Vice Presidential Pool Reports of February 13, 2024

VP Supplemental Pool #1 - Harris remarks at BHM event

Greetings,

I served as pooler for Vice President Kamala Harris who stopped by the White House's convening of descendants and families of prominent Black civil rights leaders and historical figures to commemorate Black History Month.

At 3:36 p.m., the VP was introduced by Stephen Benjamin, director of White House Office of Public Engagement. She spoke for about five minutes.

Attendees include U.S. Reps. Steven Horsford of Nevada (CBC chairman), Terri Sewell of Alabama, Lucy McBath of Georgia, Jasmine Crockett of Texas, Lauren Underwood of Illinois, Jonathan Jackson of Illinois, Joe Neguse of Colorado, Troy Carter of Louisiana, Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith, and Brenda Mallory, chair of the Council on Environmental Quality.

Here are some highlights of VP's remarks:

Harris thanked her former colleagues of the Congressional Black Caucus and praised the descendants for their leadership and stressed the importance of knowing "where we come from, to then understand where we are and where we must go."

Harris said civil rights leaders and historical leaders
"believed in the promise of America" and had a "level of faith and sincere belief in the words written in the Constitution of the United States of America."

"We owe them a great sense in terms of duty and responsibility and obligation, to continue to carry on their legacy through our deeds, our words and our actions," said the VP.

Harris said she often tells young mentees that history is like a relay race, stressing that those living are "charged with the responsibility to do as much, as best as we could" while they carry the baton for "our part of the race."

Harris also acknowledged the power of the Black press, lifting up Ida B. Wells, whose descendant is an invited guest. She also notably acknowledged the family of Emmett Till, who previously visited the White House when President Biden signed into the Emmett Till Antilynching Act.

Harris urged the room to "keep this history alive, especially against people who seek to edit it out
or rewrite it according to their view of what the world is or should be."

The VP urged the room to "continue to celebrate our heroes and to continue to "speak truth."