As chairman of the Mississippi Democratic Party, Tyree Irving says his goal is to turn Mississippi from red to blue.
He also did not mince words Wednesday when attacking the Republican Party, describing their legislative priorities as destructive for Black and brown Americans.
“There is a movement in this country that’s headed by Republicans and other powerful interests to change the form of government in America, and the reason they want to change that is because they don’t want brown and Black folks to exercise the political power that is in your hands,” Irving told a group of about 30 people during a meeting of the Greenwood Voters League. “Because if you do, those evil persons, who don’t want you to share in the American dream, they understand that their privileged position in America is on a short leash. It’s on life support. And they’re trying to make sure that they preserve that.”
Irving said that people of color should not vote for anyone other than Democrats, although Republicans may run as independent candidates in an effort to secure their votes.
He acknowledged, however, that Democrats do not always do what’s in the best interest of their constituents and said voters should hold them accountable when that happens.
A former Greenwood resident who was chairman of the Leflore County Democratic Executive Committee and a judge on the Mississippi Court of Appeals, Irving said he was on the cusp of enjoying his retirement before he decided to take on the role of state party chairman last summer. The volunteer position is based in Jackson.
He praised the passage of the American Rescue Plan, the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package that was voted for approval only by Democrats and signed into law last month by President Joe Biden.
“All of you are going to receive or have already received stimulus, $1,400 per person,” he said. “You got that for one reason — enough folks believed in the Democratic Party and Joe Biden and (Vice President) Kamala Harris to elect them.”
Irving said some Republicans, such as U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, showed hypocrisy by taking credit for the passage of the stimulus package and its economic benefits for Americans after voting against it.
Like others in his party, Wicker voted against the American Rescue Plan. However, a day before the package was signed into law by Biden, Wicker tweeted how the bill contained $28.6 billion for restaurateurs.
Irving is adamant that people of color should support Democrats, but he said he is also trying to build a broader coalition for the party in the state by reaching out to white voters.
Irving said his office needs funding to get Mississippi Democrats elected into statewide offices, beef up the state party’s operations by hiring more personnel, and hold voter registration drives all year. He asked those present at the meeting to consider a monthly contribution to the Mississippi Democratic Party.
Irving said he’s committed to the hard work.
“My heart is in it. I know what hard work is,” he said.
- Contact Gerard Edic at 581-7239 or gedic@gwcommonwealth.com.
