US Presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, was joined by billionaire entrepreneur and talk show host Oprah Winfrey during an online campaign rally in Michigan. The duo discussed Harris’ presidential campaign with topics ranging from gun laws to reproduction rights. The duo sat down in a studio to discuss the issues in front of a studio audience.
However, the online stream was studded with A-list star power. Attendees included Hollywood legends like Chris Rock, Jennifer Lopez, Bryan Cranston, Ben Stiller, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, and Tracee Ellis Ross. Michigan Governor Gretchen Witmer was in attendance at the studio along with nearly 400 members in the studio audience.
The event attracted over 300,000 audience members on the YouTube livestream alone, while the event was also being streamed on other social media platforms.
“There is so much at stake in this election, and ultimately, the question before us is: What kind of country do we want to live in? The beauty of a democracy, as long as we can hold on to it, is that each of us has the power to answer that question,” said Harris.
Harris criticized Donald Trump and the GOP’s (The Republican Party, also known as the GOP), antagonistic stance on reproductive rights and abortion. “In state after state, Trump Abortion Bans have criminalized reproductive care. Must a woman be on death’s door before a doctor or a nurse can provide help?” she said.
Oprah hosted the event in Michigan, titled “Unite for America”, in a similar fashion to her previous studio-filmed talk show. The event was arranged in collaboration with “Win With Black Women”, a non-profit group that arranged a massive fundraiser in support of Harris following the announcement of her running as a Presidential candidate, raising US$ 1.5 million.
“…They’re getting shot”
Harris made an offside comment when Oprah asked her if she was a gun-owner saying “If somebody breaks into my house, they’re getting shot”. She followed her statement with “I probably should not have said that. My staff will deal with that later.”
Harris’ comments come in the backdrop of heightened concerns regarding the safety of Presidential candidates in light of the recent assassination attempts on Republican candidate, Donald Trump. The recent incidents raised concerns regarding political violence in the country in the lead up to the general elections.
However, elaborating on her stance regarding gun laws, she said, “I think for far too long on the issue of gun violence, some people have been pushing a really false choice to say you’re either in favor of the Second Amendment or you want to take everyone’s guns away. I’m in favor of the Second Amendment, and I’m in favor of assault weapons bans, universal background checks, red flag laws”.
Harris said that assault rifles are designed to aggregate massive kill counts on the battlefield but have no place on the streets.
The event also included personal retelling of stories from the audience members, which included Hadley Duvall, an abortion rights activist who was raped by her stepfather when she was 12. Also involved the family members of Amber Nicole Thurman, a Georgian mother who died due to complications, thanks to delayed treatment under the state’s restrictive abortion laws.
Also in attendance were the victims of the wanton gun violence that has become too common in the US schools. In the audience was 15-year-old Natalie Griffith, who was shot twice during the Apalachee High School shooting in Georgia.
Celebrity Endorsements
Harris banked on the allure of Hollywood A-list star power to boost her voter base. Earlier, Harris’ campaign received a massive boost due to endorsement by American Pop sensation, Taylor Swift.
“I have never felt this much joy and optimism in a campaign for a long time. I’m just so appreciative of Kamala to be able to bring back that sense of optimism, and just squash the cynicism” said Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston.
“I couldn’t be more excited for them to have the legacy to say that the first vote they ever cast for president was for you. I have just chills saying that out loud,” said Julia Roberts.
Meryl Streep also commented on the heartbreaking stories shared by the studio audience saying, “…the word of the day is ‘preventable’… all of this, the surround of hatred and venom and toxicity and encouraging some segment of Americans to hate other segments of Americans.”
Taking pride in Harris’ African American heritage, Chris Rock said he wanted to bring his daughters to the White House to meet a Black woman president.
Oprah concluded the event appealing to the undecided voters, urging them to exercise their franchise and cast their vote to Harris. “This is the moment for people who are tired of all of the bickering and all of the name-calling, people who are exhausted by the craziness and the made-up stories and the conspiracies,” she said.
“You know that we can do better and that we deserve better. You know this. I know you know this… We’re better than this”
-Oprah Winfrey
Harris Leads over Trump
The endorsements seem to be working wonders as recent polls show Harris leading former President Trump in several key states ahead of the general elections on November 5.
According to Pew Research Centre, nearly half of the registered voters (49%) would vote for Harris if elections were held immediately.
Harris also currently leads in battleground states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada and North Carolina, while Trump had greater support in Georgia, according to poll aggregator FiveThirtyEight.
Watch the full event here:
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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