VP Harris to speak at NC A&T next week as part of ‘Fight for Our Freedoms College Tour’
Vice President Kamala Harris will speak at N.C. A&T State University in Greensboro next week as part of a nationwide, month-long “Fight for Our Freedoms College Tour.”
The Sept. 15 visit is not Harris’ or President Joe Biden’s first time in North Carolina this year, hinting at the state’s importance in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
The college tour, which includes around a dozen schools across at least seven states, aims to “mobilize young people in the ongoing fight for fundamental freedoms and rights,” according to a press release by The White House.
The tour will center on “reproductive freedom, common sense gun safety laws, climate action, voting rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and teaching America’s full history,” according to the release.
“This generation is critical to the urgent issues that are at stake right now for our future,” said Harris, according to the release. “It is young leaders throughout America who know what the solutions look like and are organizing in their communities to make them a reality. My message to students is clear: We are counting on you, we need you, you are everything.”
Kamala will go to historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, community colleges, apprenticeship programs and state schools, said the release.
HBCUs planned for her trip include A&T, Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, and Morehouse College in Atlanta.
Campaign trail
Harris was in North Carolina in late January and spoke on the role of small businesses, including Hispanic-owned businesses. She also visited the state in June on the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, and spoke on reproductive rights and more.
Biden has visited the state plenty as well, most recently in June, at the same time as the state GOP convention, to discuss initiatives to help service members and young adults looking for jobs.
In August, Biden’s campaign announced $25 million in ad spending in North Carolina and other battleground states, indicating the important of the state in his 2024 presidential reelection bid. North Carolina has opted for Republican presidential candidates in recent years but has also elected Democrats to state offices, making the state appealing to both parties.
“This historic buy ensures that the President’s message reaches all Americans where they receive their news, and sends a clear sign that we are investing in an aggressive, meaningful, and effective paid media strategy,” said Julia Chávez Rodriguez, Biden’s campaign manager, as previously reported by The News & Observer.
