Harris & Walz campaign stop in Eau Claire

This letter to the editor, by Bobbi Giles, appeared in the Hudson Star Observer on August 24, 2024.

On the first Wednesday in August, on a picture-perfect Wisconsin day, all roads led to Eau Claire. I was among the thousands of people from all over Wisconsin, Minnesota, and surrounding states who traveled to see Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly minted running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. 

Lines were long and security to get into the rally was understandably tight, but the feelings of joy, excitement, and community among those gathered was unmistakable and undeniable. The crowd was made up of people of all ages – I saw parents with young children, older people who navigated the rally with the aid of their walkers, Baby Boomers, Millennials, and so many young people. 

Walz took the stage amidst a roaring Midwest welcome – everyone was on their feet, cheering. He galvanized the crowd when referring to the attack on reproductive rights, and used what has become one of his catchphrases, “Mind your own damn business.”  

As he introduced Vice President Harris and she took the stage, the roar of approval from the crowd was deafening. At one point during her speech some people started chanting, “Lock Him Up,” but she  immediately asked for them to stop, saying, “We’ll let the courts handle that.” She instead focused on the fight for freedoms: access to health care; protecting Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security; freedom from book bans; freedom to choose whom to love; and freedom regarding reproductive health.

Together, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz brought a feeling of energy and optimism as they focused on moving forward rather than moving backward. “We’re not going back” was the rallying cry echoed by both the candidates and the crowd.

From now through the November 5 election, please do whatever you can to help elect these “joyful warriors” to lead America to a better future for all of us.

CLICK HERE to find out how you can help.