reform, there's only one candidate that's willing to put gun reform in a place, there's one candidate not sold out to the rifle association, that's Vice President Kamala Harris," Smiley said.
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris was one of the leaders who voiced his desire to support Kamala Harris.
"We want to put it on their radar we've got one really, really experienced candidate in the form of Kamala Harris, somebody who was a top state official, somebody who was a US Senator, somebody who's operating the White House with Joe Biden, versus someone who - we've seen him in action, and it was a chaos parade day in and day out," Mayor Harris said.
Mayor Harris and other Tennessee elected officials expressed which candidate has what they claim is the best interest for their community. He said Memphis could be the key to shifting the upcoming Presidential Election.
"Memphis is one of the key locations around the country where you see a lot of Black men trying to decide what they are going to do this election season," Lee Harris said.
Antwane Bohanon, a retired Memphis Navy Chief and a Republican, said not everyone Black man is casting their ballot for Kamala Harris.
Bohanon said he's showing his support for former President Donald Trump.
He sent ABC24 the following statement:
"President Trump was my Commander and Chief while I served on the staff of the Commander of Submarine Pacific Fleet in Hawaii as a Chief. From a strategic perspective our military forces were given the opportunity to protect our country without interference from political influences.
Under the Trump administration, Black empowerment took center stage with real, measurable results. Black unemployment plummeted to a historic low of 5.4% in 2019, the lowest ever recorded. Through the Opportunity Zones initiative, over $75 billion poured into struggling, predominantly Black communities, sparking revitalization. Funding for HBCUs soared to unprecedented heights, with $250 million secured annually, marking a new era of support. The First Step Act brought critical criminal justice reform, offering second chances and restoring hope. These bold initiatives weren’t just policy; they were a commitment to lifting Black Americans and fostering unity across the nation."
According to Neilsburg Research, African-Americans account for nearly 65 percent of the population in Memphis. The Bluff City also has a significant history with the Civil Rights Movement.