Atlanta voters say they are 're-energized' after Kamala Harris rally

Caption

Vice President Kamala Harris greets an enthusiastic crowd for her first Georgia campaign rally since becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee in the 2024 U.S. presidential race.

Credit: Sarah Kallis/GPB News

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Atlanta Tuesday evening for a rally that supporters called "energizing."

Supporters waited in a line stretching across a highway bridge to see the presidential hopeful make her pitch to Georgia voters.

The rally at Georgia State University’s convocation center featured a performance from rapper Megan Thee Stallion and speeches from Stacey Abrams, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, U.S. Rep. Nikema Williams and Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

A DJ played upbeat music while thousands of enthusiastic supporters danced, displaying their blue "Kamala" signs. 

Paige Jarvis from Atlanta said she was excited to show Harris support. 

"This energy is amazing," she said over the music. "And I want to be a part of it."

In Harris' 20-minute speech, she advocated for abortion access and slammed former President Donald Trump’s border policies and criminal record.

“So Georgia, today I ask you, are you ready to get to work?" she said. "Do we believe in freedom? Do we believe in us opportunity? Do we believe in the promise of America? And are we ready to fight for it?”

Sarah Dickson from Gwinnett County said Harris’ message resonated with her.

“I just feel this swell of energy, and I feel the tide turning and I feel so hopeful," she said. "I haven’t felt that in a while."

Other voters at the rally agreed that they felt more energized and hopeful with Harris at the top of the ballot this year. 

20-year-old Ariel Neal attended the rally. She is voting in a presidential race for the first time in November.

"[Harris] did a great job," Neal said. "I think she definitely is re-energizing the party, and I'm excited to see what else she does during her campaign." Neal added that she is more excited to see Harris as the presumptive Democratic nominee than Biden. 

Brian Shepherd from Ackworth said he wants to see Harris win Georgia like President Joe Biden did in 2020. 

"I really think that if she keeps this state blue, that she can win the presidency and we can be a part of history" he said. 

Trump and his vice president running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, are set to hold a rally on Saturday in the same location as Harris’ rally. Harris plans to be back in Georgia for a rally in Savannah next week with her soon-to-be-announced vice president pick.