In a bold move to install another progressive voice in the US Congress, Justice Democrats have endorsed pastor and activist Frederick Haynes III to fill the seat vacated by departing Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
Haynes, 65, is no stranger to activism having been a fixture in Dallas for decades as a pastor and community leader. He has built a reputation for speaking truth to power on issues ranging from predatory lending to voting rights. His church, New Beginnings Fellowship, hosts a range of initiatives aimed at promoting economic and environmental justice.
Haynes's candidacy marks an interesting contrast with Crockett, who was criticized by some progressive groups for her support of Israel and crypto industry backing. Haynes, however, is running on a platform that includes ending U.S. military aid to Israel, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and regulating the crypto industry.
The endorsement comes as Justice Democrats looks to capitalize on voter frustration with the party establishment ahead of the 2024 midterm elections. Andrabi said, "We try to be as selective and intentional about the races and candidates we pick... We're hoping we can really, as a movement — but if not, as Justice Democrats — to start this cycle off with some wins."
Haynes's unapologetic stance on issues like Israeli apartheid and genocide has made him an attractive candidate for progressive voters. He has spoken out against the influence of right-wing Christianity in Texas politics and Israel lobby groups.
While Haynes's views may not align with all elements of the party establishment, his campaign represents a new generation of leaders who are pushing back against corporate interests and special lobbies. As Andrabi noted, "It doesn't do us much good to replace old corporate shills with young corporate shills. The problem is that they're corporate shills, not just that they are aging."
Haynes, 65, is no stranger to activism having been a fixture in Dallas for decades as a pastor and community leader. He has built a reputation for speaking truth to power on issues ranging from predatory lending to voting rights. His church, New Beginnings Fellowship, hosts a range of initiatives aimed at promoting economic and environmental justice.
Haynes's candidacy marks an interesting contrast with Crockett, who was criticized by some progressive groups for her support of Israel and crypto industry backing. Haynes, however, is running on a platform that includes ending U.S. military aid to Israel, abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and regulating the crypto industry.
The endorsement comes as Justice Democrats looks to capitalize on voter frustration with the party establishment ahead of the 2024 midterm elections. Andrabi said, "We try to be as selective and intentional about the races and candidates we pick... We're hoping we can really, as a movement — but if not, as Justice Democrats — to start this cycle off with some wins."
Haynes's unapologetic stance on issues like Israeli apartheid and genocide has made him an attractive candidate for progressive voters. He has spoken out against the influence of right-wing Christianity in Texas politics and Israel lobby groups.
While Haynes's views may not align with all elements of the party establishment, his campaign represents a new generation of leaders who are pushing back against corporate interests and special lobbies. As Andrabi noted, "It doesn't do us much good to replace old corporate shills with young corporate shills. The problem is that they're corporate shills, not just that they are aging."
I gotta say, this guy Haynes sounds like a breath of fresh air for the progressive movement. I love how he's unapologetically speaking truth to power on issues that matter 
. It's about time we got someone in Congress who's not just going through the motions and is actually willing to challenge the status quo 
. I'm intrigued by his stance on crypto regulation, it's about time we started regulating industries that are holding our economy hostage 
. And can we talk about how refreshing it is to see a candidate who's not beholden to special interests or corporate lobbies? This guy sounds like a game-changer for real change 
! As a proud platform loyalist, I love how he's running on a platform that actually aligns with what we value – economic and environmental justice. It's about time we had a leader who isn't afraid to speak truth to power 
. I'm excited to see how this plays out in 2024 and if Justice Democrats can deliver on their promise of "wins" 
.
i love the idea of a new generation of leaders taking over - frederick haynes iii sounds like someone who's actually gonna make a difference 
and i'm so down for him speaking truth to power about issues like predatory lending and voting rights 
can't wait to see how this plays out 
. And I have to say, I'm a bit curious to see how his views on Israel align with the rest of the party 
he's like 65 and already a pastor and community leader in dallas! i'm guessing his church is like the ultimate progressive hotspot – i mean who needs twitter when you have new beginnings fellowship hosting initiatives on economic and environmental justice? 
but seriously, this guy is all about speaking truth to power and it sounds like he's got some major beef with the israel lobby and corporate interests 
. But on the other hand, his views on Israel are super divisive and I'm not sure if they're going to fly with a lot of voters 
. And what's up with the Justice Democrats' strategy? Trying to replace old corporate shills with new ones? It just feels like same-old, same-old to me 
... I guess only time will tell if Haynes can actually deliver on his promises 
. I mean, he's been speaking truth to power for decades, which takes a lot of courage 
. Fingers crossed that Justice Democrats can deliver on their promise of wins! 
. We need more people like Haynes who are willing to challenge the system and fight for what's right 
and found that Haynes has ties to some shady organizations. Like, he's been involved with the National Association of Church Business Administration (NACBA), which has been criticized for promoting predatory lending practices. Also, his church has received funding from some pretty questionable sources.
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And what's with the crypto industry regulation? It feels like another way for politicians to cash in on big money 
. The fact that Justice Democrats is endorsing him just to get some wins ahead of the 2024 midterms is kinda disappointing 
... Can't we focus on building a more inclusive movement instead of trying to score political points? 
It's like, we're all just sleepwalking through life, waiting for someone else to come along and tell us what to do.
And what about his church, New Beginnings Fellowship? Is that just a front for his own agenda or does it actually help marginalized communities? 