Congresswoman Joyce Beatty to speak of activism at sorority conference

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Thousands of members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, one of the nation's historically Black sororities, will hear from Central Ohio Congresswoman Joyce Beatty tomorrow.

Beatty (D-OH-3) is a 54-year member of Delta Sigma Theta, and will be addressing the "Mighty Midwest Region" in its 51st annual conference. She said she will be speaking on activism and a member of a different historically Black sorority: Alpha Kappa Alpha's Kamala Harris.

"While we can't tell people specifically how to vote, we can tell them about the issues. We can tell them that this is a time in our county when we have a woman of color, who is now the sitting Vice President, who has done more for human rights and civil rights, who has fought for immigration reform in laws, who has done more when we think about keeping our community safer," Beatty said. "So we can tell the story of Vice President Kamala Harris and then we leave it up to them."

Beatty's message tomorrow will echo the sorority's history of activism, from its founders marching for women's suffrage in 1913 to current efforts to train election attorneys and host bipartisan candidate forums.

Elsie Cooke-Holmes is the International President and Chair of the National Board of Directors for Delta Sigma Theta. She said the sorority's efforts help ensure everyone can vote.

"So that every single vote that is cast will be counted, so that people understand the law so that they will not get tripped up and not be able to vote," Cooke-Holmes said.

The excitement that a woman of color might be the first female president was palpable among sorority members, as was the disdain for Donald Trump's remarks about her.

Former Congresswoman and past president of Delta Sigma Theta Marcia Fudge has been a member for 55 years. She reiterated that the sorority does not endorse, but should highlight Harris' successes and call out Trump's speculation on Harris' ethnicities.

"If he can't figure out anything else to say, shame on him," she said. "She is the person who is going to beat him and beat him good."

"We are used to people marginalizing us and making sure we get reduced to a number or a DEI hire if you will -- knowing that our moms always taught us that we have to be twice as good to get half as far and have a seat at that table," Cooke-Holmes said.

Columbus City Councilmember Shayla Favor pointed toward the efforts of Black women to support Harris thus far. The first fundraising call was led by Black women, and Favor said there were approximately 44,000 people on the call stepping up for Harris.

"From that way forward we saw various constituencies organizing on their own demonstrating their commitment to a new type of leadership in this country," Favor said.

Favor said Delta Sigma Theta is an organization of leaders. Beatty is set to address over 3,500 thousand of these leaders in person, plus an additional estimated 4,000 virtual conference attendees.