Kamala Harris caps Democratic convention with call to end Gaza war, fight tyranny
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CHICAGO – US Vice-President Kamala Harris formally accepted her party’s nomination for president on Aug 22 with a rousing call to end the war in Gaza and to fight tyranny around the world, drawing a sharp contrast with Republican Donald Trump.
“In the enduring struggle between democracy and tyranny, I know where I stand, and I know where the United States belongs,” Ms Harris said, accusing Trump of bowing down to dictators.
On the final, and most anticipated, night of the four-day Chicago convention, Ms Harris, 59, promised to chart a “new way forward” as she and Trump, 78, enter the final 11 weeks of the razor-close campaign.
Ms Harris emerged as the Democratic candidate
It was a forceful speech for a candidate who, during her brief campaign, had yet to articulate much of her vision for the country and faced a stream of personal attacks from Trump, who mocked her black and South Asian heritage and called her weak on the foreign stage.
The speech laid out some broad policy principles, foreign and domestic, but left unsaid specific details which in weeks to come she could be pressured to provide.
After days of protests from Palestinian supporters
“Now is the time to get a hostage deal and a ceasefire deal done,” she said to cheers. “And let me be clear, I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself.”
“What has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating. So many innocent lives lost, desperate hungry people fleeing for safety over and over again. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking,” she said.
“President Biden and I are working to end this war such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can realise their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination.”
In some of her strongest foreign policy statements to date, Ms Harris said she would take whatever action was necessary to defend US interests against Iran and would not cosy up to tyrants and dictators.
She said such leaders, including North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, “are rooting for Trump”.
She vowed to stand with Ukraine in its war against Russia and with Nato allies.
If successful, Ms Harris stands to make history as the first woman elected US president.
She described the Nov 5 election as a “precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past” and “a chance to chart a new way forward”.
She drew a series of contrasts with Trump, accusing him of not fighting for the middle class, planning to enact a tax hike through his tariff proposals, and having set into motion the end of a constitutional right to abortion with his picks for the US Supreme Court.
Ms Harris noted the Supreme Court’s recent ruling about presidential immunity and the risks that would engender if Trump gained power again.
“Just imagine Donald Trump with no guard rails,” she said.
Trump, who had promised to respond to Ms Harris’ speech in real time, posted a series of messages on the Truth Social platform as she spoke about him, including: “She stands for Incompetence and Weakness – Our Country is being laughed at all over the World!” and “She will never be respected by the Tyrants of the World!”
Final night
Chicago’s United Centre brimmed with energy – and people.
The arena’s 23,500 seats were filled, and arena staff blocked more people from entering the facility, saying the city’s fire marshal declared the building at capacity.
After Ms Harris ended her speech, 100,000 balloons descended on the crowd, a convention official said. Inflating them took 75 volunteers, 30 staff members and a dozen unionised stagehands.
Mr Biden called Ms Harris to wish her luck before her speech, a White House spokesperson said.
American singer-songwriter Pink (centre) performing at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug 22.
PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
During her brief campaign, Ms Harris had yet to articulate much of her vision for the country, and Republicans say Democrats have spent more time attacking Trump than elaborating on how they would govern.
On Aug 22 night, Ms Harris said she will pass a middle class tax cut
She discussed her plans to fight for abortion rights, voting rights legislation, boost the housing supply and ban what she has called “price gouging” by grocers.
Her campaign has also proposed raising the corporate tax rate from 21 per cent to 28 per cent.
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren during the final night of the Democratic National Convention at the United Centre in Chicago, on Aug 22, 2024.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
Former US Representative Adam Kinzinger was one of several Republicans who spoke at the convention for Ms Harris and against Trump.
PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
Before the speech, thousands of Palestinian supporters once again gathered to protest against US support for Israel as it wages war in Gaza.
The issue is one of the most divisive among Democrats and got little attention at the convention, which could hurt Democrats at the polls.
Delegates from the Uncommitted National Movement, which mobilised nearly 750,000 voters to withhold support for Mr Biden during the presidential primaries, entered the venue linking arms and took their seats.
Members spent Aug 21 night on the sidewalk outside the convention to protest against the Democratic National Convention’s rejection of their request for a Palestinian speaker.
Ms Harris has raised a record-breaking US$500 million (S$654 million) in a month and narrowed the gap or taken the lead against Trump in many opinion polls
Nationwide, she leads Trump 46.6 per cent to 43.8 per cent, according to a compilation of polls by website FiveThirtyEight. REUTERS
