The speech Stacey Evans tried to deliver to a progressive conference before she was shouted off the stage by supporters of her Democratic primary opponent was a defense of her strategy to grow the party by appealing to moderate whites who have fled to the GOP.
Invoking legendary Atlanta Constitution editor Ralph McGill, a white southerner who stood up to a generation of demagogues and segregationists, Evans was to say in her speech that he recognized a lesson that she hoped to put into practice today: "We must have conviction in our message, but we must also wield that conviction to build the broadest coalition possible."
Evans, a Smyrna state legislator who is white, was drowned out by demonstrators supporting Stacey Abrams, an Atlanta lawmaker who is black. A phalanx of sign-wielding protesters formed a line in front of her as soon as she took the podium, while others chanted "support black women" and "trust black women." What followed was several minutes of pleading - "let's talk through it," Evans implored repeatedly – and an attempt to plow through the speech.
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After the event, several of the protesters declined to comment. Some demonstrators said on social media they rallied against her because she backed a failed GOP effort to give the state new powers over struggling schools; one African-American activist said in an interview she couldn't point to any specific policy decisions but that she wanted a "a candidate that truly speaks to my community."
Abrams' campaign said it didn't play any role in staging the protest and defied calls by some Georgia Democrats to rebuke the demonstration. In a statement, Abrams said she would not "condemn peaceful protest" and called the racially-tinged chants an effort to bring marginalized voices to the forefront and not an attack on Evans' race.
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- Hope that technical college will be tuition free. Period.
- Hope that hard work will get you to a good job that pays a fair, livable wage.
- Hope that we'll all be able to access quality healthcare when we need it.
- HOPE that no matter where you live, you'll feel good when you drop your children off at the school steps.
- HOPE that all our children will have access to quality pre-K at age 2.
- HOPE that we are all equal and that our government will not allow us to be treated otherwise – not on the streets, not in courtrooms, not in the workplace, not anyplace.
- Will I be able to find a good job to support my family?
- Can I afford my student debt payment?
- Or my rent or my mortgage?
- If my child or an aging parent, or if I get sick, can we get the medical care we need?
- Is my child's school worthy of her promise?
- Is my family safe and secure?
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