Wheeling resident John Russell delivers primetime DNC speech

More Perfect Union reporter John Russell spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Here’s what he had to say and the message he hopes the party listens to.

CHICAGO — Wheeling resident John Russell took the stage on the final day of the Democratic National Convention delivering a message focused on the working class and union labor. His speech came just hours before Vice President Kamala Harris would take the same stage and accept her party’s nomination for president of the United States. 

John Russell delivers a primetime speech at the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 22. Photo courtesy of The Democrats YouTube livestream.

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Russell was invited to represent More Perfect Union—a nonprofit advocacy and journalism organization covering issues related to labor and the working class. Earlier this year, the Democratic Party’s interest in MPU was piqued when the organization released “Who REALLY Brought Jobs Back to America?” 

That project detailed a $5.5 billion megaproject in Haywood County, Tenn., known as BlueOval City—a megaproject made possible by President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Russell, who works as a freelance labor reporter for More Perfect Union, was the featured presenter of the project.

Russell began his DNC speech by highlighting his Appalachian roots. 

“We kept the lights on in this country for generations,” Russell said. “But the wealth made by our broken backs and black lungs never did trickle down.” He went on to call out Washington for prioritizing “rich men” over working class people.

Born in Wellsville, Ohio, and currently residing in Wheeling, W.Va., the Appalachia that Russell knows is the Ohio River Valley—a unique blend of rust belt and Appalachian cultures. He told this reporter it was an honor to uplift working class voices from the region on a national stage. 

“People here have been creating a ton of wealth for the country,” Russell said, speaking of the steel, coal, and natural gas industries. “We’re making all of this wealth, but we’re not seeing it.” 

Continuing with his speech, Russell spoke of West Virginia's labor history calling on the Democratic Party to pick up that mantle.

“They called us rednecks in the 1920s because striking workers from all different races wore red bandanas around their necks as they fought for a living wage,” Russell said. “Their fight yesterday is ours right now.” 

Russell urged the Democratic Party to welcome working class people with open arms.

“Working class people are looking for a political home after years of both parties putting profit above people,” Russell said. “It’s our choice to build on this progress and create a political home for the mass of working Americans fighting for control of their government, their workplaces, and their planet.” 

Russell, speaking to this reporter, said he believed his speech will resonate well with the audience, but that the party has a clear choice ahead of them. 

“We need a populism that doesn’t divide us, but unites us,” Russell said. “That’s the way forward, especially as we are fighting against rightwing politicians who are offering us a fake version of populism–and we know it’s fake because they want us to point fingers at each other rather than at the wealthy.” 

He continued, saying the Democratic Party was at a “fork in the road.”

“[The party] can choose its roots of organized working class people to get their power,” Russell said., “or it can continue to take money from Wall Street and corporations that have never been doing better. The state of the working class everywhere should be the number of concern for any politician, especially for the Democrats who claim to represent the working class the most.” 

Before ending the interview, Russell called on the Democratic Party to represent all people including Palestinians. 

“We have not heard Palestinian voices on the stage, even as this party claims to be working to stop the carnage unfolding in the Middle East,” Russell said. “Instead of silencing or burying their heads in the sand at protestors outside making the very simple ask of five minutes of speaking time so that Palestinians are represented, [the party] has a chance to show us that they mean business by opening up the stage. I hope they make the right decision.” 

You can follow John Russell on his Twitter and TikTok, or by subscribing to his newsletter The Holler. For more information about More Perfect Union, visit their website. To view John Russell’s full speech at the DNC, click the link below.