By Tanu Henry, California Black Media
At a rally held in front of City Hall on July 22 in San Francisco — where Kamala Harris served as D.A. from 2004 to 2001 before becoming Attorney General of the state — Bay Area elected officials, advocates and other stakeholders gathered to show support for one their own.
“Right now. she needs us more than ever,” San Francisco Mayor London Breed told a cheering crowd of well-wishers.
“We as Democrats, we don’t have time to waste,” Breed leaned in. “We don’t have time to mess around and figure things out. Kamala Harris is the person.”
The event was held one day after President Joe Biden announced his decision to drop out of the 2024 race for President and endorse Harris.
In various cities across California and around the country, Black women are coming together and echoing a similar level of passion to Breed’s as they express their full-hearted support of Harris’ run for the White House.
California State Controller Malia Cohen — a former San Francisco official herself – described the diverse makeup of the Democrats attending the San Francisco rally and called on them to commit to Harris’s winning Donald Trump in November.
“One thing we have on this stage is the united understanding about what we need to do, which is get Harris elected,” Cohen told the crowd.
On July 22, the California Black Women’s Collective PAC (CBWCPAC) wrote an open letter to Vice President Kamala Harris signed by more than 1300 Black women from around California.
“As the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first South Asian woman to hold the office of Vice President, you have not only broken historical barriers. You have also served as a beacon of hope and inspiration for countless individuals who see themselves reflected in your journey,” the CBWCPAC letter read.
“Madame Vice President, your steadfast dedication to addressing systemic inequities, championing comprehensive healthcare, and advocating for criminal justice reflect the values we need in a leader right now,” it went on.
On June 22, Kellie Todd Griffin, Convener of CBWCPAC, organized a call with over 10,000 Black women from across California. Another 9,932 registered for the call but could not log on because of capacity limits.
“We stand at a crossroads in our nation’s history, where the path we choose will shape the destiny of future generations,” said Todd Griffin.
Vice President Kamala Harris has the vision, the courage, and the unwavering commitment to lead us towards a more equitable and just society that is inclusive of all voices and issues we face today.”
Todd Griffin added that California Black Women are rallying behind Harris “united in our shared vision for a brighter, more inclusive future.”
We know that our greatest strength is the way in which we use our collective power to transform the nation into the perfect union it proclaims to be. Vice President Harris is not just a candidate for the President of the United States; she is a catalyst for the change that is needed now,” Todd Griffin stated.
The night before, an estimated 90,000 Black women and their allies – about 44,000 of them on Zoom and tens of thousands more on other digital platforms – rallied to show their support for Harris.
The historic Zoom call, on which more than $1 million was raised for Harris’s campaign in three hours, was organized by #WinWithBlackWoman, a political advocacy organization that boasts of a diverse network of Black women.
Among the women on the call were U.S. Reps Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30) and Joyce Beatty (D-OH-3); former Democratic National Convention Chair Donna Brazile; the Rev. Berniece King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr; D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser; Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore, among others.
“President Biden’s endorsement of Vice President as the Democratic nominee for President of the United States is a pivotal moment for our country,” said Jotaka Eaddy, founder of #WinWithBlackWomen.
“As we gathered, we expressed our gratitude for the extraordinary work President Biden has done, while we affirmed our individual commitment to stand united in unwavering support of Vice President Kamala Harris as the leader of our nation needs.”
Eaddy says she is ready to confront the challenges ahead.
“The Journey to proclaim our democracy and advance our shared values begins now with unwavering determination and unified vision,” Eaddy continued. “Unity among not only Black women, but all Americans is not just vital to the state of our democracy but necessary to propel our nation forward.”
On July 21, California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed support for Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination at the Party’s convention this August.
Newsom posted on the social media platform X, praising Harris for being, “Tough. Fearless. Tenacious,” through her political career.
“With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump’s dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President, @KamalaHarris,” Newsom wrote.
Although some Democrats showed interest in an open convention that allows a competitive race between multiple candidates, most delegates have openly expressed support for Harris. Gov. Newsom defended his decision to back Harris and clarified that he has no intention of running for president at the DNC in Chicago. Despite being selected as one of President Joe Biden’s surrogates during the campaign trail, Newsom has shown unwavering support to both Biden and Harris.
California U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA-10) said that Biden’s endorsement “slammed the door” for other Democrats hoping to bid for a presidential candidacy.
“I think we’ve got a terrific opportunity with Harris,” he said.
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