Vice Presidential Pool Reports of March 3, 2024

VP Travel Pool #1-VP heads to Alabama

Greetings from JBA,

I will be your pooler for the VP's trip to Alabama today, where she will deliver a speech and march the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday in Selma.

She will also attend a campaign event in Birmingham.

The VP, accompanied by the SGOTUS, landed at JBA via Marine 2 at 11:43 a.m.

They boarded AF2 at 11:48 a.m. after the VP chatted with a member of the Air Force, and greeted and hugged HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, who will travel with their to Alabama today.

The VP came back to the cabin for a quick hello and OTR chat with reporters.

We are wheels up at 12:03 p.m.

We have a jam-packed day.

For your reference, here's the guidance from the VP's office.

DAILY GUIDANCE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR

SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 2024

At 11:45 am ET, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will depart Washington, DC en route to Selma, AL. This departure from Joint Base Andrews will be pooled press.

At 12:45 pm CT, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will arrive at Maxwell Air Force Base. This arrival in Montgomery, AL will be pooled press and open to pre-credentialed media.

At 1:40 pm CT, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will arrive at Craig Airfield. This arrival in Selma, AL will be pooled press.

At 2:50 pm CT, the Vice President will deliver remarks to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. The Second Gentleman will attend. These remarks at the Edmund Pettus Bridge will be pooled press, open to pre-credentialed media, and livestreamed at WhiteHouse.Gov/Live.

At 3:45 pm CT, the Vice President will join the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The Second Gentleman will attend. This event will be pooled press and open to pre-credentialed media.

At 4:45 pm CT, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will depart Selma, AL en route to Birmingham, AL. This departure from Craig Airfield will be pooled press.

At 5:25 pm CT, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will arrive at Birmingham-Shuttleworth Airport. This arrival in Birmingham, AL will be pooled press.

At 6:40 pm CT, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will deliver remarks at a campaign event. These remarks in Birmingham, AL will be pooled press and open to pre-credentialed media.

At 7:40 pm CT, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will depart Birmingham, AL en route to Washington, DC. This departure from Birmingham-Shuttleworth Airport will be pooled press.

At 10:20 pm ET, the Vice President and Second Gentleman will arrive at Joint Base Andrews. This arrival in Washington, DC will be pooled press.

VP Travel Pool #2-- Wheels down in Alabama

AF2 landed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama at 12:41 p.m. local time.

There were no visitors to the press cabin during the flight.

The VP and SGOTUS deplaned at 12:57 p.m.

Per the VP's office: Upon arrival in Montgomery, Alabama, the Vice President was greeted by Mayor Steven Reed.

Your pooler is currently moving with the VP to Selma via helicopter.

We were wheels up at 1:10 p.m.

Noting an update from the VP's office on greeters at JBA/ travelers with the VP today: In addition to Secretary Fudge, Tanya Bradsher, the deputy secretary of Veterans Affairs, is also on the trip.

VP Travel Pool #3- VP arrives in Selma

The Vice President's helicopter touched down at Craig Air Field, in Selma, at 1:30 p.m.

The VP disembarked at 1:38 p.m.

She was greeted by Mayor James Perkins.

Your pooler also spotted Education Secretary Miguel Cardona greeting the VP on the tarmac.

The VP's motorcade was rolling at 1:42 p.m.

We are headed to the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

VP Travel Pool #4--VP arrives at Edmund Pettus Bridge

The VP's motorcade arrived at the Edmund Pettus Bridge at 1:50 pm local time.

The drive was short and uneventful, but lots of onlookers with their phones/ cameras up along the route.

The Bloody Sunday/ Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee commemorative event is underway under gray skies and rain clouds, though the sun trying to break through.

Several hundred people—not an official estimate, but endorsed by organizers— are gathered for the event, which is taking place right at the foot of the bridge.

Speakers have talked about the history of the bridge, one praised VP and President Biden for their work, another brought the crowd to cheers when he said: "Return to the bridge to save democracy and the vote."

Notable attendees spotted in the audience, in the seating area near the stage, so far include the Rev. Al Sharpton and Nikole Hannah-Jones.

The VP is scheduled to deliver her remarks at the Edmund Pettus Bridge at 2:50 p.m. central/ 3:50 EST.

Her remarks will be livestreamed at WhiteHouse.Gov/Live.

Will send any updates.

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Here's a summary of the of what to expect from her remarks, per the VP's office:

Media Advisory: Vice President Kamala Harris to Travel to Selma, AL

On Sunday, March 3, Vice President Kamala Harris will return to Selma, AL to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday by joining the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge and delivering remarks. During her speech, the Vice President will honor the legacy of the civil rights movement, address the ongoing work to achieve justice for all, and encourage Americans to continue the fight for fundamental freedoms that are under attack throughout the country. Alabama will be the 12th state that she has traveled to in 2024 after visiting 24 states last year. She will be joined by the Second Gentleman.

Vice President Harris also visited Alabama in 2022 when she marked the anniversary of Bloody Sunday by meeting with civil rights leaders, joining a historic march in Selma, and delivering a speech that called on Congress to defend democracy by protecting the freedom to vote.

VP Travel Pool Report# 5– Gaza remarks expected

Hello-
Passing along background from the VP's office about her remarks at today's events.

Flagging this in particular.

"At the top of her remarks, the Vice President will address the latest developments in Gaza, including efforts to increase humanitarian aid and achieve a six week cease-fire.

On background from a White House Official:

Today, Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Selma, Alabama to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. There, she will deliver remarks and participate in a procession crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge with civil rights leaders, local, state, and federal elected leaders, and other Administration officials. Her remarks will be livestreamed at www.whitehouse.gov/livearound 3:30pm ET.

At the top of her remarks, the Vice President will address the latest developments in Gaza, including efforts to increase humanitarian aid and achieve a six week cease-fire.

In her remarks, the Vice President will pay homage to those who were active in the Civil Rights Movement and who crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and highlight how their efforts led to the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 six months after Bloody Sunday. She will draw the parallels between those who worked to stifle the Civil Rights Movement and extremists today who are attacking fundamental freedoms, including the freedom to vote, freedom to make decisions about one's own body, the freedom to decide when and how to have a family, including the latest attacks on IVF in Alabama, and the freedom to live free from gun violence. Lastly, she will call on those in the audience, and Americans across the country, to continue fighting to protect hard-fought, hard-won freedoms.

She will be joined by the Second Gentleman, Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Housing Secretary Marcia Fudge, Attorney General Merrick Garland, Deputy Veterans Affairs Secretary Tanya Bradsher, Deputy Agriculture Secretary Xochitl Torres Small, Director of the Office of Energy Justice and Equity at the Department of Energy, Shalanda Baker, and Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice, Kristen Clarke.

The Vice President attended the commemoration of Bloody Sunday in-person in 2018, 2020, and 2022, and virtually in 2021.

VP Travel Pool #6-- VP Selma/ Gaza Remarks Conclude

The VP took the stage at 2:50 p.m. to cheers from the crowd.

Before beginning her speech commemorating Bloody Sunday, she spent about 6 minutes addressing what she called a "humanitarian catastrophe," in Gaza.

She said the "threat that Hamas poses to the people of Israel must be eliminated."

"Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire," which drew loud applause from the crowd.

She was referring to the current deal on the table, which would have a 6-week pause in fighting in exchange for Israeli hostages.

She said that Israel must do more to increase the flow of aid. "No excuses," she said.

She then continued her Bloody Sunday remarks, which she wrapped at 3:07 p.m.

We are now loaded in the back of a truck awaiting the march over the bridge.

Reminder that her remarks were livestreamed on whitehouse.gov.

VP Travel Pool #7-- VP marches over the Edmund Pettus

The VP joined the group of about 100 marchers, which included prominent civil rights leaders, local residents and dignitaries, and Biden administration officials who gathered at the foot of Edmund Pettus Bridge, arms linked.

Marchers identified by your pooler included:
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump
Attorney General Merrick Garland
Annie Avery, local civil rights icon
Rep. Justin Pearson, one of the Tennessee 3

At 3:34 p.m, while waiting for the VP to join, the group began singing "This Little Light of Mine."

The sun broke through just before Harris began her speech, and stayed during the march.

The VP joined the marchers around 3:40 p.m. linking arms with a young woman named Azali Fortier, a freshman at Spelman College who introduced the VP for her Bloody Sunday speech, and Rev. Al Sharpton.

During the march, the group did a call and response:
"What does democracy look like?
"This is what democracy looks like!"

They also sang "We shall overcome."

Halfway over the bridge, the group stopped and the VP, Rev. Sharpton and others faced the crowd.

Your pooler could not hear what Sharpton said, but from the closed eyes, bowed heads and "Amens," it appears he led the group in prayer.

As they prayed, a sea of people who had been behind a barricade watching the program began to make their way toward the rest of the the group at the halfway point of the bridge.

Your pooler could see the VP join in singing "We shall not be moved," before we were ushered away to press vans to head to our next location.

The VP boarded a helicopter at Craig Air Field at 4:09 p.m.

We are wheels up shortly to Birmingham.

VP Travel Pool #8--VP lands in Birmingham

The VP's helicopter landed at Birmingham-Shuttleworth Airport a little after 5 p.m.

While here, she and the SGOTUS will participate in a campaign event.

The motorcade was rolling at 5:13 p.m.

VP Travel Pool #9--Birmingham campaign event

The VP'a motorcade pulled up to the site of the campaign event at 5:26 p.m.

Your pool held for about 30 mins, and could hear Michael Jackson's "Don't stop till you get enough" playing outside the event space. We were let into the event space at 6:08 p.m.

Here's all we got from the campaign:
"On behalf of the Biden-Harris Campaign: The Vice President is delivering remarks at a campaign reception in Birmingham, AL."

The name on the outside of the space was called The Farrell.

The Second Gentleman was introduced at 6:11 a.m. After talking about visiting the Edmund Pettus Bridge today, he animatedly declared:
"We're going to win this election," he said.

The SGOTUS introduced the VP at 6:15 p.m.

She spoke to "an agenda afoot to attack hard fought hard won fundamental rights…"

The VP talked about traveling abroad, and world leaders telling her and saying they hope she and Biden win the election.

The VP said that on the world stage, "we the United States of America, we walk in those rooms we have the self- appointed and earned authority to talk about the importance of democracy, rule of law…
"But here's the thing about being a role model…. People watch what you do, to see if it lines up with what you say…"

"People around the world are watching," she said.

The VP continued to discuss the attacks on freedoms, such as reproductive rights and voting rights.

She pointed out Trump's "Dictator on Day 1" comments.

The VP wrapped after speaking for about about 16 mins, and the motorcade was rolling at 6:38 p.m.

We're headed back to Birmingham-Shuttleworth Airport.

VP Travel Pool #10– Wheels up from Birmingham

The VP's motorcade pulled into Birmingham-Shuttleworth Airport at 6:48, and the VP and SGOTUS boarded AF2 at 6:55 p.m.

We are wheels up from Birmingham at 7:10 p.m.

VP Travel Pool #11– Wheels down at JBA

AF2 landed at JBA at 9:50 p.m.

The VP and SGOTUS deplaned at 10 p.m. and we're on M2 at 10:01. They were on the move at 10:05.

That's all for me today. Thanks so much for following along.