Thousands of supporters voiced that Vice President Kamala Harris is the right person to serve as commander-in-chief of the nation, discussing key issues including unity, women’s reproductive rights, economic justice, and gun control.
Hosted by media mogul Oprah Winfrey, the “Unite for America” event featured Harris along with an array of notable figures and influential Black celebrities, drawing a large crowd in a studio in the critical battleground state of Michigan.
Some participants spoke via video call about their excitement for Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign during the live-stream rally, comparing it to the excitement surrounding former President Barack Obama’s first run for office in 2008, when he became the first Black president.
Harris, who was nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate after President Joe Biden’s exit, outlined her vision for the country and emphasized the importance of unity during a time of increasing political violence and hate rhetoric.
Recently, a second assassination attempt was made on Donald Trump while he was playing golf in Florida. A U.S. House task force is holding its first meeting Thursday “to understand what went wrong on the day of the attempted assassination, ensure accountability, and prevent such an agency failure from happening again.”
Harris said she spoke with Trump by phone after the second assassination attempt on him.
“I checked on him to see if he was okay and reiterated my public statement: ‘There is no place for political violence in our country,’ “ she said.
Political experts say the rally highlighted the importance of collective action ahead of the November election, where much is at stake.
Here are five key takeaways from the rally:
Gun ownership and safety
One notable moment during the Harris-Winfrey rally was when Harris discussed her stance on gun ownership, underscoring her support for the Second Amendment. Harris also emphasized the need for responsible gun ownership.
“If somebody breaks into my house, they’re getting shot,” Harris said, laughing. “I probably shouldn’t have said that.” Harris disputed claims by Trump and other Republicans that she wants to take away people’s guns.
‘You can’t wait until it’s too late’
The rally featured emotional testimonies from individuals affected by restrictive abortion laws. Hadley Duvall, a 22-year-old abortion rights advocate, talked about her traumatic experience of becoming pregnant after she was raped by her stepfather.
“You can’t wait until it’s too late to care about reproductive health care, because then it’s too late,” Duvall said. Harris praised the courage of those sharing their stories and called for a national right to abortion.
Also, Shanette Williams, whose daughter died in August 2022 after complications from an out-of-state abortion, shared her family’s tragic story. Amber Thurman, a Black mother of a six-year-old, died following complications from a medication abortion. Her story fuels the national debate over strict U.S. abortion bans.
“I didn’t want the public to know my pain,” Williams said at the rally hosted by Oprah Winfrey. “But I realized it was selfish.” She emphasized her daughter was more than a statistic, calling herself a “broken” mother.
Star power and celebrity endorsements
The rally was bolstered by the presence of two notable Black celebrities who expressed enthusiasm for Harris’ campaign.
Appearing in a video call, comedian and actor Chris Rock said a Harris presidency would be inspiring to young Black girls. “I want to bring my daughters to the White House to meet this Black woman president,” Rock said. “I think she will make a great president and I’m ready to turn the page. All the hate and negativity, it’s gotta stop.”
Actress Tracee Ellis Ross highlighted the importance of the event, stating she believes “in democracy” and “in the future of our country and reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy” as well as “women leading.”
Ross also appeared to praise Harris and Winfrey for setting examples for “childless women.”
“I would like to say to you two women, thank you for what you represent,” Ross said via video. “Because as a 52-year-old, childless woman, I wanna say to the people who think that a woman’s worth is measured in her baby count.”
Harris’ economic ambitions
Harris reiterated her economic agenda for the country, saying she would work to reduce the cost of housing and lower taxes for the middle class. She has introduced a proposal to help first-time homebuyers by offering up to $25,000 in down payment support for them.
She emphasized her commitment to addressing economic disparities and providing relief to working families. “We each have those moments in our lives when it’s time to step up,” Harris said when asked about her transition from vice president to the Democratic nominee.
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Unity and collective action
The overarching theme of the rally was unity and the power of collective action. Winfrey, who hosted the event, called on moderate voters to rally behind Harris.
The event aimed to bring together diverse groups of supporters, including Black Women for Harris, White Dudes for Harris and Republicans for Harris to create a united front for the 2024 election.
“This movement is about reminding each other that we have so much more in common than what separates us,” Harris said.