Meet David Morales: Providence Voters Elect Democratic Socialist Mayor, Approve Israel Divestment

Voters in Providence, Rhode Island, approved a ballot measure last week that could result in the city divesting from Israel. The successful grassroots campaign makes Providence the first U.S. city to pass a binding divestment measure through a popular vote. The measure instructs the city to divest from countries and companies implicated in “ethnic cleansing, apartheid, illegal military occupation, or genocide.” The language does not mention Israel by name. We speak with one of the key backers of the divestment measure, Mayor-elect David Morales, a 28-year-old democratic socialist who made history on election night as the youngest mayor ever elected in Providence.

“What we saw was our neighbors coming out in the thousands to demonstrate that we are ready for change,” Morales says, promising to enact his affordability-focused platform. “It’s the responsibility of local government to take action. And for that reason, we are seeing a rise in democratic socialism and the representation of democratic socialists all across the country.”