OAKLAND, CA– The Black Elected Officials of California (BEO) today issued a strong statement condemning the escalating pattern of threats and harassment targeting Black elected officials and candidates for public office. This statement comes amid disturbing echoes of historical violence against Black political participation, including the 1920 Ocoee Massacre where dozens of Black Americans were killed for attempting to vote.
The organization highlights recent incidents, including multiple death threats and coordinated harassment campaigns against congressional candidate Lateefah Simon, a mother of a school-aged child, who is running to succeed Congresswoman Barbara Lee in California’s 12th Congressional District. These threats, appearing to be coordinated rather than random, follow a troubling pattern that includes racial epithets and threats directed at Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe-Hernandez and ongoing harassment of Vice President Kamala Harris.
“The targeting of Black candidates and elected officials represents an assault on our democratic principles and the fundamental right of all Americans to participate in the political process free from intimidation and violence,” said Wanda L. Williams, President of BEO. “When campaign tactics cross the line into threats of violence and targeted harassment, they threaten not just individual candidates but the very foundation of our democratic system.”
“We stand united in condemning any campaign tactics that rely on intimidation, anti-Black rhetoric, or the exploitation of bias and hate,” continued President Williams. “Our democracy thrives when campaigns focus on issues, policies, and solutions—not lies and intimidation.”
BEO Demands:
  • Law enforcement agencies investigate and prosecute all threats against public officials
  • Political parties explicitly reject and condemn threatening campaign tactics
  • Social media platforms take swift action against coordinated harassment campaigns
  • Fellow elected officials and candidates commit to running campaigns based on truth and ideas, not lies and intimidation
About BEO
Black Elected Officials of California (BEO) is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation whose purpose is to improve the quality of life for Black Californians through empowerment, leadership, advocacy, and policy. For more than two decades, BEO has been California’s premier leadership organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening Black elected and appointed officials. Through strategic resources, advocacy, and policy initiatives, we empower leaders to effectively combat racial inequity, eliminate systemic discrimination in the public sector, and advance policies that serve all Californians. Our network of distinguished public servants works tirelessly to ensure transparent, equitable governance while fostering inclusive communities across our state.