HOUSTON – In a star-studded evening before an electrified crowd of tens of thousands of supporters, Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday asked women and men to vote on Nov. 5 to stand up for their freedoms and reject former President Donald Trump. Trump’s policy.
“Texas, we have a health care crisis here, and Donald Trump is the architect of it,” Harris said.
“We know that freedom should not be given. This should not be attributed. This is our right and we are ready to fight for it,” he added. “We have to be loud. we have to organize. We must mobilize. We have to give energy.”
Harris’ biggest event of the shortened presidential campaign featured cameos from Houston native Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Texas legend Willie Nelson.
Beyoncé sent the stadium into a frenzy when she took the stage with her sister. The superstar, whose song “Freedom” served as Harris’ campaign anthem, did not perform. She said she was there not as an entertainer or a politician, but as a mother.
“Imagine our daughters growing up, seeing what’s possible, no ceilings, no limits,” she said, adding, “my children and all of our children, a world where we have the freedom to control our bodies, we are not divided.”
“It’s time for America to sing a new song. Our voices sing a chorus of unity. They sing of dignity and opportunity. Ready to add your voice to the new American song? he said to applause before introducing Harris to the stage.
With the race just 11 days away and Democrats and Republicans racing to reach voters, Harris’ team saw Friday’s rally as a way to get the attention of voters across the country.
At the same time, the vice president used the event to emphasize that there is a serious choice for Americans at the ballot box, which former President Donald Trump called Roe v. It was about sending a message to push through the Supreme Court justices who overturned Wade. The choice of the red state of Texas as the scene of the event was to emphasize that it has the strictest laws restricting abortion in the country.
The evening was partly dark, focusing mainly on the topic of reproductive rights and first-person accounts of how restrictive laws have caused or nearly caused the death of women. At one point, a large group of doctors wearing white medical coats took to the stage to say they were on the front lines of reproductive care.
They said that women’s health is in danger and called on the crowd to vote. Among the speakers, clips were played of Trump blaming Roe’s overturning, prompting an uproar.
Harris’ team believes that the focus on reproductive rights also applies to men, citing a campaign ad that has been well-tested with men.
On Friday, Harris called out men specifically, saying they don’t want to risk the lives of their daughters or wives because of limited health care options.
“I see men here, and I thank you!” Harris said. “America’s men don’t want it.”
Harris pointed out at one point that Trump has refused to release his medical records, but after Roe was overturned, some places like Texas wanted to enact requirements for women to report abortions or miscarriages.
“Simply put, they’re out of their minds!” Harris said.
Part of the night was aimed at shining a light on Democratic Rep. Colin Allred, who is in a tight battle with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.
“Beat Ted Cruz! Beat Ted Cruz!” The congressman erupted after asking the crowd for a vote.
“Everything is big in Texas, but Ted Cruz is too small for Texas,” he said to another crowd outburst.
Tens of thousands of people poured into the arena for hours, turning the venue into a massive dance party accompanied by a DJ. The campaign estimated that about 30,000 people participated.
In the crowd, Vicki Lewis wore a red, white and blue T-shirt with “Vote” written on it in large letters. Lewis said his message to other voters is to vote early.
“You have no right to be on the fence. You should already know. You should vote for who represents you and your future,” said Lewis, who already voted for Harris. He cited concerns about health, reproductive rights and retirement. “I need someone to fight for me and represent me.”
He took issue with Trump bashing and calling Harris.fool.”
“He has a resume. You have to look at his biography,” he said. “He is the one who is unqualified. It serves the people. He is a man of the people and he is not. Everything belongs to him and his loved ones.”
Austin Valdezstapp said he’s out to give women a boost in particular.
“A big reason I’m here is to support women and make sure that they continue to have the things and rights that they should have, and I think those are at stake in Texas right now. it’s vital,” Valdezstapp said.
Another attendee, Michael White, said he was fed up with the outrageous things Trump has said and done.
“Some of the things he’s gotten away with — if I said what he said, if Obama said what he said, if Harris did — do you think we’d get away with it?” White said he was particularly concerned about Trump’s “disrespect for women.”