Kamala Harris and Beyoncé ignited a Houston rally with a double-barreled argument against Donald Trump on Friday, with the superstar telling the Democratic nominee’s biggest crowd ever that it was “time to sing a new song” as Harris warned that her GOP opponent was dead set on further eroding women’s rights.
The rally was set in reliably Republican Texas, to highlight the growing medical fallout from the state’s strict abortion ban, but the message was intended to register in the political battleground states, where Harris is hoping that the aftereffects from the fall of Roe v. Wade will spur voters to turn out to support her quest for the presidency.
“For all the men and women in this room, and watching around the country, we need you,” Beyoncé said in a rare political appearance. The megastar’s speech was lofty, joyful and optimistic — a temper to the seriousness of the topic and of the message Harris was there to bring.
“I’m here as a mother, a mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in,” Beyoncé said. “A world where we have freedom to control our bodies, a world where we’re not divided.”
Harris came out to huge cheers. She told the crowd that Trump had erased half a century of hard-fought progress when he appointed the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe and touched off a growing healthcare crisis.
She listed off downstream effects she sees from various bans. Women who never intended to end a pregnancy are suffering devastating complications when they can’t get care. They have fewer options, and fewer medical students are choosing to specialize in women’s health.
“For anyone watching from another state, if you think you are protected from Trump abortion bans because you live in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New York, California, or any state where voters or legislators have protected reproductive freedom, please know: No one is protected,” Harris warned. “Because a Donald Trump national ban will outlaw abortion in every single state.”
“All that to say, elections matter,” she said.
Harris’ campaign has taken on Beyoncé’s 2016 track “Freedom” as its anthem, and the message dovetails with the vice president’s emphasis on reproductive freedom. Beyoncé was joined by her mother, Tina Knowles, and her former bandmate Kelly Rowland, who all spoke about Harris’ historic candidacy and a dream of a more united nation.
“Our voices sing a chorus of unity,” Beyoncé said. “They sing a song of dignity and opportunity — are y’all ready?”
Harris was also joined by country legend Willie Nelson, who sang some of his greatest hits, including “On the Road Again.”
“Hey, how are y’all doing?” the 91-year-old Nelson asked the crowd. “Are we ready to say Madam President?” Agency reports
