Vice President-elect Kamala Harris spoke first Saturday night time in Wilmington, Delaware, to a crowd of supporters. Here is what she mentioned.
Good night.
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Congressman John Lewis, earlier than his passing, wrote: “Democracy shouldn’t be a state. It’s an act.”
And what he meant was that America’s democracy shouldn’t be assured.
It is just as sturdy as our willingness to battle for it, to protect it and by no means take it with no consideration.
And defending our democracy takes battle.
It takes sacrifice. There may be pleasure in it and there may be progress.
As a result of We The Folks have the facility to construct a greater future.
And when our very democracy was on the poll on this election, with the very soul of America at stake, and the world watching, you ushered in a brand new day for America.
To our marketing campaign employees and volunteers, this extraordinary workforce — thanks for bringing extra individuals than ever earlier than into the democratic course of and for making this victory attainable.
To the ballot staff and election officers throughout our nation who’ve labored tirelessly to verify each vote is counted — our nation owes you a debt of gratitude as you have got protected the integrity of our democracy.
And to the American individuals who make up our lovely nation — thanks for turning out in document numbers to make your voices heard.
I do know occasions have been difficult, particularly the final a number of months.
The grief, sorrow, and ache. The troubles and the struggles.
However we’ve additionally witnessed your braveness, your resilience, and the generosity of your spirit.
For 4 years, you marched and arranged for equality and justice, for our lives, and for our planet.
After which, you voted. You delivered a transparent message.
You selected hope, unity, decency, science, and, sure, reality.
You selected Joe Biden as the subsequent President of america of America.
Joe is a healer. A uniter. A examined and regular hand.
An individual whose personal expertise of loss provides him a way of function that may assist us, as a nation, reclaim our personal sense of function.
And a person with a giant coronary heart who loves with abandon.
It’s his love for Jill, who might be an unimaginable First Girl.
It’s his love for Hunter, Ashley, his grandchildren, and the complete Biden household.
And whereas I first knew Joe as Vice President, I actually bought to know him as the daddy who beloved Beau, my pricey buddy, who we keep in mind right here as we speak.
To my husband Doug, our youngsters Cole and Ella, my sister Maya, and our entire household — I like you all greater than I can categorical.
We’re so grateful to Joe and Jill for welcoming our household into theirs on this unimaginable journey.
And to the girl most answerable for my presence right here as we speak — my mom, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who’s at all times in our hearts.
When she got here right here from India on the age of 19, perhaps she didn’t fairly think about this second.
However she believed so deeply in an America the place a second like that is attainable.
So, I am serious about her and concerning the generations of ladies — Black Ladies.
Asian, White, Latina, and Native American girls all through our nation’s historical past who’ve paved the way in which for this second tonight.
Ladies who fought and sacrificed a lot for equality, liberty, and justice for all, together with the Black girls, who’re too usually neglected, however so usually Show that they’re the spine of our democracy.
All of the Ladies who labored to safe and defend the suitable to vote for over a century: 100 years in the past with the nineteenth Modification, 55 years in the past with the Voting Rights Act, and now, in 2020, with a brand new era of ladies in our nation who solid their ballots and continued the battle for his or her elementary proper to vote and be heard.
Tonight, I mirror on their battle, their dedication and the energy of their imaginative and prescient — to see what may be unburdened by what has been — I stand on their shoulders.
And what a testomony it’s to Joe’s character that he had the audacity to interrupt one of the vital substantial boundaries that exists in our nation and choose a girl as his Vice President.
However whereas I stands out as the first girl on this workplace, I received’t be the final.
As a result of each little woman watching tonight sees that it is a nation of potentialities.
And to the kids of our nation, no matter your gender, our nation has despatched you a transparent message:
Dream with ambition, lead with conviction, and see your self in a manner that others won’t see you, just because they’ve by no means seen it earlier than.
And we’ll applaud you each step of the way in which.
To the American individuals:
Regardless of who you voted for, I’ll try to be the Vice President that Joe was to President Obama — loyal, sincere, and ready, waking up day-after-day pondering of you and your households. As a result of now’s when the true work begins.
The Laborious work. The Mandatory work. The Good work.
The important work to save lots of lives and beat this pandemic.
To rebuild our financial system so it really works for working individuals.
To root out systemic racism in our justice system and society.
To fight the local weather disaster.
To unite our nation and heal the soul of our nation.
The street forward is not going to be straightforward.
However America is prepared. And so are Joe and I.
We now have elected a president who represents the perfect in us.
A frontrunner the world will respect and our youngsters can look as much as.
A Commander in Chief who will respect our troops and maintain our nation secure.
And a President for all People.
It’s now my nice honor to introduce the President-elect of america of America, Joe Biden.
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