Kamala Harris conceded to Donald Trump

7/11/2024 6:03

        U.S. Vice President Kamala
        Harris delivered a concession speech to the nation on Wednesday
        after a whirlwind campaign that failed to stop Republican Donald
        Trump's return to the White House.
        
        "While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight
        that fueled this campaign," she told supporters, many of them in
        tears, at her alma mater Howard University, a historically Black
        college in Washington.
        
        Harris pledged to continue fighting for women's rights and
        against gun violence and to "fight for the dignity that all
        people deserve."
        
        She said she had called President-elect Trump, congratulated
        him on his triumph and promised to engage in a peaceful transfer
        of power.
        
        The somber mood was in striking contrast to the homecoming a
        few weeks ago on the Howard campus when thousands of students
        and alumni gathered ahead of what they hoped would be the
        election of the country's first graduate of historically Black
        Colleges and Universities as president.
        
        Harris addressed a crowd that included former House Speaker
        Nancy Pelosi, aides in President Joe Biden's White House and
        thousands of fans. Harris' campaign anthem, Beyonce's "Freedom,"
        played as she entered the stage.
        
        Her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, joined the
        crowd.
        
        Harris encouraged her supporters, especially young people,
        not to give up even in their disappointment.
        
        "Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn't mean we
        won't win," she said.
        
        Harris rose to the top of the Democratic ticket in July
        after Biden stepped aside and brought new-found enthusiasm and
        cash to the Democratic ticket, but she struggled to overcome
        voters' concerns about the economy and immigration.
        
        She was handed a resounding loss on Tuesday, with Trump
        winning a greater share of votes across most of the country
        compared with his performance in 2020 and Democrats failing to
        secure key battleground states that decide elections.
        
        Thousands had gathered at the school on Tuesday night for
        what they hoped would be a historic victory for the first woman
        to become president. They came back on Wednesday to show their
        support after her loss.
        
        "I'm here today to show love and respect for her ... for
        what she's done," said Donna Bruce, 72. Bruce said she had just
        seen a little girl with a T-shirt that said: "A Black girl will
        save the world."
        
        "I still believe that," Bruce said. "It may not be this
        Black girl, but I believe a Black girl will."