MoM Elections: A Speech from Reggie Stump

Good morning, Daily Prophet readers! This is Gina Fischer, continuing our coverage of the Minister of Magic elections. Last night, I attended candidate Reggie Stump’s public speech! The crowd was full of witches, wizards, and other beings, like goblins, centaurs, werewolves, and even vampires. Most of the witches and wizards of the audience were visibly nervous, but things remained peaceful as Reggie Stump took the stage after her customary kiss from Melissa for good luck.

After opening remarks and some quick background info, Reggie dove right into her main points for the evening:

I want to thank everyone here for taking our campaign as far as it has gone so far and for supporting my bid for Minister of Magic. I am so fortunate that you all believe we can unite as a magical community and make this a better world for us all.

The crowd burst into applause, and Reggie continued by saying,

This world is fractured. It has been ever since the Second Wizarding War. We all know that. The War showed us just how fractured and divided we had become. Yet it took all of us working together with Harry Potter to defeat the evil that came from the division. Our government is outdated, keeping things the same way for centuries. It took a war to make things change. To honor those who fought for the good of us all, I intend to bring our government together and update all of our laws and statutes to benefit modern witches and wizards. We’ve changed! We’ve grown! Our laws need to reflect that!

Reggie shook her head as a malcontented member in the audience shouted at her that beasts are not beings. The otherwise magical beings in attendance shouted in their anger, and the centaurs began to stamp their hooves.

Friends, magical beings all, his words proves the outdated mentality that we’re fighting against. The last time these rational and sentient beings were questioned about their status was back in the Dark Ages! We no longer live in isolated villages, unfriendly to our neighbors. We are all members of this community. Isn’t it time the laws reflected that?!

The audience erupted with cheers, including this reporter! Reggie went on to talk about how she would integrate all members of the community, bring a new age for those always sidelined by the Ministry, like Squibs, or outright feared and uncared for, like werewolves. She spoke passionately about modernization, a plan that William Waverly shares a passion for. Toward the end, she spoke about something truly close to her heart:

As everyone knows, I am a Squib. And proud of it! So I know what it is like to be shunned and told that I cannot attend school with people that I know because I am not magical enough. Imagine telling that to a confused and upset child. Now, imagine that the child has magical abilities. No, you cannot go to that school. It’s for pure-bloods and half-bloods only. What is this, the Dark Ages?! That is why it saddens me that Bianca Blishwick wants to separate our children. She wants to make a school to keep Muggle-born witches and wizards, fully magical in their own right, away from those she considers more pure witches and wizards. She is allowing her fear of change, her fear of Muggles, to bring back the blood prejudice mentality that Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, and all of the witches and wizards of our good community fought against in the Second War. They fought and died so that we would never separate ourselves by blood ever again! We can’t allow her to bring these blood prejudices back. Vote for me and vote for the future!

I had to wipe a tear from my own eye as I saw the tears shining in the eyes of Reggie Stump. Every being was on their feet, cheering, waving their support banners and flags. From the back came the chant, “Reggie Stump! Reggie Stump!” It spread like wildfire through the crowd, and Reggie Stump wiped at her eyes before waving to the crowds and smiling out at us all.

This has been Gina Fischer, your Daily Prophet correspondent and future Reggie Stump supporter! This reporter is a believer! Be sure to have your owls ready for November 8!