Protesting injustice by taking over the administration building of Howard University — the oft-besieged "A" building — has been a rite of passage for generations of politically conscious students at the nation's preeminent historically black academic institution. But what if such a righteous eruption occurs during your first year on campus — when you're just beginning to taste independence and test limits? Would you be jeopardizing an auspicious launch in life? "It was a very scary thing to do," recalled Gwendolyn Whitfield, who was a freshman from Detroit in February 1983, when students marched on the "A" building once again. "I didn't necessarily know if we would get arrested or if we would get in trouble." She took courage from her new friend from Oakland, Calif. — a fellow freshman named Kamala Harris.
“Kamala had a fearlessness that, if it was something she believed in, she wanted to be actively involved, and actively engaged, and not sit on the sidelines,” Whitfield said recently when I called her at Sewanee: The University of the South, in Tennessee, where she is assistant dean of business education. “She was unwavering in her commitment. That’s what I remember. It wasn’t reckless, but it was just, you know, this is what we should do.”
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The year of the sit-in, Harris also ran for her first elected office, winning the position of freshman representative on the Liberal Arts Student Council. And she was active in the movement against apartheid; freshman year, according to her memoir, she participated in demonstrations “almost every weekend.”
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Concluding her remarks to the students at Howard (last) February, Harris alluded to the sit-in and the struggle against apartheid. “These are the moments in time that are going to require us to step up and stand out and speak up,” she said. She reminded the young people that they will face their own calls to action in an era when questions of race and equity seem as unsettled as ever. “Years from now, you’re going to look back on these days. ... I want that you will be able to talk about not just how you felt but what action you took — what you did, how you spoke up, how you stood out, how you marched when necessary, how you shouted when necessary.”
Kamala Harris is ready to lead! She has been fearless in the Senate. And she is inspiring on the campaign trail.
At the Alabama Democratic Convention yesterday, she reminded a cheering audience about why she is running:
“This is a fight born — not only from the soul of our country — but a fight born out of the love of our country," she said.
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Years from now, she ended, when the children of the people in the room come to them and ask what was happening at this time, "We will be able to tell them more than how we felt. We will be able to tell them what we did."
Montgomery Advertiser
In Alabama: Truth. Justice. Opportunity For All.
Kamala Harris is reaching out across the South.
From Alabama, Sen. Harris traveled to South Carolina. In the state capital, she keynoted the SCNAACP Freedom Fund Dinner.
There, she gave a forceful speech about her career as a prosecutor:
And so she did.
And there was more:
She explained why her background as a prosecutor makes her uniquely qualified to be President at this critical moment in history:
Finally Up!
Yes!
Hear! Hear!
And now, on to Iowa!
And there’s more:
Taking the time to empower:
I’m all in!
There are about 70 million reasons to support Kamala Harris for President!
Newpioneer has rounded up some highlights of her sponsored legislation here.
snowman3 has rounded up some more legislative highlights here.
Want to know more about her positions and plans? Her policy page is Our America.
Or go straight to an issue: quality, affordable health care for all, economic justice,raising teacher pay, combating the climate crisis, criminal justice reform, action on gun violence, a fair and just immigration system, LGBTQ+ equality, government for the people, debt-free college and student debt, gender equality, American leadership at home and abroad, and fighting for racial justice.
Let’s get involved!
The first debate is less than three weeks away, on June 26 & 27. There’s plenty of time to learn how to organize a debate watch party. Invite some neighbors and friends to settle in with you and some munchies and view all the candidates on the debate stage.
The watch party training sessions are
- Tue, Jun 11, 6:30pm–7:30pm EDT
- Thu, Jun 13, 6:30pm–7:30pm EDT
- Tue, Jun 18, 6:30pm–7:30pm EDT
- Thu, Jun 20, 6:30pm–7:30pm EDT
There are multiple ways to volunteer and help Kamala’s campaign.
— Host a house party
— Send texts for the campaign
— Make phone calls
— Become a community leader
— Host an organizer
If you’d like to volunteer to host one of our Kamala 2020 diaries, please leave your comment in the ”Calling all Volunteers” thread.
Even if you can’t commit to a weekly spot due to your busy schedules, guest bloggers are always welcomed!
Next week’s schedule
Please volunteer! Come share your story about why you support Kamala!
Monday, June 10th — WYgalinCali
Tuesday, June 11 —Diana in NoVa
Wednesday, June 12 — Onomastic
Thursday, June 13 —snowman3
Friday, June 14— rfltcammt
Saturday, June 15 —
Sunday, June 16 —noweasels
Monday, June 17 --
Tuesday, June 18 --
Wednesday, June 19 —
Thursday, June 20 --
Friday, June 21 --
Saturday, June 22 —
Sunday, June 23 --
Let your voices be heard!
If you are able, please support our group Kamala 2020 fundraising efforts. Congratulations to everyone who has chipped in, even if it’s only a dollar, because together we’ll see her through this historic campaign.
*Please remember this is a Kamala2020 group effort, & not a Daily Kos sponsored activity or endorsement.
Upcoming Events
June 9th and 10th: Kamala Harris will make her fourth trip to Iowa on June 9 and 10, her campaign announced Wednesday.
The U.S. senator from California, one of more than 20 candidates vying for the 2020 Democratic nomination, plans to host a rally at the Cedar Rapids DoubleTree by Hilton hotel on June 9.
The rally is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. at the downtown hotel and is open to the public.
June 14 & June 15: On Friday, June 14, and Saturday, June 15, Senator Kamala Harris will return to Nevada to hold campaign events and meet with voters. Harris will speak at the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. 33rd Annual Conference in Las Vegas on Friday along with other events to be announced.
June 18: Kamala will hold a Reception in Midtown NYC! Check your email and RSVP. Limited tickets available starting at $100, more details closer to event.
June 26-27: The first debates will be held in Miami, Florida, and will be broadcast live on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo.
July 16: Kamala will be in Iowa for the AARP/Des Moines Register Forums
July 30-31: The second debates will be held on July 30th and 31st in Detroit, Michigan, and will be broadcast live on CNN
Sept 12-13: The third debates will be held on September 12th and 13th, and will be broadcast by ABC and Univision.
Please remember to visit our community group page Kamala2020 and give us a follow, that way all our group efforts will appear in your stream, making it easy for everyone to keep up with our latest posts. As always, any who would like to join our group please leave us a comment and we’ll get your invitation right out to you!
While you’re here, don’t forget to visit Kamala’s Official Campaign Website and her Swag Shop for your favorite campaign gear!
If you’re on Twitter, please follow @KamalaHarris and @SenKamalaHarris
(If you’re not on Twitter, please bookmark those pages—the tweets and retweets are visible even to us non-tweeters!)
on Instagram: @kamalaharris
and facebook: KamalaHarris
If you have any questions or would like to volunteer to post a group diary, please kosmail the group.
Group Guidelines
The Kamala2020 community group has been created to positively support Senator Kamala Harris, and not to engage in negativity towards other community members or any other Democrats running in the 2020 primaries.
All should be made to feel welcome here. What’s not welcome here is petty bickering over any of our preferred candidates, or personal attacks on fellow Democrats. We’re not responsible for the actions of others who may offend, insult or attempt to sow discord and disunity — that’s on them.
What we are responsible for are our own words and actions — that’s 100% on us.
I’d like to ask all group members, as well as those dropping by who support or are interested in Kamala’s bid for the nomination, that we not respond to negativity from other campaign’s supporters with negativity. Let’s do better than our best and respond with respect, or try to hold our peace. Recipes and cat pics work, too
😃
Doing no harm costs us nothing... pie-fights will cost us everything.
Good Sunday Morning, Fellow Joyful Warriors!