‘UNITE FOR AMERICA’ LIVE STREAMING EVENT FOR KAMALA HARRIS HOSTED BY OPRAH WINFREY

‘UNITE FOR AMERICA’ LIVE STREAMING EVENT HOSTED BY OPRAH WINFREY IN COLLABORATION WITH
‘WIN WITH BLACK WOMEN’ AND OVER 140 ‘WIN WITH HARRIS’ GRASSROOTS GROUPS
ON SEPTEMBER 19 AT 8 PM/ET 

‘Unite for America’ Event to Bring Together Voters in Battleground States and Beyond in Advance of November 5th Election Day

  

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 9, 2024) – Oprah Winfrey, in collaboration with Win with Black Women, will host a live-streaming event “Unite for America” to bring together grassroots groups that have each hosted their own Zooms in support of Vice President Kamala Harris to take place on September 19 at 8 pm/ET across multiple platforms including Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok and Twitch.

** To learn more and register to join the event, please visit UniteForAmerica2024 **

In this live, free, streaming event, Oprah brings together voters from all over the country to discuss why they are supporting Kamala Harris, what’s at stake in this election and why voting in this presidential election matters. In addition to those joining online, Oprah will invite 400 local voters to join this discussion in person. The event will serve as a call to action to work in communities throughout battleground states to register people to vote and build support in advance of November 5th. 

The root of this event took hold in July, just a few hours after Vice President Kamala Harris announced her plans to run for President of the United States, when the conveners of Win With Black Women held a collective roll call, led by founder Jotaka Eaddy, which quickly blossomed to 90,000 Black women tuning in to show their support across a variety of platforms. That grassroots surge, led and centered by Black women, inspired a variety of groups to host their own Zoom calls including White Dudes for Harris, Win with Black Men, Comics for Kamala, Republicans for Harris, Latino Men for Kamala and many more. In response to this organic tidal wave of voter support around the country, Oprah Winfrey and Eaddy connected to discuss the idea of holding one unified call for voters across the country. 

Win With Black Women’s catalyzing call raised $1.5 million in just three hours, with over $20 million being raised to date by the over 140 groups now supporting the Harris/Waltz presidential campaign.  

"This ‘Unite for America’ call will be a powerful moment that demonstrates the urgency that we all feel in this moment and more importantly the impact of our collective activation to move our nation forward with Vice President Kamala Harris as our 47th President,” said Jotaka Eaddy, social impact strategist and founder of Win with Black Women (WWBW). “I cannot think of anyone better to host this event than Oprah Winfrey, who has brought Americans of different generations, backgrounds, and experiences together in conversation for decades.”

“The diversity of groups represented in this voter rally event – from Oprah Winfrey, Win With Black Women, Win With Black Men to groups like White Dudes for Harris and Swifties for Kamala – adds strength to the movement,” said Khalil Thompson of Win With Black Men. “To witness such an organic groundswell of support for a vision of the future rooted in equality, progress, and joy with a future that is soon to be led, for the first time, by a Black woman…that’s life changing.”

“We understand the importance of showing up for progress that benefits all women,” said Shannon Watts, organizer of White Women: Answer the Call and Show Up for Kamala Harris. “There is no better person than Oprah Winfrey to lead this event and bring together so many diverse groups of people who are fiercely determined to uplift every community in our nation and elect Kamala Harris.”

“You have seen so many groups come together because we realize that an injustice to one of us is an injustice to all of us,” said Regina Montoya, co-lead of Latinas for Harris. “The next several weeks will be crucial for the future of all of these groups, which is why we are thrilled to join and show our solidarity. We are ready to Unite for America and show what these groups are capable of.”

"We couldn't be more excited to be participating in Unite for America,” said Ross Morales Rocketto of White Dudes for Harris. “We stand on the shoulders of the incredible work of Win with Black Women and Win With Black Men. We exist to create space in the Democratic Party for white men to do their part to help elect Kamala Harris to become the 47th President of the United States."

“As the official AANHPI affinity group working with the Harris Walz campaign to mobilize the South Asian community nationwide, we know the importance of South Asian voters as a key voting bloc in many battleground states,” said Harini Krishnan of South Asians for Harris. “From knocking on doors to recurring phonebanks to combatting misinformation through digital media campaigns to assembling a voter protection team, we are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that South Asian voters are the margin of victory this cycle in electing Kamala Harris as our first Black and South Asian woman President.”

“JD Vance and the Project 2025 agenda would reduce us to our roles as mothers or the expectation of becoming one, but our value extends far beyond that,” said Blaire Postman of Cat Ladies for Kamala. “We’re proud to stand with everyone on this call to create a future where women are defined by their impact, not outdated stereotypes.”

“This Unite For America rally represents a resurgence of joy, hope, and optimism,” said Pastor Mike McBride of Win With the Black Church. “That is because we are not gathering just to celebrate an individual – we’re proud to be coalescing around a shared set of values, like justice, equity, and the betterment of our communities.”

Unite For America Event Details:
When: Thursday, September 19th, 2024 at 8pm ET
Where: Register to join the conversation at UniteForAmerica2024.com

WATCH: Kamala Harris Full Speech At 2024 Democratic National Convention

The moment that millions around the country have been waiting for took place Thursday at the Democratic National Convention as Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the nomination for the presidency. Watch her full acceptance speech below.

NAREB Applauds Vice President Harris's Plan to Revive Housing Industry and Make Homes More Affordable

The National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) applauded Vice President Kamala Harris’ plan to lower housing costs by providing incentives to builders to construct three million new units, offering $25,000 in downpayment support for first-time homebuyers and creating a $40 billion fund for local governments to build housing.

“NAREB enthusiastically supports the Vice President’s housing plan,” said Dr. Courtney Johnson Rose, NAREB’s President. “NAREB recognizes that the lack of sufficient housing inventory is a major reason for the high prices preventing Black families and other consumers from purchasing a home. This is a tremendous plan that will help families across America.”

Harris, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, announced the plan today. It would provide tax incentives to homebuilders for constructing “starter houses” geared to first-time buyers and affordable rental housing. If she is elected, Congress will need to approve many of the provisions. Harris is also calling for legislation to crack down on companies contributing to surging rent prices and to remove tax benefits for major investors who acquire large numbers of single-family homes.

Dr. Rose asserted that Vice President Harris is on target with her plan, noting that housing demand outpaces new home construction by roughly 100,000 units annually, creating the largest housing shortfall in nearly half a century. The inadequate supply of new homes contributes to the growing housing affordability crisis.

“This proposal demonstrates that Vice President Harris understands the plight of middle-class families in America, and she has innovative answers to their housing challenges,” Dr. Rose said, recalling that NAREB researchers previously identified the lack of inventory and investor home purchases as making it more difficult for families to purchase homes.

NAREB’s 2023 State of Housing in Black America (SHIBA) report declared an enormous need to increase the affordable housing stock and called on the government to reform the nation’s housing finance system by requiring a restructured Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to form partnerships with large financial institutions via special purpose credit programs. SHIBA estimated that an efficient housing rehabilitation program financed by the Housing Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) could save 107,000 homes annually.

Dr. Rose also welcomed a crackdown on investor-purchased single-family homes.

The SHIBA report said investor home purchases accelerated during the 2020-2021 pandemic. By the first quarter of 2022, investor purchases of single-family homes peaked at 28% of market share. As of the first quarter of 2023, investors accounted for about 27% of single-family home purchases.
“Investor home purchases negatively impact the affordability and supply of homes for sale, particularly for lower-income households,” Dr. Rose said. “Investors outbid typical homebuyers and pay cash for houses and not perform inspections or appraisals. Many investor-owned single-family homes are transformed into rental housing, removing it from the owner-occupied stock.”

Dr. Rose said the Harris plan can spur a new era in homeownership for all Americans.

“This plan is the kind of jolt that the housing industry has needed,” said Dr. Rose. “This is how we create a more equitable America.”
****
For print or broadcast interviews with NAREB President Courtney Johnson Rose, contact Michael Frisby at Mike@frisbyassociates.com or 202-625-4328.)

ABOUT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REAL ESTATE BROKERS

NAREB was formed in 1947 to secure equal housing opportunities regardless of race, creed, or color. NAREB has advocated for legislation and supported or instigated legal challenges that ensure fair housing, sustainable homeownership, and access to credit for Black Americans. Simultaneously, NAREB advocates for and promotes access to business opportunities for Black real estate professionals in each real estate discipline. From the past to the present, NAREB remains an association that is proud of its history, dedicated to its chosen struggle, and unrelenting in its pursuit of the REALTIST®’s mission/vision embedded goal, “Democracy in Housing.”

Watch Kamala Harris speech at campaign event in Arizona 08/09/2024

Watch Vice President Kamala Harris give a speech at a campaign a rally in Arizona on Friday 08/09/2024 as part of their tour of electoral battleground tour.

Working Families Party Endorses VP Kamala Harris for President

The Working Families Party released the following statement endorsing VP Kamala Harris for President:

The Working Families Party is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for president. Our members, chapters, and party leaders have voted overwhelmingly to support VP Kamala Harris as the next Democratic nominee — with 95% of the total vote in favor of the endorsement.

We are living in uncertain times. But we do know this: we cannot let Donald Trump and MAGA extremists return to power.

In 2020, we said that making Trump a one-term president was our moral mandate. It still is. Four years ago, we played a major role in organizing and mobilizing ‌voters to oust Trump. This year, we’re prepared to defeat his movement once and for all. Electing Kamala Harris as President is one step‌ — ‌one important step‌ — ‌toward our goal of winning power for working people and a government that is responsive to all of us, not just the wealthy few.

Donald Trump wants to seize on the uncertainty that people are feeling to seize power and enrich himself and his billionaire backers. If elected to a second term, he will double down on his attacks on working people. His friends in the MAGA movement have drafted a 900-page plan called “Project 2025” that calls for slashing taxes on large corporations and the ultra-rich, raising the cost of health care, and making it harder for workers to organize for better wages and benefits.

We have a historic opportunity to stop Trump’s authoritarian movement in its tracks and elect Vice President Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States.

As Vice President, Kamala Harris has played a decisive role in President Biden’s greatest victories, casting the tie-breaking vote to pass the landmark Inflation Reduction Act and presiding over the confirmation of Justice Kentanji Brown Jackson.

Now, Vice President Harris has the chance to build on President Biden’s record of delivering for working people. Harris wants to bring back the child tax credit expansion, to raise the corporate tax rate, and to make big investments in preschool, childcare, and elder care. Meanwhile, she has an opportunity to turn the page on the United States’ disastrous support for the Israeli government’s human rights abuses in Gaza.

Change of any kind‌ — ‌especially at this stage in the race‌ — ‌can be scary. But we have a clear plan to win and set our movement up for even bigger victories in the future.

1. Elect Kamala Harris and defeat Donald Trump. By engaging and mobilizing the majority of Americans who oppose MAGA’s extremist agenda, we can put a stop to Trump’s authoritarian movement once and for all.
2. Win a governing majority in Congress. We need strong Senate and House majorities that don’t rely on corporate Democrats like Joe Manchin or Kyrsten Sinema. The path to retaking Congress this cycle will run through unlikely battleground states, like New York and California.
3. Build the bench of progressive leadership at all levels of government. Progressives have shown leadership and vision during a period of incredible uncertainty. We need to build our ranks of progressive champions in state houses across the country, while protecting those who face cynical attacks from big money Super PACs.

We must win policies that make real, concrete improvements in people’s lives. Taxing the rich to bring down the cost of housing and child care. Raising wages for workers and making it easier for them to organize their workplaces.

Imagine a House majority with a growing group of WFP leaders fighting every day for our values. That’s not just possible — it’s happening. Year after year, cycle after cycle, the ranks of WFP champions in Congress and in state houses are growing.

Together we’re building an independent political party that reflects the values, hopes, and dreams of working people in our country‌ — ‌and that is rigorous about what it takes to win, and won’t risk throwing power to the right. We’re building coalitions and community across race, place, gender and generation. And if we continue to build our power together, before too long, it’ll be WFP leaders setting a pro-working families agenda in city halls, state houses, and Washington, DC.

It’s all possible — ‌but it won’t be under a Trump presidency. Under Trump, we’ll be left playing defense and trying to deflect the worst of his attacks against our communities. To have a shot at a working families agenda, we’ve got to win at the top of the ticket.

We have a clear job in the next one-hundred days: block and build. We must block MAGA extremists from seizing governing power, and we must build the most viable, durable political vehicle that is beholden and accountable to the people and not the wealthy and corporations.

Recently, France provided us with a ray of hope and a path forward. The French were facing a rising tide of right-wing authoritarianism. A white supremacist, nationalist movement that pits working people against each other. It’s growing there, just like it’s growing here.

But France’s left and centrist parties recognized what was at stake, put aside their differences, and joined forces. By participating in a united front, the newly formed New Popular Front ‌ finished ahead of President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist coalition and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party.

Our endorsement of Vice President Harris doesn’t mean that we’ll never disagree with her, or never have contrasting views on policy. This election, however, is bigger than any one person. It’s about what kind of country we want to be and whether we will let the rights and freedoms that our ancestors fought for‌ — ‌the right to participate equally in our democracy, to love who we love, and to control our own bodies — be taken away from us.

We also know that our movement must give people something to vote for, by laying out a vision for a country where everyone has health care, everyone has clean air and food, and everyone can afford quality housing.

Defeating the far-right and electing VP Kamala Harris is a political necessity, but it’s not a final destination. No matter what happens in November, we will continue to organize‌ — ‌community by community, neighborhood by neighborhood‌ — ‌to create the future the next generation deserves.

Howard University Initiative on Public Opinion Black Voters Kamala Harris Poll

In the wake of Vice President Kamala Harris's ascension as the presumptive nominee for the Democratic Party, the Howard University Initiative on Public Opinion conducted a poll on the opinions of Black voters July 22-24 in relation to Harris's candidacy. The report includes results from more than 2000 respondents from more than 30 states, weighted by gender and education level. Results suggest that Harris is best known for her advocacy for reproductive rights, that her best path to victory is to select a white male running mate, and that respondents view her as a politically moderate Democrat. The poll results also show that 93% of those polled plan to vote for VP Kamala Harris.

Read the poll results below:

Howard University Initiative on Public Opinion Black Voters Kamala Harris Poll by George L. Cook III on Scribd

Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on the killing Sonya Massey

Vice President Kamala Harris released the following statement on the shooting of Sonya Massey by an Illinois police officer after she called 911 to report a prowler:

Sonya Massey deserved to be safe. After she called the police for help, she was tragically killed in her own home at the hands of a responding officer sworn to protect and serve. Doug and I send strength and prayers to Sonya’s family and friends, and we join them in grieving her senseless death.

Our thoughts are also with the communities across our nation whose calls for help are often met with suspicion, distrust, and even violence. The disturbing footage released yesterday confirms what we know from the lived experiences of so many – we have much work to do to ensure that our justice system fully lives up to its name.

I join President Biden in commending the swift action of the State’s Attorney’s Office and in calling on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, a bill that I coauthored in the Senate. In this moment, in honor of Sonya’s memory and the memory of so many more whose names we may never know, we must come together to achieve meaningful reforms that advance the safety of all communities.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries endorses Kamala Harris for President of the United States

Here is the video House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democratic nomination for president during a news conference in Washington D.C.

American Federation of Teachers Endorses Kamala Harris for President

During a special session of the 88th biennial AFT convention, delegates voted overwhelmingly to endorse Kamala Harris as the 2024 Democratic nominee for president of the United States. The endorsement comes after the governing 47-member executive council of the AFT met last night and voted unanimously on a resolution to endorse Harris, pending ratification by convention delegates.

“This afternoon we heard loud and clear from our members across the country—from Ohio to Montana, and New York to California—that they are all in for Kamala Harris,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “The educators, bus drivers, nurses, public employees, higher education workers, correctional officers and doctors of the AFT stand with Kamala. We are fully committed to this fight: united, mobilized and ready to vote in this year’s election.”

Rep. Maxine Waters endorsement of VP Kamala Harris

Rep. Maxine Waters released the following statement in support of Vice President Kamala Harris:

Thank you, President Biden! I am one of your greatest supporters and I was willing to stay with you through the Democratic Party nomination. However, you have decided to step down and you have endorsed your Vice President Kamala Harris. You are a kind and decent man who is willing to make a sacrifice for what you believe is for the good of the country. Vice President Kamala Harris has my full support!

Gov. Wes Moore statement endorsing VP Kamala Harris for President of the United States

Rep. Jim Clyburn statement on Joe Biden stepping down and his endorsement of Kamala Harris for president

My statement on President Biden. pic.twitter.com/xEq1tsQhAl

— Jim Clyburn (@ClyburnSC06) July 21, 2024

VP Kamala Harris statement on Joe Biden's endorsement for president

On behalf of the American people, I thank Joe Biden for his extraordinary leadership as President of the United States and for his decades of service to our country.

I am honored to have the President’s endorsement and my intention is to earn and win this nomination.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) July 21, 2024

Bill & Hillary Clinton statement in support of Kamala Harris

Statement from President Clinton and Secretary Clinton pic.twitter.com/R7tYMFWbsu

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) July 21, 2024

Biden endorses VP Kamala Harris for president after dropping out of presidential race

President Biden released the following statement endorsing Kamala Harris for president after dropping out of the presidential race.

My fellow Democrats, I have decided not to accept the nomination and to focus all my energies on my duties as President for the remainder of my term. My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best… pic.twitter.com/x8DnvuImJV

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024

Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on the Passing of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee was a tenacious advocate for justice and a tireless fighter for the people of Houston and the people of America.

Her career in public service spanned well over three decades. As a judge in Houston, a member of the Houston City Council, and a member of the United States Congress, Sheila Jackson Lee’s work improved the lives of millions of Americans.

In the United States House of Representatives, Sheila Jackson Lee distinguished herself as a dedicated advocate for her community, an effective legislator, and a fiercely loyal colleague and friend. To work alongside the Congresswoman was to marvel at her mastery of the legislative process.

Sheila Jackson Lee was, first and foremost, a leader dedicated to serving the people of her beloved city. She secured critical funding for much-needed infrastructure upgrades, coordinated disaster relief in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, and helped to stand up testing and vaccination sites during the COVID-19 pandemic. No task was too small so long as it was the right thing to do.

Congresswoman Jackson Lee was also a national leader. As a champion for women’s rights, she played a vital role in reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, landmark legislation that improved the lives of millions of women and girls across the country. She also authored the law that made Juneteenth a national holiday, a law I was proud to co-sponsor as a United States Senator. She saw what could be—a nation that is more equal, more fair, and more free—and she dedicated her life to realizing that vision.

Sheila Jackson Lee was a dear friend for many years, and a fellow member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, I had the opportunity to work closely with her on many issues and to observe her leadership firsthand. She was relentless—one of our nation’s fiercest, smartest, and most strategic leaders in the way she thought about how to make progress happen. There was never a trite or trivial conversation with the Congresswoman. She was always fighting for the people of Houston and the people of America.

When I called Congresswoman Jackson Lee earlier this week, I conveyed my deep gratitude on behalf of our nation for her lifetime of leadership.

Doug and I send our prayers to her husband, Dr. Elwyn Lee, her children, Jason Lee and Erica Lee Carter, and her beloved grandchildren, Ellison Bennett Carter and Roy Lee Carter, III.

Statement from Vice President Kamala Harris on the Biden-⁠Harris Administration’s Historic Investments in HBCUs

As a proud graduate of Howard University, I know firsthand that our HBCUs are centers of academic excellence. For generations, these anchors of our communities have played a pivotal role in building and contributing to America’s leadership at home and abroad. Today, graduates from our Nation’s more than 100 HBCUs are in every room where important decisions are made – leading in our schools, hospitals, courtrooms, boardrooms, and at the highest levels of government. And as we look forward, we know that our HBCUs will continue to prepare young leaders to build a better, more just future for our country and the world.

That is why President Biden and I have delivered an unprecedented $16 billion to our Nation’s HBCUs. This historic investment is transformative – from helping to fund cutting-edge research and making long-overdue renovations, to providing mental health resources and ensuring students have access to every opportunity to thrive. We have also delivered the largest increase to Pell Grants in a decade as we work to make higher education more affordable. I have witnessed the direct impact of these record investments while meeting with thousands of HBCU students as Vice President, including during my Fight for Our Freedoms college tour last fall.

President Biden and I remain committed to using every lever available to support HBCUs and the students and communities they serve. We know that when we invest in the success of our HBCUs, we are investing in the strength of our Nation – today and for generations to come.

Vice President Kamala Harris Kicks off Nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour to tout economic opportunities for Black Americans

Vice President Harris kicked off her nationwide Economic Opportunity Tour in Atlanta. The multistate tours purpose is to tout economic opportunities for Black Americans in an effort to mobilize a critical voting base for Democrats ahead of November’s election. She began the tour with a moderated conversation with Earn Your Leisure’s Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings about investing in communities, building wealth, and ensuring every American has the ability to thrive.

Watch that conversation below:

HBCU Basketball Team Gets White House Visit Decades After Winning Championship

An HBCU basketball team finally got to visit the White House after winning the national championship over 60 years ago.

According to Vice President Kamala Harris, Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State University men's basketball made history in 1957 when they became the first HBCU team to win a national championship. The Tennessee A&I Tigers would go on to also become the first college team to win three back-to-back national titles, Harris said.

Surviving members of the team — Dick Barnett, George Finley, Ernest Jones, Henry Carlton, Robert Clark, and Ron Hamilton — were invited to the White House for the first time to commemorate their historic achievement. On Friday (April 5), Harris hosted a private ceremony for the Tigers in the Roosevelt Room where she paid homage to the team's victories. The Tigers also received a tour around the White House and gifted Harris a custom jersey following the ceremony.

Vice President Kamala Harris releasedthe following statement on Threads:

The Tennessee A&I Tigers men’s basketball team broke barriers on the court while fighting injustice off it. In 1957, they became the first HBCU to win a national championship before becoming the first team to win three in a row. It was my honor to welcome them to the White House for the first time.

[SOURCE: BINNEWS]

Kamala Harris speech in Selma, Alabama for Bloody Sunday 59th anniversary

Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Selma, Alabama to mark the 59th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday," when state troopers beat peaceful protesters marching against discrimination. Watch her speech below.