Harris to headline AKA convention during politically important week for Biden's campaign
Source: CNN Politics
Published 6:00 AM EDT, Wed July 10, 2024
Washington CNN Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday will deliver the keynote speech at Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.s biennial convention in Dallas a significant appearance that comes amid a crucial week for the Biden-Harris reelection campaign.
The ties between Harris and AKA, the oldest historically Black sorority in the country, run deep. Harris was a member of the sorority during her time at Howard University, and her sorority sisters have been among some of her most ardent and vocal supporters throughout her political career, especially when she was campaigning for president four years ago before Biden chose her to run alongside him when he clinched the nomination.
Black women have been credited with helping propel Biden to the presidency in 2020, and they have been the most consistently supportive bloc for Biden since his time as Barack Obamas vice president. But the timing of this years address at AKAs 71st Boule is especially crucial, as Biden has seen lagging support due to his handling of Israels war in Gaza, persistent concerns about the 81-year-old presidents age and mental acuity and continued worries about the shape of the economy.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.s Boule is held every two years and invites members from around the world to convene for certification training, forums, workshops, community service projects and other events. In a post on Instagram, the sorority said Harris would be addressing more than 20,000 members in Dallas for her keynote speech. The post cited one of the sororitys key program initiatives, which is Advocating for Social Justice. That initiative encompasses voter education, voter registration, mobilization and candidate forums.
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