By james art The Badger Herald photo crew attended Vice President Kamala Harris’ rally on Oct. 30. We interviewed and photographed various attendees, performers and Harris herself. Among the crowds we found voices of hope and joy, punctuated by a palpable atmosphere of passion and unity.
We spoke with Teresa (left) and Vani (right), who traveled from Chicago and Mississippi, respectively. United by the Service Employees International Union, Theresa and Vani joined dozens of their fellow union members in campaigning in Wisconsin every day leading up to Election Day.
Teresa, a DACA recipient, cannot vote. She explained that even though she can’t do it alone, Latinos like her need to get out and vote and stressed that they need to make their voices heard.
Vanney made the long trip from Mississippi to Wisconsin because, as a swing state, it’s important for Wisconsinites to vote.
Skylar Gothelf (right) and Elia Saltzman (center) are students at the University of Wisconsin. Gothelf worries about women’s reproductive rights and what a second Trump term could mean for women in the US. She is an advocate for common sense gun reform, and Elia subscribes to her belief in the importance of exercising the right to vote to promote change in both local and national communities.
Hundreds of other UW students attended the rally.
(Bennett Vaara)
American singer-songwriter Remy Wolfe, known for her eclectic, genre-bending music, opened the event. She was followed by The National, an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio. Both artists began and ended their sets by urging everyone to go vote, statements that were met with thunderous shouts of approval from the crowd.
Gracie Abrams performs at the Harris-Waltz Campaign Rally in Madison. October 30, 2024
The audience’s excitement grew with each act, exploding with energy when Gracie Abrams took the stage. Abrams’ performance of “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” “Risk” and “Free Now” electrified the audience, filling the arena with a chorus of happiness as people sang along. She ended her session with a heartfelt echo of the call for votes, reinforcing the importance shared by each speaker. Her introduction precedes the entry of Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., who is currently running against U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde.
Baldwin began her speech by highlighting the differences between her and her opponent, repeating the now common phrase “We have a Green County, a Brown County, but not an Orange County,” to her point that Eric Hovde has done more work in California. than in Wisconsin. Her speech ended with a statement supporting the Harris-Waltz campaign and encouraging people to vote.
Baldwin was followed by event headliners Mumford & Sons. The crowd once again joined in a deafening round of applause and cheers as they entered, and throughout their performance the audience stood and sang merrily.
Mumford & Sons perform at the Harris-Waltz Campaign Rally in Madison. October 30, 2024
Mumford & Sons paved the way for Harris’ anticipated appearance. Beyoncé’s “Freedom” blared over the speakers as the vice president entered the stage. Interrupted by deafening cheers from the audience, Harris turned to the crowd.
Kamala Harris speaks at the Harris-Waltz campaign rally in Madison. October 30, 2024