Harris and Beyoncé ignite Houston rally with double-barrelled anti-Trump argument

HOUSTON (AP) – Kamala Harris i Beyonce on Friday sparked a rally in Houston with a double-barreled anti-Donald Trump argument, during which the superstar told the Democratic candidate’s largest ever audience that “it’s time to sing a new song,” before Harris warned that her GOP opponent is determined to further erode women’s rights.

The rally was held in reliably Republican Texas to highlight the growing health impacts of that state’s stringent abortion ban, but the message was intended to resonate in political battleground states where Harris hopes the fallout the collapse of Roe v. Wade will encourage voters to support her efforts in the presidential elections.

“On behalf of all the men and women in this room and all those watching across the country, we need you,” Beyoncé said in a rare political appearance. The megastar’s speech was uplifting, joyful and optimistic – reflecting the seriousness of the topic and the message Harris would bring.

“I’m here as a mother, a mother who cares deeply about the world that my children and all our children live in,” Beyoncé said. “A world where we have the freedom to control our bodies, a world where we are not divided.”

Harris came out and cheered enthusiastically. She told the crowd that Trump erased half a century of dogged progress by appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe and created a growing health care crisis.

She listed the further impacts she sees as a result of the various bans. Women who never intended to terminate their pregnancies face debilitating complications when they cannot obtain care. They have fewer options and fewer medical students choose to specialize in women’s health.

“For anyone watching from another state if they believe they are protected from Trump’s abortion bans because they live in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New York, California or any state where voters or lawmakers protect reproductive freedom, please know: no one is protected,” Harris warned. “Because Donald Trump’s nationwide ban will ban abortion in every state.”

“To say it all, elections matter,” she said.

Trump has been inconsistent in his message to voters regarding abortion and reproductive rightsalthough he said he would veto a nationwide abortion ban. He repeatedly changed his position and gave vague, contradictory and sometimes nonsensical answers to questions about the issue that was being discussed. a serious gap for Republicans in this year’s elections.

Trump was also in Texas on Friday, where he predicted that if he won the election, he would break records for the number of people deported from the United States. He recorded a podcast with Joe Rogan before heading to a rally in Traverse City, Michigan, where he took the stage three hours later.

Harris was joined at the rally by women who nearly died from sepsis and other pregnancy complications because they couldn’t get proper medical care. Some of them have already campaigned for Harris, and others have shared their own harrowing stories ads in the campaign that you want to display how this issue turned into something much more serious than the right to end an unwanted pregnancy.

Because abortion was restricted in Texas, the state infant mortality increasedmore children died from birth defects and maternal mortality increased.

The crowd waited for hours, wearing flashing red, white and blue LED bracelets, while the slogans “women of confidence” and “freedom” appeared on large screens between performances.

“Sometimes they forget about us because we’re a Republican state,” said Rhonda Johnson, who has lived in Houston for 19 years. – But I’m glad she’s here.

Reproductive rights, the economy and LGBTQ issues were the main reasons why Yannick Djomatchoua decided to support Harris and wait in an hours-long line to meet her. “It’s a very personal matter,” he said, adding that he knows friends who have had to make difficult decisions because of state abortion restrictions.

Her anthem was Beyoncé’s 2016 song “Freedom,” whose message fits in with the vice president’s emphasis on reproductive freedom. Beyoncé was joined by her mother Tina Knowles and her former bandmate Kelly Rowland, who spoke about Harris’ historic candidacy and the dream of a more united nation.

“Our voices sing a chorus of unity,” Beyoncé said. “They sing a song of dignity and possibility. Are you ready?”

Harris was also joined by country legend Willie Nelson, who sang some of his biggest hits, including “On the Road Again.”

“Hey, how are you?” Nelson, 91, asked the crowd. “Are we ready to tell Mrs. President?”

Increasingly, in the 14 states with strict abortion bans, women cannot get medical care until their condition becomes life-threatening. In some states, doctors may face criminal prosecution if they provide medical care.

Democrats warn that the sifting of rights and freedoms will only continue if Trump is elected. Republican lawmakers in States across the United States are rejecting the Democrats’ proposal efforts to protect or expand access to birth control, for example.

“Freedom is not given in America. It should not be broadcast. This is ours. Legally. “It also includes a woman’s basic freedom to make decisions about her own body and not have the government tell her what to do,” Harris said.

There is some evidence to suggest that abortion rights could drive women to the polls, as they did during the 2022 midterm elections. Voters in seven statesincluding some conservatives, either protected abortion rights or defeated attempts to restrict them on statewide ballots over the past two years.

ABOUT 6 out of 10 According to a July poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, Americans believe their state should generally allow legal abortion if for any reason one does not want to get pregnant.

Democrats also hope Harris’ visit will strengthen the Rep’s position. Colin Allredwho makes a bold attempt to unseat a Republican senator from Texas. Ted Cruz. Allred said Friday that if you vote to repeal a woman’s constitutional rights, as Cruz did, you should lose your job.

Texas captures the post-Roe landscape. The strict abortion ban prohibits doctors from performing abortions once heart activity is detected, which can occur as early as six weeks or earlier.

As a result, women increasingly enjoy poorer health care. This is in part because doctors cannot intervene unless the woman has a life-threatening condition or to prevent “significant impairment of major bodily functions.”

“Donald Trump’s Texas abortion bans almost cost me my life and left me with physical and emotional scars,” said Ondrea Cummings, who lost her 16-week-old baby and almost died from sepsis when she couldn’t get care quickly enough.

“I never thought I would have this type of personal experience. If it could happen to me, it could happen to anyone.”

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Long reported from Washington.