In an earnest new get-out-the-vote video, Beyoncé, Jay Z and Chance the Rapper each speak to the importance of participating in the political process — and the personal reasons that make them invested in this election, overlaid with footage from their recent concert in support of Hillary Clinton, held Friday in Cleveland.
“For so long our voice wasn’t part of the process,” Jay Z says in a backstage interview, speaking directly to rally the black community to the polls. Chance mentions his commitment to his girlfriend and daughter as the reason he cares about the election this year, and others relate the importance of being heard — and the history being made by Clinton as a woman.
“I want my daughter to grow up seeing a woman lead our country, and know that her possibilities are limitless,” Beyoncé says in her polka-dot pantsuit, onstage at the Cleveland concert. “We have to think about the future of our daughters, our sons. And that is why I’m with her.”
“So many people fought for these rights, so many people lost their lives for us to even have the opportunity to vote. I think we owe it to them. It’s a major disservice if we don’t get out and let our voice be heard,” Jay Z adds.
The video also shows Beyoncé backstage with Blue Ivy and embracing Clinton as she walks onto the stage at the concert, while Jay Z introduces her as the “next President.”
“She’s running this battle right now, she’s killing this race. But she needs all of our help as American citizens to go out on Nov. 8 and cast our vote,” Chance reminds the crowd.
Whether Clinton wins or not, it would appear she has the “Beyoncé voters” in the bag.
In a pre-emptive move, Donald Trump criticized the show at his own rally in Pennsylvania on Friday night.
“I didn’t have to bring J. Lo or Jay Z,” he said, referencing the rally for Clinton. “I am here all by myself. Just me. No guitar, no piano, no nothing, but you know what we do have — and it’s all of us, it’s all the same — we all have great ideas and great vision for our country. That’s what we have.”
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