Remarks at the 2024 Democratic National Convention – Aug. 19, 2024

Hello, Democrats! Are you as excited as I am? [cheers]

I've known Kamala Harris for almost 20 years. Our bond was forged years ago by a shared commitment to children, a belief that it is everyone's responsibility to care for every child no matter where they come from and no matter who their parents are.

Kamala knows that each generation has an obligation to the next. That's why when I was speaker of the state assembly and she was a prosecutor, we fought to address youth homelessness and reform the child welfare system. We wanted to make sure that California's foster youth aren't cut off and left on their own the day they turn 18. As attorney general, Kamala created our state's Bureau of Children's Justice and worked to give children in the juvenile justice system the support they needed.

And when I asked her to swear me in, the first woman vice president swearing in the first woman mayor of Los Angeles, [cheers] we knew we were sending a message to young girls everywhere that they, too, can lead.

Now, I know Kamala and she feels the importance of this work in her bones. When Kamala meets a young person, you can feel her passion, you can feel her heart, and you can feel her fearlessness. That is what defines a commitment to children—being willing to fight fiercely for every child. And trust me—Kamala has done that her entire life.

So this November, we're going to fight to elect Kamala Harris as the next president of these United States! [cheers]

PBS NewsHour. “WATCH: L.A. Mayor Karen Bass speaks at 2024 Democratic National Convention | Night 1.” YouTube video, 3:00. Aug. 19, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9B03DZhpxQ