Black Love Founders Co-Host U.S. Senate Candidate Hill Harper’s L.A. Fundraiser
by Mariel Turner
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February 14, 2024

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Black Love Founders Co-Host U.S. Senate Candidate Hill Harper’s L.A. Fundraiser

Black Love Founders Co-Host U.S. Senate Candidate Hill Harper’s L.A. Fundraiser
Codie Elaine Oliver and Hill Harper (Courtesy of Hill Harper for Michigan)

Hill Harper is ready for change. 

The 57-year-old actor-author-politician — who graduated from Brown University, Harvard Law School, and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government before pursuing a career in Hollywood — believes that the rights of all Americans are important, not just the privileged. His belief is so strong, in fact, that he is running as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate in the 2024 election to Michigan. 

Harper has been a Michigan business owner and resident for over seven years, and has seen first-hand the difficulties the state has faced over the years due to harmful local and national policies, and he has laid out a platform to address those issues. If elected, he plans to tackle climate justice and unemployment within the state, enact universal healthcare and common sense gun legislation, improve public education, and abolish the filibuster. A former Obama administration appointee, Harper says he is “the most progressive candidate in the field.”

Harper isn’t alone in his passion for the great state of Michigan. He is joined by thousands of Michigan residents who believe just as strongly in his platform, as well as Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton, Wayne County executive Warren C. Evans, the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, and the Southeast Michigan Chamber of Commerce, who have all endorsed his campaign. Many of those supporters attended a fundraiser co-hosted by “Black Love” creators and The Confluential Company Founders Tommy Oliver and Codie Elaine Oliver, at the Papillon Estate in Beverly Hills, California, on Thursday, Feb. 8th. 

“The Michigan Constitution and the United States Constitution begin with the exact same three words, ‘we the people,’” Harper said at the fundraiser. “If we, the people, don’t decide that we’re going to reclaim our democracy and make that constitution a truly living and breathing document as it is … we’re going to continue to get the same results. My candidacy does represent something completely different. I’m not going to be a shield for the Democratic Party. I’m going fight for people within the Democratic Party.”

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Harper’s fundraiser featured a masterful jazz band, delicious catered dinner, and a sneak-preview of Confluential’s upcoming docu-series on Harper, entitled “The Hill.” The six-minute preview gave viewers an inside look at Harper’s life on the campaign trail, showing his frustrations and moments of joy. “The Hill” preview received a rousing applause from attendees, many of whom were Hollywood A-listers, including DeVon Franklin, J.B. Smoove, Vivica A. Fox, Pierce Brosnan, and John Legend. Legend, who has been a longtime friend of Harpers, shared his enthusiasm about Harper’s Senate run at the event. 

Black Love Founders Co-Host U.S. Senate Candidate Hill Harper’s L.A. Fundraiser
Hill Harper with multi-platinum singer-songwriter John Legend (Courtesy of Hill Harper for Michigan)

“The fact that Hill Harper went from a successful career as an actor — he could have done anything else with his time —but decided that he wanted to commit himself to running for Senate to represent the people of Michigan,” Legend said. “To represent the best interests of all the people of Michigan and all people in this country. The fact that he has a heart of service, of giving, of love, to do what he’s doing. I am so impressed with Hill Harper for doing that. I’m so excited to be here to support you, my brother.”

The fundraiser was also attended by several Michiganders, some who have relocated to other states and others who flew in from Michigan for the event, who are passionately supporting Harper’s campaign and believe strongly in his mission. The attendees told BlackLove.com that they were “thrilled” by Harper’s campaign promises.    

Harper is both a cancer survivor and a single father, having adopted a son, Pierce (named after Pierce Brosnan) when the now 8-year-old boy was just a baby. These two identities have informed Harper’s passion for universal healthcare and gun safety laws that work for all Michiganders. The actor-politician spoke about his plan to address both of these issues at the fundraiser, saying, “We pay the most for prescription drugs of any country in the world. The number one cause of personal bankruptcies is catastrophic medical [bills]. One-third of all GoFundMes is medical. GoFundMe is not a health plan.”

Black Love Founders Co-Host U.S. Senate Candidate Hill Harper’s L.A. Fundraiser
Tommy Oliver and Hill Harper (Courtesy of Hill Harper for Michigan)

“My son said to me last year — I drive him to school every morning — and he said, ‘Daddy, I don’t want to go to school.’ I said ‘why?’ He said, ‘I’m scared they’re going to shoot me,’” Harper shared. “Michigan has had some pretty catastrophic shootings at MSU and Oxford [High School]. And then obviously, we have that all over the country — almost twice or three times a week. But that’s not really what was scaring my son.”

“What was scaring my son was the active shooter drills that they do in elementary school,” Harper continued. “If you went to your house and told your kids, ‘Go, run and get under the covers! There could be a shooter coming in.’ You’re not going to mentally traumatize your kids in your home. You’re supposed to feel safe. [The U.S.] is going to prioritize the so-called Second Amendment over the mental health of second graders? What kind of sense does that make? It’s just about political will and political leadership.” 

Harper believes he has that political leadership and wants people to know that “if we can build upon this momentum, we’re going to win this thing and shock the world.”

 “Together, we thrive,” Harper said. That’s a message all Michiganders can believe in. 

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