ATLANTA — Vice President Kamala Harris condemned former President Donald Trump’s remarks regarding the grieving family of a Georgia mother who died after waiting 20 hours for medical care related to complications from an abortion pill. During a rally in Atlanta on October 19, 2024, she emphasized that her campaign prioritizes the fight against restrictive reproductive care laws.
Harris attributed Amber Thurman’s tragic death to Georgia’s tightened abortion regulations enacted following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, which was influenced by three justices appointed by Trump. The Vice President aims to energize Democratic support by promoting the restoration of national abortion rights in the upcoming election.
“Donald Trump still refuses to take any accountability for the pain he has caused,” Harris stated, highlighting the urgency of the issue.
Thurman’s story is central to one of Harris’ key campaign advertisements, and her family was present at the rally. Harris played a clip of Trump dismissing the family’s grief during a recent town hall, saying, “We’ll get better ratings, I promise.”
“A grieving family, sharing the memory of their daughter with our nation. Where is the compassion?” Harris asked, criticizing Trump for reducing their sorrow to a publicity stunt. “What we see continually from Donald Trump is exactly what that clip shows; he belittles their suffering for his own benefit. It is cruel,” she asserted.
Voter enthusiasm is crucial, with early voting now underway in Georgia. Over 1.2 million ballots have already been cast, with Democrats aiming to leverage extensive grassroots efforts to mobilize support for Harris against Trump in the coming weeks. Harris spotlighted the early voting of former President Jimmy Carter, encouraging participation. “If Jimmy Carter can vote early, you can too,” she said.
Roderick Williams, a father of three, expressed hope that his daughters could witness Harris make history as the first Black woman president, reinforcing the importance of representation.
Harris’ campaign is bolstered by high-profile appearances, including a rally with music icon Usher in Atlanta and a stop with Lizzo in Detroit, where they celebrated the city’s cultural significance following Trump’s disparaging remarks about it. “All the best things were made in Detroit. Coney Dogs, Faygo, and Lizzo,” Lizzo joked, engaging attendees.
Harris urged the Detroit crowd to break voting records, stating, “Who is the capital of producing records? We are going to break some records here in Detroit today.” She issued a pointed critique of Trump’s stability, encouraging voters to make their voices heard without regrets as election day approaches.
Lizzo invigorated the crowd with a powerful message about women in leadership, saying, “If you ask me if America is ready for its first woman president, I only have one thing to say: ‘It’s about damn time!’”
In response to Republican critiques that her support from Lizzo indicates weakening support in Michigan, Harris remains focused on the importance of outreach and engagement to inform voters. “We are here to ensure everyone knows what’s at stake and how to make their voices heard,” she emphasized.
When questioned about potential backlash from the Biden administration’s support for Israel amidst ongoing conflict in Gaza, Harris remarked, “It has never been easy, but that doesn’t mean we give up.”
