After participating in the 2012 campaign to help re-elect President Barack Obama, a group of Black and Hispanic Democratic Party voters in the 69th Assembly District (Harlem, Morningside Heights, Manhattan Valley and Upper Westside) established the Frederick Douglass Democratic Club to continue their political evolution and participation on a local level in their community.
For years, the voter turn-out among African-Americans and Hispanics in the 69th Assembly District (and throughout NYC) has failed to reach its true potential.
Currently, 127,919 people live in the 69th Assembly District of which 49.6% are White, 22.9% are Hispanic and 15.4% are Black and 9.0% are Asian - click here for more information.
Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg defeated his Democratic opponent four years ago by a mere 50,000 votes out of the millions that were casted.
In addition, former Democratic Mayor David Dinkins was defeated20 years ago by a Republican for re-election also by a mere 50,000 votes.
After 20 years of uninterrupted Republican control of City Hall, next year's election for NYC Mayor provides the Frederick Douglass Democratic Club a great opportunity to participate in the citywide campaign to elect a progressive Democrat to City Hall and thus end policies that have failed our communities.
For two decades, Republican NYC Mayors' have (or tried) to implement policies to benefit prowerful real estate developers and other business interests at the expense of low income families from the proposal to privatize public housing to harsh budget cuts of social service programs that children and seniors depend on to live.
In addition, Republican polices such as "Stop and Frisk" have subjected tens of thousands of innocent Black and Hispanic men and boys to suffer the humiliation of being harassed: stopped, frisked, questioned and at times beaten by the police.
The members of the Frederick Douglass Democratic Club share a deep-rooted belief in three guiding principles:
1) Increasing the numbers of Democratic Party voters;
2) Serving as a platform to help develop the next generation of Democratic Party leaders;
3) Supporting political candidates (incumbents and challengers) that advocate for public policies that protect seniors, children, small businesses and empower low income families.
Frederick Douglass Houses/West 100th Street/Columbus Ave
The selection of Frederick Douglass in the name of the club recognizes the large voting block of over 3,500 Black and Hispanic Democratic Party voters living in Frederick Douglass Houses within the confines of the 69th Assembly District that are yearning for political leadership.
Frederick Douglass Houses is located at West 100th Street/Columbus Avenue and General Ulysses S. Grant Houses is located at West 125th Street/Amsterdam Avenue.
NOTE: Frederick Douglass Democratic Club does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or disability.
