Vice Presidential Pool Reports of June 7, 2024

VP Supplemental Pool #1 - Gun violence event

Good morning! I am your pooler for Vice President Harris' campaign event in Landover, Maryland marking National Gun Violence Awareness Day
with U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Angela Alsobrooks.

Before the VP's remarks, two pro-Palestinian protesters interrupted Senator Van Hollen around 11:44 a.m., shouting, "Ceasefire now!" and decried the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in Gaza.

As they were escorted out, the senator said he supports a ceasefire, as does the vice president.

The political event is being held at the Kentland Community Center inside of a gymnasium. Your pooler estimates at least 200 attendees. There is a stage at the front of the room with U.S. and Maryland state flags.

There is stage riser to the right of the stage with supporters standing in front of two giant campaign posters; one Biden-Harris campaign poster that says "Keeping Communities Safe" and one Alsobrooks for Senate campaign poster. Supporters are holding up Biden-Harris signs.

Some are wearing orange t-shirts that say "End Gun Violence." Wearing orange is a gun violence awareness tradition in honor of Hadiya
Pendleton, a Chicago teen killed by gun violence in 2013. She notably performed at President Obama's second inauguration.

Upon arriving to the venue, there were two other Gaza protesters near the entrance chanting, "Permanent ceasefire now! End occupation!" One waved a Palestinian flag, while the other held up a sign. However, your pooler was too far away to read it.

The event began at 11:17 a.m. Speakers included Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland, who reminisced about working with Harris when she served as a "progressive" district attorney in San Francisco.

Other speakers: Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman, Maryland Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, Senator Chris Van Hollen, Angela Ferrell-Zavala, executive director of Moms Demand Action.

The vice president is expected to begin her remarks at 12:05 p.m. More to come.

Here's more background from the Office of the Vice President:

On background from a Biden-Harris campaign official:

On Friday, June 7, Vice President Kamala Harris will join Prince George's County Executive and U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks for a campaign event in Prince George's County, Maryland on Gun Violence Awareness Day to underscore what's at stake this November when it comes to keeping communities safe.

Additional speakers include Biden-Harris National Advisory Board member Governor Wes Moore, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, Representative Glenn Ivey, and executive director of Moms Demand Action Angela Ferrell-Zabala. The event will be attended by gun violence prevention and youth advocacy groups, including Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action, Brady, Team ENOUGH, Giffords, and Voters of Tomorrow.

The Vice President and Alsobrooks will be introduced by Tiffani Evans, a community activist who lost her eight-year-old son to gun violence, and Bella Socha Soares, Social Lead and Co-Founder of Terps Demand Action at University of Maryland, P.G. County.

Vice President Harris will discuss the Biden-Harris administration's work passing the most significant gun safety legislation in 30 years in stark contrast with Donald Trump's record cowing to the gun lobby, bragging that he "did nothing" as president to address gun violence and saying the country needs to simply "get over it."

This trip marks the Vice President's first event in Maryland this year and the 19th state the Vice President has visited in 2024. Later today, the Vice President will headline a Students for Biden organizing call focused on gun violence prevention to mobilize young voters, and yesterday, the Vice President participated in an official-side conversation at the White House about gun violence prevention.

VP Supplemental Pool #2 - VP remarks/Alsobrooks endorsement

Prince George's County Executive and U.S. Senate Democratic nominee Angela Alsobrooks introduced VP Harris to the stage at 12:47 p.m.

Alsobrooks recalled reading about Harris in Essence Magazine and her work to end violent crime years ago. Alsobrooks said Harris called her after she won her election as state's attorney and told her, "Let me know how I can help."

"She never stopped fighting and never stopped leading," Alsobrooks said of Harris.

The VP came to the stage to chants of "Kamala! Kamala!" She returned praise to Alsobrooks as a "leader of deep conviction and compassion." A minute later, she officially endorsed Alsobrooks for Senate.

The VP opened her speech gun violence declaring, "I believe the right to be safe is a civil right."

She lamented that gun violence is the number one cause of death for American children. She asked the young people in the room raise their hand if they endured an active shooter drill in school. "It's bone chilling to think about what our young people have been going through," said Harris.

Harris, who said she supports the Second Amendment, called for a ban of assault weapons, universal background checks and red flag laws.

The VP recalled being in the Oval Office with President Biden, who met with Democrats and Republicans, and refused to "take no for an answer," to pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

Harris said, since taking office, the administration closed loopholes like the sale of guns to domestic abusers. The VP said the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which she leads, has been able to make historic investments toward gun violence prevention, including bringing more counselors to schools.

In contrast, she said, "Donald Trump bowed down" to gun lobbyists. The former president "folded" and "failed" at standing up to them, the VP said.

She slammed the claim from Trump that crime is up under the Biden-Harris administration, clarifying that crime is actually at a 50-year low. During the Trump administration, Harris said the murder rate saw the largest increase in modern history. She quoted Trump saying "get over it" when speaking about mass shootings.

Harris called on Maryland voters to send Alsobrooks to the Senate, help Democrats win back the House, and reelect her and Biden back to the White House.

"Maryland are you ready to have your voices heard?… Are you ready to fight for universal background checks!"

She ended her remarks at 12:59 p.m.

The VP walked over to the crowd to greet them and take photos before exiting the gymnasium.

Some color from Gov. Wes Moore's remarks, who introduced Alsobrooks:

Moore praised the VP's White House work on gun violence as "spectacular." He praised Harris and Alsobrooks as history makers. He said to the room of attendees, "We have work to do" regarding the upcoming election. He added, "Faith without works is dead."

Some in the crowd began to applaud in excitement as the vice presidential seal was added to the lectern, signaling the VP's remarks were forthcoming.

The pool is heading back to the White House. I believe that's it for me!