Harris rally draws thousands to Clarkston
Vice President Kamala Harris was back in DeKalb County on Oct. 24, this time joined by former President Barack Obama, musician Bruce Springsteen, entertainer Tyler Perry, director Spike Lee, actor Samuel L. Jackson, and others during a rally in Clarkston that drew a crowd of more than 20,000, according to officials.
The event was held in James R. Hallford Stadium on Memorial College Avenue in Clarkston. Hours before the rally began, photos and videos posted to social media showed thousands of people lining up to attend.
Among those who rallied for Harris and spoke to the large crowd were DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond, Congressman Hank Johnson, Sen. Jon Ossoff, and Sen. Raphael Warnock.
Much of the rally focused on men encouraging other men to get out and vote – specifically for Harris.
“Polls don’t vote, but we do,” said Thurmond to the audience. “And I tell you, if you can’t vote for yourself, then vote for your daughter, vote for your grandmother, vote for the women in your lives who couldn’t; I ask you to do one thing, and that is to vote.”
Johnson, Ossoff, and Warnock also discussed Democratic wins in Georgia in the past four years, stating that Georgia could go blue again.
“Georgia, you have proven again and again the power of the vote, even when they counted you out,” said Ossoff. “You picked up me and Raphael [Warnock] and carried us on your shoulders. And when the whole nation looked to Georgia, you elected to the senate a Black pastor who holds Dr. King’s pulpit at Ebenezer Baptist Church and the young Jewish son of an immigrant. Well Georgia, now the whole nation looks to us again.”
Georgia is considered one of seven battleground states in the U.S. that will play a big part on whether Democratic nominee Kamala Harris or Republican nominee Donald Trump becomes the next president, according to officials.
Voters are already turning out in record numbers to vote early throughout the state, according to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. By Oct. 23, more than two million voters had cast their ballots in Georgia, according to the latest data available.
After an introduction by Obama, who encouraged attendees and listeners to continue to break records and vote early, Harris took to the stage as the large crowd cheered.
Harris compared her record and policies to Trump’s during her remarks, stating that Trump’s presidency led to some Americans having less rights today than what their mothers or grandmothers had.
“I know you’re standing up because for you, this is not theorical, this is not political, this is your lived experience,” Harris told young attendees. “I see you and I see your power.”
Harris ended her rally by reiterating what many other speakers emphasized: make a plan to vote and encourage others to vote.
“Georgia, we need you to continue to vote early,” Harris said. “The election is here. It’s upon us and the choice is truly in your hands. Your vote is your voice. So, Georgia, I ask you, are you ready to make your voices heard?”
Advance voting for the 2024 Presidential Election continues through Nov. 1. Election Day is Nov. 5. For more information, including a list of all advance voting locations, go to dekalbvotes.com.
