In Case You Missed It: Harris Connects with Students Both Politically and Personally During College Tour, Reports Washington Post

On Sep 21, 2023

TL/DR –

Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Reading Area Community College (RACC) in Reading, PA as part of her “Fight for Our Freedoms” College Tour. The visit was well-received by the students, who appreciated Harris’ straightforward approach and her discussion on a range of issues, including gun violence, reproductive freedom, and climate action. Harris’ tour is an opportunity for her to discuss the issues the Biden administration sees as vital for young voters as the election year approaches.

Vice President Kamala Harris Visits Reading Area Community College on College Tour

Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to students at the Reading Area Community College (RACC), a Hispanic-Serving Institution in Pennsylvania, as part of her ‘Fight for Our Freedoms’ College Tour. She addressed pressing issues for young voters, including gun violence, reproductive rights, and climate action.

The Vice President’s visit aimed to encourage youth participation in voting and active citizenship. Harris’s speech was particularly impactful for students like Ahnya O’Riordan, who felt that Harris genuinely wanted their voices to be heard.

Read the in-depth account from The Washington Post on Harris’s personal and political connection with college students during her tour.

During the visit, most of the students affirmed that they had engaged in active shooter drills at school, an issue Harris empathized with. The event served as a platform for Harris to inspire young leaders to take the lead on these critical issues.

Gun violence emerged as a prominent concern in discussions. The tour, aimed at advocating for freedoms, visits several colleges, allowing Harris to highlight key issues of the Biden administration as the election year approaches.

The Vice President was well-received in her previous visits to Hampton University and North Carolina A&T University. The upcoming visits involve schools with significant Black and Latino populations in Georgia, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada.

Before her speech, Harris met students outside the auditorium, and, together with actress Annie Gonzalez, fielded questions about climate change, reproductive rights, and gun safety. Gabriella Soto, a 19-year-old education major, resonated with Harris’s thoughts on active shooter drills- an unfortunately common part of her educational experience.

The visit, with the backdrop of Hispanic Heritage Month, was a strategic move by the Democrats to garner young voters and Hispanic support for the 2024 election.

Alexander Hitchens, a criminal justice student, was unsure about his voting preferences before the event. But he left convinced about voting, appreciating Harris for addressing issues like climate change and gun violence.

Many students, including Nangelie Zapata and Justin Perez, are keen on voting in the next election and emphasized the importance of addressing gun violence. Zapata also works on convincing her peers of the significance of their vote.

During her speech, Kamala Harris encouraged students to be proud of their identity, saying, “When you walk in those rooms, you walk in those rooms chin up, shoulders back, knowing that we are all in that room with you and that your voice is the voice of the people you carry into that room and you make sure your voice is heard.”