In response, Folabi Olagbaju, Greenpeace USA Democracy Campaign Director, said:
“Georgians have spoken. Voters across the state turned out in record numbers to demand a cleaner, greener, and more just future. Senators-elect Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff have committed to protecting the needs and wants of all Georgians, as well as the American people, and we will demand that they keep their promises to expand healthcare access, protect voting rights, and take action on both environmental and racial justice in their communities. This victory is the result of years of tireless, hard, on-the-ground organizing by many female-led Black voting rights groups in the state. And we applaud the organizers across Georgia — led by Stacey Abrams, Latosha Brown, and powerful Black and Brown grassroots coalitions, like the Asian American Advocacy Fund — who have worked to make this historic victory possible.
“The result of Georgia’s runoff elections gives Democrats control of both Chambers of the 117th Congress and enables the Senate to move quickly on Biden’s bold progressive agenda, including fighting climate change and restoring faith in our democracy. This monumental shift in the balance of power in Congress will have ripple effects across the country for years to come and change what is politically possible. But Democrats must still ensure that the results of this election are protected by eliminating the filibuster and by passing HR1, the For the People Act, to get big corporations’ and polluters’ money out of politics.
“Right now, we need bold leadership that recognizes the challenges Americans are facing. That includes Congress making immediate investments in frontline workers, families, and our democracy — not backing measures that prioritize corporate profits over people. With this addition of Senators-elect Warnock and Ossoff, we believe that this new Congress can rise to meet this challenge, confront the simultaneous public health, economic and climate crises, and lead us towards a future the American people deserve.”
Contact:
Katie Nelson, Strategic Communications Specialist, Greenpeace USA: +1 (678) 644-1681, [email protected]
