By james art “To all the men and women in this room and watching across the country, we need you,” Beyoncé said at the Houston rally.
Joined by her mother Tina Knowles and former bandmate Kelly Rowland, the singer told cheers that she was not at the rally as a celebrity or as a politician.
“I’m here as a mother,” Beyoncé said, talking about how her children will see “the sacrifices made so we can witness the power of a woman … redefining what leadership is.”
Mrs. Harris exited to a standing ovation. She told the crowd that Mr. Trump had erased half a century of hard-won progress when he appointed the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade and sparked a health care crisis.
“For anyone watching from out of state, if you think you’re protected by Trump’s abortion bans because you live in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New York, California, or any state where voters or legislators have protected reproductive freedom, please know: no one is protected,” she said.
“Because Donald Trump’s national ban will ban abortion in every single state.
“All that to say, elections matter.”
Ms Harris listed the effects she sees from various bans, such as “fewer opportunities for women, fewer medical students choosing to specialize in women’s health”.
Her campaign said it was her biggest rally to date, with crowds waiting for hours and wearing flashing red, white and blue LED wristbands as “women with confidence” and “freedom” flashed on big screens between acts.
She was joined at the rally by women who nearly died from sepsis and other pregnancy complications because they could not get proper medical care, including women who never intended to terminate their pregnancies.
With the presidential election deadlocked, Ms. Harris is betting on abortion rights as a major driver for voters — including Republican women, especially after Mr. Trump appointed three of the Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn the constitutional right.
Mr Trump has been inconsistent in his message to voters on abortion and reproductive rights, although he has said he would veto a national abortion ban.
He has repeatedly shifted his position and offered vague, contradictory and at times nonsensical answers to questions on an issue that has become a major vulnerability for Republicans in this year’s election.
Mr Trump was also in Texas on Friday, where he predicted he would break records for the number of people deported from the United States if he wins the election. He recorded a podcast with Joe Rogan.