United States citizens are watching Georgia closely as Election Day nears, with the state’s battleground status making it of particular interest for 2024 presidential candidates. Vice President Kamala Harris aimed to drum up support for her campaign during a get-out-the-vote rally on Oct. 19 at the Lakewood Amphitheater. Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and Grammy award-winning artist and Atlanta native Usher joined Harris at the event.
During her speech, Harris discussed inflation and said she aims to reduce healthcare and grocery store costs and support small businesses. Harris said she will build an “opportunity economy” where Americans will have the ability “to own a home, to build wealth, to start a business.” She also said she would implement a $6,000 child tax credit and increase tax deductions for small businesses from $5,000 to $50,000. Former U.S. President Trump was another key topic, with Harris claiming that Trump’s healthcare policies would threaten the health insurance of “45 million Americans.”
However, the focal point of the night was reproductive rights. Harris said that she would restore reproductive freedom “nationwide.”
The vice president shined light on the death of Amber Thurman, a 28-year-old mother who was unable to obtain a legal abortion in Georgia and resorted to abortion medication she bought in North Carolina. Thurman later died due to complications of the abortion. Her death caught the attention of pro-choice activists, and Georgia’s maternal mortality committee determined that her death was likely preventable.
Thurman’s mother and sister spoke about Thurman's life in a pre-recorded video on a screen behind Harris.
“I've never been a political person, never,” Thurman’s mother said. “I'm voting for Kamala Harris because she showed me she really cared. I felt her sincerity and I felt her strength. … I felt her compassion. We will never get Amber back, but we can make sure this never happens again.”
Williams, who is also the chair of Georgia’s Democratic Party, said Trump has a “dangerous agenda,” adding that a second term with him as president would roll back reproductive freedoms.
“He tried to silence our voices and overturn our free and fair election,” Williams said.
Ossoff applauded Georgia voters for helping elect U.S. President Joe Biden in 2020 and rebuked Trump’s lack of “integrity” and a “moral compass.” He claimed that when “the microphones are off” on the Senate floor, notable supporters of Trump express skepticism and criticism of his leadership abilities.
“This is deeper than Democrats versus Republicans,” Ossoff said. “It is about the character of our nation, and that's why Vice President Harris has built a coalition to win Georgia that includes Republicans, Independents and Democrats.”
Ossoff spoke about the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, saying Trump raised a “mob.”
“It's up to us to turn the page on Donald Trump in Georgia,” Ossoff said.
During his speech, Usher spoke about the importance of early voting and encouraging others to vote with the election fast approaching.
“Everything that we do within the next 17 days will affect the lives of our children, of our grandchildren, of the people whom we love most,” Usher said.
Throughout her speech, Harris repeated the words, “We will win.” She emphasized that the choice in this election is crucial, calling it “one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime.”
“America is ready to chart a new way forward,” Harris said. “We are ready for a new and optimistic generation of leadership.”
Jacob Muscolino (he/him) (28C) is an assistant news editor at The Emory Wheel. He is from Long Island and plans to major in history and psychology. Outside of the Wheel, he is involved in Emory Reads. You can often find Jacob dominating the ping pong table, dissecting The New York Times, listening to the newest Taylor Swift album or exploring the next destination on his bucket list.
