At the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Vice President Kamala Harris received an enthusiastic reception as Beyoncé’s song “Freedom” played while she made her way to the stage.
Harris, dressed in a light brown suit, addressed the crowded hall and announced that the evening’s focus would be on honoring President Joe Biden. “This is going to be a great week, and I want to kick us off by celebrating our incredible President Joe Biden, who will be speaking later tonight,” Harris said, as reported by the Guardian. “Joe, thank you for your historic leadership, for your lifetime of service to our nation, and for all you will continue to do, we are forever grateful to you. Thank you, Joe!”
Just watched Kamala Harris make her first appearance on the DNC floor. pic.twitter.com/7NAOViEpaK
— Ankita Rao (@anrao) August 20, 2024
After her brief address, which highlighted the diversity of the Democratic Party’s supporters, Harris left the stage. She emphasized the unity of Americans under the Democratic Party’s vision for the nation’s future.
“This November, we will come together and declare with one voice, as one people, we are moving forward,” she stated.
“With optimism, hope, and faith, guided by our love of country, knowing we all have so much more in common than what separates us, let us fight for the ideals we hold dear, and let us always remember when we fight, we win,” she added.
Hillary Clinton’s Tribute and Critique
Hillary Clinton, who also spoke at the convention, praised Harris for her “character, experience, and vision to lead us forward.” Clinton shared her own experiences with Harris, recounting their early work as “young lawyers helping children who were abused or neglected.” She noted, “That kind of work changes you. Those kids stay with you. Kamala carries with her the hopes of every child she protected, every family she helped, every community she served.”
Clinton, who lost the presidential race to Donald Trump in 2016, contrasted Harris’s dedication with Trump’s self-centeredness. She remarked, “Kamala cares about kids, families, and America. Donald only cares about himself.”
Recalling Harris’s memorable declaration on her first day in court—“Kamala Harris, for the people”—Clinton asserted, “That’s something Donald Trump will never understand.”
