HOUSTON — Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday fired up a Texas crowd as she delivered a major speech on reproductive rights, a major issue for her campaign with 11 days to go until Election Day.
Speaking in front of her largest crowd ever, 30,000 in Houston, Harris along with superstar singer Beyonce urged the American people to turn the page on the division and asked both men and women to vote for reproductive freedoms to be restored.
“I’m not here as a celebrity or a singer,” Beyoncé said. “I’m here as a mother.”
“I’m here as a mother, a mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in,” she added. “A world where we have freedom to control our bodies, a world where we’re not divided.”
Harris was introduced to the crowd and received massive cheers as she came on stage. The Vice President then spoke directly to her supporters, calling on them to help elect Rep. Colin Allred but also to those watching around the country, asking them to vote for freedom.
“Though we are in Texas tonight, for anyone watching from another state, if you think you are protected from Trump abortion bans because you live in Michigan, or Pennsylvania, or Nevada, or New York, or California, or any state where voters or legislators have protected reproductive freedom, please know: No one is protected. Because a Donald Trump national ban will outlaw abortion in every single state,” Harris said.
The goal of the Texas visit was to draw attention to Harris’ center issue in her campaign: reproductive rights and Texas, as Harris said Friday, is “ground zero for abortion bans”.
“All that to say, elections matter,” she said.
Trump, who was also in Texas on Friday, has waffled in his stance to voters on abortion and reproductive rights, he’d veto a national abortion ban but also has refused to say what stage abortion should be outlawed.
Prior to Harris and Beyonce, several women who have nearly died from sepsis and other pregnancy complications, spoke about what the state’s abortion ban has done to effect so many women both in Texas and around the country.
Since Texas’ strict abortion laws were put in place, the state’s infant death rate has increased, more babies have died of birth defects and maternal mortality has risen.
“In America, freedom is not to be given. It is not to be bestowed. It is ours. By right. And that includes the fundamental freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have the government telling her what to do,” Harris said.
Democrats are reportedly anxious and nervous about Harris’ chances in November. She heard those calls and urged voters to not sit this election out.
“Is it worth it? Does it make a difference? Yes it does, you are making a difference, and momentum is on our side.” Harris said.
