At a high-energy rally in Houston on Friday, superstar Beyoncé amplified the message of Vice President Kamala Harris, declaring that America stands on the “brink of history.” This powerful statement came as Harris warned that if Donald Trump is reelected, he could impose a nationwide abortion ban, starting from Texas, where abortion restrictions are already stringent.
Addressing a crowd of 30,000 at the Shell Energy stadium, Beyoncé implored attendees and those watching nationwide, “We need you.” With the presidential race in a deadlock, Harris made a rare stop in Texas, traditionally a Republican stronghold, to emphasize the importance of abortion rights and engage undecided voters.
“Let us be clear: If Donald Trump wins again, he will ban abortion nationwide,” Harris cautioned, her voice resonating with the audience. She took the stage to Beyoncé’s empowering anthem, “Freedom,” continuing a campaign trajectory focused on liberty and progress. Throughout her campaign, Harris has characterized Trump as a threat to essential rights, including reproductive health and LGBTQ protections.
The crowd, some of whom had waited for hours in the Houston heat, received colorful flashing wristbands and danced along to pop music as they anticipated Harris’s address. However, the tone quickly shifted as she outlined the stark realities of abortion bans like Texas’s, which she referred to as “ground zero for the right to reproductive freedom.”
“Elections matter,” Harris declared, underscoring the critical stakes in the upcoming vote.
Beyoncé, despite not performing, shared her commitment to the cause. “I’m here as a mother,” she said. “We are at the precipice of an incredible shift, the brink of history.” The event showcased not just Harris’s campaign but a gathering of influential voices rallying for women’s rights and reproductive freedom.
In the final stretch of the election, Harris’s campaign is leveraging the star appeal of high-profile supporters. The night featured performances by Texas country music legend Willie Nelson, while actress Jessica Alba urged women to make their voices heard at the polls. Beyoncé was joined by her mother, Tina Knowles, and former Destiny’s Child bandmate Kelly Rowland, who echoed their commitment to protecting women’s rights.
The previous evening, Harris shared the stage with former President Barack Obama and rock icon Bruce Springsteen, who condemned Trump as an “American tyrant.” While Harris does not anticipate winning Texas, recent polling has allowed Democrats to hope for a tight Senate race between incumbent Ted Cruz and challenger Colin Allred.
“The stakes are high,” Allred remarked. “Everything is bigger in Texas, but Ted Cruz is too small for Texas.”
The emotional core of the rally revolved around personal accounts from Texas women who suffered due to restrictive health care laws. Ondrea shared her traumatic story of a denied emergency abortion after a miscarriage, illustrating the dire consequences of Texas legislation. Another speaker, Amanda Zurawski, detailed her life-threatening experience when doctors refused to provide necessary care until she was close to death due to complications.
“This is a healthcare crisis,” emphasized Todd Ivey, a reproductive health specialist, highlighting the challenges healthcare providers face under the restrictive law, which has led to rising infant mortality rates in Texas.
Among the attendees was 32-year-old Sara Gonzales from Splendora, who expressed her frustration over the current political climate. Identifying as an independent voter, she stated, “Being a woman in Texas right now, it’s not OK. I should have freedom over my own body.”