Beyonce has made a notable political appearance, embracing Kamala Harris at a presidential campaign rally and encouraging attendees: “We need to compose a new melody.”
Although she did not perform this time—unlike in 2016 when she sang at a rally for Hillary Clinton in Cleveland—she spoke as Ms Harris cautioned that her Republican opponent for the presidency seeks to further undermine women’s rights.
“I am not here as a celebrity, nor as a politician. I am here as a mother,” Beyonce conveyed to the audience in Houston, Texas.
“A mother who is profoundly concerned about the world my children, along with all of our children, inhabit—a world where we possess the autonomy to govern our own bodies, a world where we remain united.”
“Envision our daughters maturing in an environment where there are no ceilings and no boundaries,” the U.S. artist continued. “We have to vote, and we require your support.”
Beyonce was accompanied on stage by her fellow Destiny’s Child member, Kelly Rowland, who introduced the Democratic candidate Ms Harris as the “forthcoming president of the United States.”
Houston is Beyonce’s birthplace, and Ms Harris’s presidential campaign has adopted Beyonce’s track “Freedom,” from her 2016 album Lemonade, as its anthem, first incorporating the music in July.
Beyonce granted Vice President Harris permission to utilize the song, which samples two recordings by John and Alan Lomax that document the history of segregation in America.
Beyonce appeared on stage at the event for Kamala Harris. Pic: AP
The rally was held in Texas to draw attention to the escalating medical repercussions of the state’s stringent abortion prohibition. Abortion is prohibited in nearly all circumstances, with exceptions only when the mother’s life is endangered.
However, the ambiguous wording of the law means that problematic pregnancies are not explicitly considered exceptions. Consequently, the state’s infant mortality rate has surged, more infants have succumbed to birth defects, and maternal death rates have increased.
Ms Harris was joined at the rally by women who had nearly perished due to pregnancy complications. In certain states, doctors may face criminal charges for offering medical assistance to women in perilous situations.
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Texas woman asks court to allow her abortion
Beyonce hugged Kamala Harris after welcoming her to the stage. Pic: AP
“For anyone observing from another state, if you believe you are safe from Trump’s abortion restrictions because you reside in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New York, California, or any state where voters or lawmakers have safeguarded reproductive rights, please understand: No one is secure,” Ms Harris cautioned.
“Because a national prohibition by Donald Trump will criminalize abortion in every state.”
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Mr. Trump has been inconsistent with his stance on abortion and reproductive rights—though he has consistently indicated he would veto any national ban.
He was also present in Texas on Friday, where he proclaimed he would achieve record levels of deportations from the US if re-elected.
