Gillian Sherpe wedged open the gate, smiled, and led a group of families to their seats in the reserved bleachers next to the area where Kamala Harris, Tim Walz and Maggie Rogers would soon be taking the stage. Sherpe immigrated to America four years ago from Trinidad and Tobago. After a successful career as an engineer, Sherpe made the decision to be closer to her grandkids and moved to Ann Arbor. While her green card status does not allow her to vote, she has done everything she can to be involved in the election, volunteering with the local arm of the Harris/Walz campaign to make a difference and encourage others to vote.
“I just want to hear what Harris plans to do to keep us together as a community, as a country,” Sherpe said.
On Oct. 28, Vice President Kamala Harris, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and musician Maggie Rogers came to Ann Arbor for a “When We Vote” rally. Located in Burns Park, near the University of Michigan campus, supporters gathered for a one-night-only event. Stories like Sharpe’s highlighted the rally Monday night, as there were few in attendance without a unique and personal reason for being there.
(Daniel Jacob)
(Esh Schaden)
Sherpe’s reason for coming was clear; she wanted, and will continue, to get out in her community and help make change. For Isiah Goddard, a man who considers himself to be conservative, his “why” for being at the rally was different.
Despite his right-leaning beliefs, Goddard wanted to see if the Vice President would discuss immigration, an issue that is of importance to him.
“I hear a lot about people,” Goddard said. “Okay, if you care about the people, people, people, why are we letting what’s happening to our border happen.”
One of the ways that Goddard stays up to date with today’s political landscape is through TikTok. He had seen Harris in the media and wanted to learn more, hear her speak and support the push to vote. Goddard supports the plan the Harris-Walz campaign has adopted for jobs in the economy but hopes that if Harris is elected, she will adopt stricter border policies.
Melissa Tinney, a CHS parent and Harris supporter, readied for her first-ever political rally hoping to hear how the candidates would support the middle class. “I’m here to support Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to take the White House,” Tinney said. “I really want to hear about how they’re going to support the American working class to make a living, to be able to sustain their livelihood and to have opportunity like every person in America deserves.”
Many other members of the CHS community attended the rally as well. Charlotte Rotenberg, a senior at CHS, was eager to get in and hear what the campaign had to say as she waited in line. Though Rotenberg isn’t old enough to vote, she knows younger voters have a huge role in this election.
“We really are the future,” Rotenberg said.
Rotenberg was not only ecstatic to see the Vice President but also to see the beloved artist, Maggie Rogers.
Inside the park, Mayor Christopher Taylor, who has been an outspoken advocate for Harris throughout her campaign, advocated for the team as he navigated through family, friends and his constituents. He shook hands and took photos with supporters in attendance as he spoke highly of the candidate.
“I’m incredibly excited that the Vice President and Governor are here in the city of Ann Arbor,” Taylor said. “We have a vision for hope, a vision for the future and we’re just so excited to be rolling into election day.”
At 6:15 p.m, Justin Thach, the rally’s organizer took the stage to kick off the event. Early speakers included Tony West, Former Associate US Attorney General and Harris’ brother-in-law, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist.
(Esh Schaden)
Soon after, singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers began her set with “Love you for Long Time.”
Crowds waved their blue and orange “VOTE” signs in the air as Rogers performed her song “Light On.” In between songs, Rogers stressed her wishes for listeners to vote for Vice President Kamala Harris and defeat former President Trump.
“You can take action against his darkness,” Rogers said. “You can choose the light.” She segued into her song “Light On,” reflecting the hope she has for a Harris/Walz presidency.
With eight days remaining in the presidential election, candidates are making a flurry of last-minute appearances to win over undecided voters, get out the early vote from Democratic supporters, and recruit volunteers for the campaign. After stopping in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and other swing states, Harris announced her visit to Ann Arbor, Michigan. This was the campaign’s first time stopping in Ann Arbor.
Ann Arbor resident Beverly Miller, a grandmother to CHS student Clara Bailey, was excited for the opportunity to see Harris live. Miller came to the rally to hear Harris’s vision firsthand; she finds that she and Harris are well aligned on their priorities for the community.
“I know what she stands for and so I know she’s up for all the things I’m interested in, like rights for young women,” Miller said.
Performer Rogers issued similar statements featuring Harris’s support for women’s rights.
“Voting is the key to a candidate that believes in reproductive freedom,” Rogers said. “We need every single one of you to vote. A massive, massive thank you to Vice President Harris, with your help soon to be Madam President.”
Rogers exited the stage to applause from the audience as the final speaker before Walz and Harris, Gauri Chawla, made an appearance. Chawla is a freshman at the University of Michigan, a student fellow with the Michigan ONE campaign and a first-time voter. She’s passionate about serving her community.
“When I look at Kamala Harris, I know that my dreams of fighting for the people of America can become reality,” Chawla said. She ended her speech by welcoming Walz to the stage.
Walz began his speech by thanking Chawla, Rogers, Debbie Dingell, Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist and Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor. One of his first points was women’s reproductive rights.
“I will be damned if anyone in this country should be denied the family that they want,” Walz said. He discussed his personal experience with fertility treatments, which he and his wife, Gwen Walz, used to conceive their daughter. Her name is Hope.
Next, Walz addressed the men in the crowd. He called them to action: protect the rights of the women in your lives.
“Their lives are at stake in this election,” Walz said.
Additionally, Walz emphasized the contrasts between the Democratic and Republican candidates. In a particularly crowd-pleasing example, Walz noted that both Democrats on the ticket are gun owners, Trump “would not pass a background check.” Switching to a lighter note, he ended his speech with a series of “Go Blues” and welcomed Harris to the stage. She thanked prior speakers, and went further and gave a shout-out to Elissa Slotkin, the Michigan candidate for Debbie Stabenow’s position in the U.S Senate.
During her speech, as a few protestors shouted from the crowd, Harris addressed Israel and Gaza.
“On the subject of Gaza, we all want this war to end as soon as possible and to get the hostages out, and I will make it happen as soon as possible,” Harris said. Interrupted by cheers and chantings of “Kamala,” she redirected the crowd, asking them to cheer their own names.
“It’s about all of us,” Harris said.
Harris went on to discuss the differences between her economic plans and Trump’s plans. She mentioned analyses published by independent economists that show Trump’s economic plans sending the country into a recession within the next two years. Harris plans on lowering costs and supporting senior citizens and families that have children. Transitioning from the economy to healthcare, Harris mentioned the costs of healthcare in America.
“I believe that healthcare should be a right and not just a privilege to those who can afford it,” Harris said.
She is a proud supporter of access to healthcare, including fertility treatments and reproductive freedoms.
“We know it is time to turn the page,” Harris said. “Ours is a fight for the future. A fight for freedom, like the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body.” Harris impressed upon rally-goers that the government should not be interfering with the medical decisions of women.
Reflecting on the recent restrictions placed upon women’s reproductive rights, Harris turned her attention toward the younger voters who have witnessed these changes while growing up. She wants them to feel supported and protected by their government, insisting that the way to ensure their rights is by voting.
“I want to speak specifically to all the young voters, all the students here,” Harris said. “I love your generation. One of the things I love about your generation is that you are impatient for change.”
She described how young voters have grown up facing climate change, active shooter drills in school and fewer reproductive rights than the generations before them.
“I see you, and I see your power,” Harris said. “Can we hear it for our first-time voters?”
Cheers thundered from the stands as Harris continued to address voters in the audience.
“We are here together because we love our country,” Harris said. “When you love something, you have to fight for it and ours is not a fight against something, but a fight for it.”
She told the crowd to do everything they could in the next eight days to get the vote out so that when they look back in nine days, they will feel proud. Harris encouraged listeners to foster a sense of community and support each other in the next week.
“So, Michigan,” Harris challenged the crowd in closing, “Are you ready to make your voices heard?”
