Sen. Kamala Harris returned to California during this congressional recess and held a town hall at the Holman United Methodist Church. Despite Harris being less than four months into her first term, her presence was immediately met with applause and collective respect from an audience of about 800 people. I was lucky enough to attend the town hall Friday afternoon and listen to her speak on issues regarding environmental protection, immigration, healthcare and the current administration alongside my fellow constituents.
“I am so happy to be home, I cannot tell you,” she begins.
Senator Harris answered one woman’s question about immigration and said “I’ve personally prosecuted everything from low-level offenses to homicides. I know what a crime looks like and an undocumented immigrant is not a criminal.” The crowd clapped and cheered in agreement with her as she went through the different topics. An instance with thunderous applause was when Harris criticized Donald Trump’s taxes and his desire to build a southern wall. Sen. Harris also commented on the war in Syria and said she is “absolutely opposed to boots on the ground…”
Trump’s border wall is just a stupid use of money. I will block any funding for it.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) April 21, 2017
Kamala Harris is a strong Democrat showing up on lists of potential 2020 presidential candidates, but for now, progressives like those at the town hall will surely support her and her work as a senator without a doubt.
Other Democratic politicians, such as Sen. Dianne Feinstein, faced protests and heckles at their town halls earlier this week, but Harris’ audience was polite with questions, greetings and selfies. After the meeting, she stayed to talk and take pictures for more than half an hour.
I had the pleasure of meeting Senator Kamala Harris and talking to her about my education and aspirations at the end of the town hall. Although our talk was short and sweet, this experience was truly a humanizing one. Senators do their work in D.C. and balance multiple visits back to their home state, so to see one in person and thank them for all they do is extremely humbling, to say the least. Sen. Harris will be heading back to Washington D.C. and she states, “I come to you with bloody knuckles but I am going back fortified.”
