Gary Chambers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gary Chambers
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| Born | August 5, 1985 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Children | 1 |
Gary Chambers Jr. (born August 5, 1985) is an American civil rights activist and politician from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As a member of the Democratic Party, he supports progressive ideas, which often focus on social justice and equality. Chambers has run for several important political offices, including the United States Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
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Early Life and Schooling
Chambers was born and grew up in a mostly Black, middle-class neighborhood in northern Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His mother, Sharon, passed away when he was a baby. He was raised by his aunt and uncle, who he calls his "mom" and "dad." His aunt was a public school teacher, and his uncle was a janitor.
When he was 13, Chambers moved to Jacksonville, Florida to live with his biological father. He later came back to Baton Rouge and graduated from Glen Oaks High School.
Career and Activism
After finishing high school, Chambers moved to New Orleans. He worked as a manager at a Home Depot store, helping it reopen after Hurricane Katrina. He later returned to Baton Rouge and managed a car dealership. Chambers is also an ordained minister, which means he is qualified to lead religious services.
In 2012, Chambers started The Rouge Collection, a local publication that focused on news and stories for the Black community in his part of Baton Rouge.
Becoming a Community Leader
By 2016, Chambers had become a well-known voice for civil rights in his community. He led protests after the killing of Alton Sterling and acted as a spokesperson for Sterling's family. He also spoke at Sterling's funeral, showing his leadership during a difficult time.
In 2020, Chambers also helped lead street protests that called for justice after the murder of George Floyd.
The School Board Meeting of 2020
In June 2020, Chambers attended a school board meeting in Baton Rouge. The board was discussing whether to change the name of Lee High School. The school was named after Robert E. Lee, a general for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Chambers and others had been trying to get the name changed since 2016.
During the meeting, Chambers gave a powerful speech. He pointed out that one board member seemed to be shopping online instead of listening. A video of his speech was shared millions of times on the internet. Soon after, the school's name was changed to Liberty Magnet High School.
Political Campaigns
Chambers has run for public office several times to represent the people of Louisiana.
2021 U.S. House Campaign
In 2021, Chambers ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Louisiana's 2nd congressional district. He was supported by national progressive leaders like Shaun King.
His platform included ideas like:
- Medicare for All: A plan for the government to provide healthcare to all Americans.
- Green New Deal: A proposal to address climate change and create jobs in green energy.
- $15 Federal Minimum Wage: A plan to raise the lowest hourly pay for workers across the country.
In the first round of voting, called a primary, Chambers received 21% of the vote. He did better than many expected but narrowly missed moving on to the final election.
2022 U.S. Senate Campaign
In January 2022, Chambers announced he was running for the United States Senate. He wanted to represent all of Louisiana in Washington, D.C.
During his campaign, he released a famous advertisement to start a conversation about the nation's laws. The ad was viewed millions of times online.
In the election, Chambers received 17.9% of the vote. The winner was the incumbent, John Kennedy, who won with 61.6%.
Helping the Community
In September 2021, a nonprofit group founded by Chambers called Bigger Than Me helped people after Hurricane Ida. The group gave out generators and gasoline that were donated by basketball star Jrue Holiday. This helped families in southeast Louisiana who had lost power.
See also
- List of African-American United States Senate candidates
