BuzzFeed interviewed three of the organizers of the Swifties for Kamala event to find out how it came to be and what’s next: 22-year-old Emerald Medrano (co-founder and president), 29-year-old Irene Kim (co-founder and executive director), and 36-year-old April Glick-Pulito (political director).
The group shared their deeply personal reasons for organizing Taylor Swift fans to support Kamala Harris’s campaign, and opened up about the biggest challenges they’ve faced so far. They talked about how people often underestimate the power of fandom, especially when it comes to women and girls. And they shared how they’re proving critics wrong.
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And most of all, they want to show that there is no perfect time or way to get into politics. So why not start with something as simple as a friendship bracelet? Here’s what else they said:
BuzzFeed: How many people are involved in creating Swifties for Kamala? And did you all meet online through fandom?
What prompted you to reach out to the Taylor Swift fandom to bring about change in the 2024 election?
What was the biggest challenge in organizing SWIFT for Kamala’s Zoom call, and what parts were easier?
People seem to seriously underestimate Swifty’s abilities. Why do you think that is?
What would you say to other young people who want to get involved in politics but don’t know where to start or feel like their voices don’t matter?
What are your plans as the election approaches?
Is there anything else you would like to say?
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