A pair of black female activists, Cora Masters Barry and Melanie Campbell, who have met with Vice President Harris multiple times and previously vowed to help her become the next president, are mobilizing ahead of the upcoming election. However, their past rhetoric, including controversial statements about Trump supporters and White voters, specifically White women, could potentially alienate some of the “White women for Kamala” supporters as different coalitions work towards getting Harris elected. Barry and Campbell have visited the White House over 50 times combined during the Biden administration, including several visits with Harris or her staff.
In a recent Zoom call titled “White Women: Answer the Call,” organized by Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts and other female celebrities, approximately 164,000 White women participated and reportedly raised millions of dollars for Harris’ campaign. This could be a significant fundraising force moving forward. However, comments made by Barry and Campbell could create internal tension within the Harris campaign as they strive for unity and work to mobilize different voting blocs. The activists have called for unity but have previously made inflammatory remarks that could impact their ability to bring various groups together.
During the Zoom call, Barry made critical remarks about White women, comparing them to the Ku Klux Klan and expressing a lack of interest in understanding their actions. She also emphasized the need for the Black community to organize and elect Harris as the next President of the United States. Campbell also criticized White women who supported Trump, attributing their votes to “race” and “White privilege.” Both activists stressed the importance of mobilizing Black voters and utilizing the current moment to push their agenda forward.
Barry’s comments at a private ceremony further highlighted her controversial views, including praising Minister Louis Farrakhan and referring to him as a friend and member of the family. Farrakhan, who has a history of espousing antisemitic rhetoric, was reciprocally praised by Barry during the event. Despite the backlash surrounding their previous statements, a spokesperson for Barry and Campbell defended their remarks, stating that the comment about White women was not directed at the vice president and was intended to highlight the unreliability of White women as Democrat voters.
The activists, along with the Harris campaign, did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital. As Barry and Campbell continue to mobilize and advocate for Harris’s presidency, they will likely face challenges in reconciling their past rhetoric with the push for unity and broader support. Their history of divisive comments regarding White women and Trump supporters may hinder their efforts to bring together various voting blocs to support Harris in the upcoming election. It remains to be seen how their past statements will impact their ability to rally support for the vice president moving forward.
