Vice President Kamala Harris’ “Fight For Our Freedoms” College Tour Inspires Young Leaders

GREENSBORO, NC — Kamala Harris, the United States Vice President, recently embarked on her “Fight for Our Freedoms” college tour, where she delivered a powerful message of inspiration and empowerment to young leaders.  She received a proper HBCU welcome during today’s (Sept. 15) stop on her journey, hosted at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NC A&T), the largest historically Black college in the state. Harris addressed a wide range of crucial issues while emphasizing the pivotal role that college students play in shaping the nation’s future. 

Vote For Your Future

Harris began her speech by acknowledging the young leaders in the audience, stating, “To all the young leaders, we are counting on you; we need you.” She passionately emphasized that their efforts would make a profound difference in bettering the country, pointing to the historic voter turnout among young people in the 2020 elections as evidence of their potential influence.

Fighting For Our Freedoms

One key focus of Harris’s address was the importance of voting in safeguarding the nation’s hard-fought freedoms. She drew attention to the ongoing attack on voting rights and urged students to actively participate in shaping the country’s future through their votes.

Harris addressed the recent Supreme Court decision limiting abortion rights and shared a personal story from her high school years, highlighting the importance of women having control over their own bodies and calling for representatives who support bodily autonomy.

Prioritizing Public Health and Safety

The Vice President also outlined the administration’s commitment to addressing crucial issues, such as eliminating lead pipes in America and ensuring access to high-speed internet for all families. Harris highlighted the government’s efforts to ease the burden of student loans, particularly through the Student Aid and Voter Empowerment (SAVE) initiative, which allows graduates to leave college with zero loans and no interest if their annual income is $30,000 or less.

Gun legislation was another pressing issue discussed during the event. Harris acknowledged the prevalence of active shooter drills in schools and emphasized the need for an assault weapons ban, challenging the notion of a choice between supporting the Second Amendment and implementing necessary gun control measures.

Environmental justice was also a key topic, with Harris stressing the importance of clean water and air as basic rights for every individual. She acknowledged that low-income communities and communities of color often face the lowest quality of water, emphasizing the need for equitable access to environmental resources.

Race, Struggle, and History

Harris also addressed the erasure of Black history in schools, asserting that Black history is American history and must be taught. She criticized extremist leaders who undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion and emphasized the importance of equal opportunities to address disparities.

In her concluding remarks, Vice President Harris encouraged the audience not to be discouraged by those who deem certain goals impossible. She emphasized the importance of unity and support in spaces where individuals may be the only ones who look like them or have had their unique life experiences.

Supportive Faces

A few familiar state government officials took the stage before Harris, NC Governor Roy Cooper spoke to the students about the importance of voting rights, climate change, and gun control in the United States, stating, “College students are calling out from all over the country, and we have to listen.”

Representative Kathy Manning of  North Carolina’s 6th congressional district also said a few words about the dangers of gerrymandering in the state of NC and also discussed the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which protects voters from race-based discrimination, in order to make sure all voters are free to vote and all elections are fair.

What Is Left In Store

Kamala Harris’s “Fight for Our Freedoms” college tour allowed her to connect with young leaders and inspire them to make a difference in the country. Her message underscored the significance of voting, protecting women’s rights, implementing gun control measures, achieving environmental justice, and addressing the erasure of black history in schools. Harris left a clear message: the nation needs the voices and actions of college students to create a better future for all. Harris is now on her way to Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.