Address to the St. Mary's Black Business Owners

St. Mary's Black Business Owners 3rd Annual "Meet & Greet"

November 23, 2024

Patterson  Area Civic Center

Patterson, Louisiana

Hello, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Woodrow Parker, and I am the representative of the 50th District-B of the Louisiana State Democratic Central Committee, which encompasses St Mary Parish and a portion of St Martin Parish. 

I come before this gathering today to speak about the effects of the election on our country and, more specifically, on Saint Mary Parish.

Calling this election a watershed moment is not an understatement. In addition to the reelection of Donald Trump to President of the United States, the Republican Party also took control of the both the chambers of Congress, and they made sizable inroads in state and local elections.

Indeed, the Republicans have gained enough ground to make significant changes in our lives.

Now we can talk about how this happened, and we can toss blame around for days. But that will not undo what has happened, and it will not address what is to come. 

I want to focus on what is ahead of us. 

A lot of Americans are fearful of what a Trump second term would look like – and rightfully so. With Donald Trump as their mouthpiece, Republicans have promised sweeping deportation efforts against millions of undocumented persons in this country. They’ve promised to curtail the civil liberties of those in the LGBTQ+ community. And they’ve made very targeted threats against diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in government, in the military, in our schools, and even in our businesses. 

A lot of threatening promises. A lot of venomous words. A lot of divisive blusters.

But we must remain calm.

You see, one of the beautiful things about America is its rule of law. Regardless of what Donald Trump has said, he is not King. 

In this country – our country – laws and policies do no change overnight at the whim of one man or one party.

Whatever the Republicans hope to do will take time to structure, to enact into law, and to implement in this vast country. Sure, the President has some latitude with Executive Orders, but there is only so much he can decree with his pen. 

And a lot of what Republicans will try to do will likely face opponents in the courts, where a lot of it may get struck down.

So what can we expect from the Trump administration and the Republican Congress?

Here are my predictions: 

I do expect the White House to unapologetically go after Diversity, Equality & Inclusion efforts in the government. They have dog-whistled their disdain for diversity throughout the campaign. What’s more, the President has a full authority over the military, and with this power, he will work to stop equity and inclusion efforts across the Dept of Defense. He has already said he will do as much in our schools, threatening to withhold funding from schools with “woke” educational programs.

Speaking of the Dept of Education, while the President-elect has promised to get rid of the entire department, know that the department cannot be eliminated without Congressional approval. He is unlikely to get that, as of now.

What would be more likely, though, are changes to the Affordable Care Act, which many voters claimed not to know was the same thing as Obamacare. Republicans have tried in the past to repeal sizable portions of the law, but leaders in the Senate stood firm to protect it. This time, though, there is no John McCain to hold back Republican zeal. To be sure, they have presented no replacement for the Affordable Care Act, and so, if it is repeal, the void left could mean millions of Americans may lose healthcare coverage, particularly those with preexisting conditions. 

The Republicans now have an opportunity to place more conservative judges on federal benches and potentially in the Supreme Court. The perspectives of the judges will color decisions on everything from voting rights to individual liberties.

Again, if changes come, they cannot happen overnight. That is a good thing. What’s also important to understand is that this moment only make the next election, in two years, even more important, as Democrats will fight to retake Congress. 

And therein lies the biggest effect of this election – your active engagement in a new way.

As leaders in our community, you already know the importance of preserving our voice on the political stage, whether at the local, state, or national level. So, as I conclude my remarks, I would like to ask you not just to turn out at the polls but to offer yourselves as candidates on the ballots.

Our communities need new leaders with fresh ideas and voices that will advocate on behalf of all people. Our communities need you to be a generation of hope to turn the tide against those who seek to row us backwards. Our communities need you in our school boards (where we must play a role in the education of our children), in our parish and city councils (where employment and public works project must be decided more fairly), and in the state capitol (where Republicans are already passing laws that will cost less affluent families a lot more at the register). 

I look forward to discussing the opportunities of candidacy with many of you today and in the months to come.

Thank you all for your time. God bless and keep you. God bless and keep this great country.