AApplause echoed through the massive convention hall as Vice President Kamala Harris walked to the microphone in Indianapolis on Wednesday. When Harris agreed to speak at the Zeta Phi Beta sorority’s national conference, she didn’t know it would take days for her to become the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee for president. For the 6,000 black sisters in the room, the emotion of greeting one of their own at this historic moment was palpable.
“We love you!” said someone in the audience. “And I love you too!” said Harris, who was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha when she attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. Both Zeta Phi Beta and Alpha Kappa Alpha are part of the influential historically black sororities and fraternities Divine Nine
The women present came from different generations and from all over the country. Many of them marched for voting rights, economic justice and the end of racial segregation in the early 1960s and worked on national campaigns to improve women’s health care. Many in attendance, Harris said, helped elect Joe Biden president and vice president. And Harris asked them to help get out the vote in their communities in November.
“Now is the time when our nation needs your leadership once again,” Harris said. “We face a choice between two different visions. One focused on the future, the other focused on the past. With your support, I am fighting for the future of our nation.”
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Harris said she is pushing for affordable health care for everyone, which is why the Biden administration has capped insulin for seniors at $35 a month. She said she believes in building an economy for working people, which is why she and Biden have forgiven student loan debt for more than 5 million Americans. Loud applause rose again in the room. “If you or someone you know has benefited from this, testify!” Harris said. Several people stood up and waved.
“We are witnessing an all-out assault on hard-won freedoms,” she said. She described measures that make it harder to vote and states that pass abortion restrictions.
“When I am President of the United States,” she began, the words bringing 6,000 people to their feet to deafening applause, “and when Congress passes a law” to restore national access to abortion, she said she would sign it. The loud clapping continued.
“We’re not kidding!” Harris continued. “We know that when we mobilize, mountains move. When we mobilize, nations change. When we mobilize, we make history.”
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While Harris was in Indianapolis, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington, D.C., speaking to a joint session of Congress. Vice presidents often preside over these sessions that involve a world leader. Harris is scheduled to meet with Netanyahu on Thursday, according to his office.
Before Harris took the stage, Betty Loveless Whittle of Greenville, Alabama, said she hopes Harris “works hard to fix us, bring us together and do what’s right for everyone.” It was the first time Whittle, 73, attended her sorority’s national convention. Whittle was one of the founding members of her sorority’s local chapter in 1973 and said she never thought she would be in the same room as the vice president. She said she could feel the meaning of the moment.
“In my wildest dreams, I never thought this would happen,” Whittle said.
This story originally appeared on Time.com read the full story
