Kamala Harris leans on Wisconsin ‘forward’ motto at rally that vied with DNC

MILWAUKEE — Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday promised a “fight for the future” during a rally at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, drawing on the state’s motto of “Forward” as she described attacks to “fundamental freedoms and rights.”

Taking the stage just minutes after the Democratic National Committee held its roll call to nominate her as its presidential nominee, Harris said the 2024 election will be about “two very different visions for our nation.”

“Ours focused on the future, the other focused on the past,” Harris said. “And Wisconsin, we fight for the future.”

The rally took place in Fiserv Forum, the same location where Republicans gathered last month to nominate former President Donald Trump and Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) as their presidential ticket. Though covered in red and “Make America Great Again” signs in July, on Tuesday, Harris spoke to a sea of nearly 13,000 people holding blue placards with her unofficial campaign slogan “FREEDOM!” on them.

Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), Harris’s running mate, spoke about the Republican convention and the former president’s record-breaking, lengthy nomination acceptance remarks ahead of Harris taking the microphone.

“Donald Trump subjected us to 92 minutes of ranting and raving. … Trust me, Milwaukee, a hell of a lot can change in four weeks,” Walz said to cheers.

Prior to Harris coming onstage, the campaign passed out light-up bracelets to attendees. The crowd was raucously cheering while watching the virtual roll call piped in from the site of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

The vice president led chants of “We’re not going back” and “USA” while she spoke on her economic platform and her promise to protect reproductive healthcare, as well as blasting Trump for having “no regrets” about the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, speaking of a CBS News interview the former president gave Monday.

“Just yesterday, when he was asked if he has any regrets about ending Roe v. Wade, Donald Trump, without even a moment’s hesitation — you would think you’d reflect on it for a second — said ‘no.’ No regrets.

“I do believe, bad behavior should result in a consequence,” Harris continued to cheers and boos. “Well, we will make sure he does face a consequence, and that’ll be at the ballot box in November.”

The speech, which lasted a little over 20 minutes, had very few interruptions. At one point, a pro-Palestinian protester held up a banner with the word “genocide” on it, but the protester was ejected from the rally. The protester’s words were barely heard as they were drowned out by the crowd, and Harris did not acknowledge the situation, per reporters in the arena.

Harris also paused her speech to allow medical assistance to a rally attendee in the front row, eventually saying, “OK, we’re gonna be OK” with a thumbs-up.

“This is who we are, right? This is what we’re about, looking out for each other,” the vice president said to cheers as she continued with her speech.