In her concession speech for the 2024 presidential election on Wednesday, November 6, Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to a crowd at her alma mater, Howard University. Doing so, she commented on the election and calling it quits, a speech that sounded much more like she was just wrapping things up for good rather than calling her supporters together for another charge against Trump.
Hilariously, as with much of the post-election meltdowns, many members of the crowd were so upset about the Republican Party reclaiming the Whtie House that they became visibly upset and started wailing or silently crying on camera. Even funnier was that amongst those crying were Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Both men wiped away tears as Harris rambled on in her characteristic, word-salad way about the election, commenting on her loss and trying to instill a sense of resilience amonst her followers. She said, in part, “The light of America’s promise will always burn bright. As long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting.”
Harris also addressed the two crying men. Speaking to Doug Emhoff, her husband, she said, “To my beloved Doug and our family, I love you so very much.” And, thanking the President and First Lady, Kamala said, “To President Biden and Dr. Biden, thank you for your faith and support.”
Returning to another one of the crying men, Gov. Walz, her running mate, Kamala said, “To Governor Walz and the Walz family, I know your service to our nation will continue.” Predictably, that sparked another seemingly tear-filled reaction from the Minnesota governor and Kamala running mate.
Harris also said, during her concession speech, “My allegiance to all three is why I am here to say, while I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign. The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and for the dignity of all people, a fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best — that is a fight I will never give up.”
And, speaking of the future, she says she desires a world where not only are there not school shootings and there is better access to abortion, but where “every one of us, no matter who we are or where we start out, has certain fundamental rights and freedoms that must be respected and upheld.” Watch her here:
Kamala also said, in a portion of her concession speech directed to young people in America, “You have power, and don’t you ever listen when anyone tells you something is impossible because it has never been done before. This is not a time to throw up our hands, this is a time to roll up our sleeves.”
And, trying again to keep people positive, she said, “I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time, but for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case. But here’s the thing, America: If it is, let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion of stars, the light of optimism, of faith, of truth and service. And may that work guide us, even in the face of setbacks, toward the extraordinary promise of the United States of America.”
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video
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