Scenes from the Harris-Walz Rally
We’re going to win.
On Friday, I was thrilled to be able to attend the Harris-Walz rally in Glendale, AZ, along with roughly 20,000 others. Some are reporting it as the largest political rally in Arizona history. As Gov. Walz noted, it might have also been the largest Democratic crowd anywhere in the US this year. And it left me convinced that we’re going to win this thing.
Not just good policy. Of course, Vice President Kamala Harris has a policy platform that’s on point — a truly bold, aggressive agenda that would materially improve people’s lives. But that enormous, energetic crowd didn’t show up for policy. They were there because they feel hope.
Community care. The kindness was palpable from the very beginning. Organizers braved the scorching heat to hand out free hand fans and paletas and bottles of water. People took turns in orderly fashion without pushing or shoving. I saw a young couple find help for an older woman who was sitting on the concrete floor, clearly exhausted. We were all there for the same reason — Americans with a purpose and a shared vision of our country’s future — and we acted like it.
Wide cross-section of Arizona. Our state’s beauty is its diversity, and Friday was no exception. I saw a young family of four, including two small children, all sporting matching Republicans for Harris t-shirts. College-age girls danced to Chappell Roan’s “HOT TO GO!” A muscular veteran in a baseball cap and muscle tank rocked his Bandholz beard. A man in a pride flag shirt grinned and waggled his fingertips at me when I complimented his bright blue sparkly manicure. A woman waved her sequined red-white-and-blue cowboy hat with flashing lights, and a retired gentleman volunteered to her that he shares her patriotism and flies his flag every day.
“I do not recognize my party. The Republican Party has been taken over by extremists… You don’t owe a damn thing to that political party.” — Mesa mayor John Giles, co-chair of Arizona’s Republicans for Harris campaign
Genuine joy. The arena was at capacity; around 4 PM, I heard the fire marshal had started turning people away. Inside, it almost felt like a rave, not a rally. Everyone was just so happy to be there.
Two hours before the first speaker, the crowd on the floor was dancing and cheering with hands in the air. Someone started the wave up in the arena stands; I lost count of how many times it went around. My friend pointed out an older woman, probably 70 years old, dancing and waving her Harris-Walz sign, who reminded me of my grandmother.
“I truly think one of the most powerful and still underrated forces in the election is going to be the joy and relief… We are neighbors. We are family. We are each other’s people. Damn the thieves. We must depose them and find each other again. And now we glimpse how.” — Anand Giridharadas
Enthusiasm that can’t be bought. I came home absolutely wiped, and crawled into bed by 9:30. The next morning, I opened my eyes thinking of the rally. I have never seen so many people at a political event, anywhere, ever. And every political campaign that has ever existed would kill to manufacture that kind of enthusiasm. But it can't be manufactured, bought or paid for. It has to be genuine. The Harris-Walz campaign has it.
We’re going to win. VP Harris reminded the crowd that she sees the Democratic ticket as the underdog. That may have been true a month ago, but I’m not sure I agree anymore. A spokesman for the Harris campaign reported that 3,000 people signed up for volunteer shifts as they filed out of the arena. That’s a huge and genuine sign of momentum, and of people’s willingness to work to shift the tide in Arizona. Imagine achieving the pro-democracy, pro-public education state legislature we’ve been working toward for so long. This energy will help us do that.
Hard work is good work. This will only happen if WE make it happen. What will YOU do? Preserving our democracy is going to take all of us. If you’re able, Save Our Schools Arizona is out talking to voters in swing districts every week and could really use your help with knocking doors or driving canvassers. They’re running phone banks too, Tuesday through Thursday evenings. If you’re new to the work, they’ll train you.
We also need to VOTE. We need to make sure all our family members, friends, and like-minded neighbors vote — and make sure we vote from the top of the ballot to the very last ballot proposition and local office. CEBV is here to help! Join us for an explainer of the long list of ballot propositions on Wednesday, August 14 at 10 AM. Register HERE.
We can win this thing. But the choir has to sing. How will you pitch in?