Red in a Blue State examines the backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of Massachusetts attendees and others at the 2024 RNC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The second day had the theme "Make America Safe Once Again."
Elizabeth Hinds-Ferrick, delegate from Boston, Massachusetts
"As a minority, the issues that affect the minority population is totally different than that which affects the white population, especially within the inner city where there's so much violence and unemployment, and the education system is lacking, especially in Boston. So for me, having a seat to bring my point of view to let people see from a different lens what folks are going through makes a difference. Unless they can hear it from someone who's going through a true narrative, live narratives that really can't do as much. So bringing my point of view to the table and to advocate for the inner city folks and act not just for inner city folks, but for all minorities in Massachusetts will make a difference.
"I believe that the Republican Party is the party of the future. We allow people to rise up. We do not believe in just giving them ... a handout. We believe in giving them a helping hand so that they can take care of themselves. Helping them in such a way that it can lead to self-sufficiency. They can be the best that they can be and not depending on anyone.
"I believe Massachusetts, we work and diligently to bring more minorities to the party and to the table. One of my charges is to go out and have listening sessions to bring about more Black and Brown to the Republican Party.
Charles and Susanna Burnham, delegate alternate and guest from Morristown, Vermont
"It was not always like this. But over time, as the state grew more progressive in their beliefs and and more politicians, and we became outnumbered as Republicans," said Susanna Burnham. "One thing that happened to me is that all my family members left Vermont, so I'm the family member left here. I get strong pressure for them to move out of the state to other states, and I've lost friends who have moved away. And the friends that I've had here with differing political beliefs suddenly did not treat me the way I was treating them. And some of them left me as a friend, but they still live in Vermont, and that's been the painful part of becoming in the minority as a Republican in the state of Vermont."
"And we firmly believe that the Republican Party is one that can bridge the gap between Democrat and Republican and can bring the two sides together," said Charles Burnham. "So we're going to continue to push forward to make sure that we can all work together and come to come to some kind of agreement or arrangement somewhere in the middle."
AJ Yvette, delegate alternate from Dallas, Texas
"I think that we are at a time now where it is, we're about to lose this country. What's left of it if we continue on with the current administration. And I just believe that President Trump is the man of the hour to come in and fix that and right the wrongs of the last three and a half years.
"Open borders is a huge problem that I see. It's got some major consequences that we are all having to live with. The fact that I would say probably half of our money is going overseas to other countries, and inflation is at an all time high. People can't even afford to breathe anymore. Money is expensive. And when President Trump was in office, I had more money and I had more freedom.
“I would like to see more patriotism come back into this country. I think that it is at an all time low. So one of the ways that I like to express that is my outfits. I try to show that this is the greatest country. And if I can do that through my wardrobe, and to just use that as a tool, as a vehicle, I'm going to do that.”
And when Yvette is not at the RNC, “I am probably styling someone's hair or working on a campaign . . . on a grassroots level."
Vangie Mathis, delegate from San Antonio, Texas; her granddaughter, Harley Mathis, 19; and her grandson, Patrick Geren, delegate from Pottawatomie County, Iowa
“I want to say to all our voters that have the right to vote, think before you vote,” said Vangie. “Our country's in trouble. Don't give our freedom away. Don't vote because you don't like Donald Trump, vote for what's right for all. We, our children, will be the ones that will be left behind and they will pay the price.”
“We need to be unified. People need to be able to look outside of the box and not look at … the source that they've gotten their information from, and realizing that there's other things on out there that you don't know about,” said Patrick. “I still, to this day, will run into people that will talk about a narrative that they saw, and, it's not that way. Like, look up the evidence, look up the videos, challenge yourself to step out of the box and find out what else is there out there? Why is that other person saying it? Have conversations with people. One of the best things you can do is actually sit across the table.”
“If you do have the right to vote, you should go and vote because your voice matters and so does your opinion,” said Harley. “And two, Jesus loves you, so always trust in the Lord and what he has planned for you.”