Wave Wire Services
LOS ANGELES — Joined by local elected officials, Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Mid-City area Oct. 17 for a discussion on efforts to protect reproductive rights, saying Congress will have to act to ensure women’s ability to seek an abortion is ensured.
“This is about freedom and liberty,” Harris said during the event at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center. “Twenty-two days, there is an election. That is a fact.”
She added, “We need to hold on to what we have, and we need two more senators,” imploring attendees to support pro-choice candidates in the upcoming election to protect Democrats’ voting power in Washington.
“We’re going to have to protect these rights by having national legislation,” she said. “We need people in Congress to recognize that responsibility.”
About 200 people attended the event, which featured opening remarks by Mayor Eric Garcetti. Also in attendance were mayoral candidate Rep. Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles; state Attorney General Rob Bonta; and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla.
“Abortion is a fundamental right in America,” Padilla said in a statement following the event. “While in California, the right to an abortion is currently safe, the worst thing we could do is grow numb to this crisis.”
He called on residents to support Proposition 1 on the November ballot, codifying the right to an abortion in the state Constitution. But he said a similar step is needed nationally.
“That’s why we must continue to grow our Democratic majorities so we can prevent a national abortion ban,” Padilla said.
There was no immediate response to an email sent to the campaign opposing Proposition 1.
Harris later spoke for approximately 20 minutes at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser in Studio City, recounting the Biden administration’s victories then discussing the Democratic Party’s fight for abortion access.
The fundraiser drew about 100 people to the home of Liz Naftali, a DNC deputy national finance chair, Biden appointee to U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad and owner of a commercial real estate company in Los Angeles’ Fashion District.
The fundraising speech was Harris’ second in three days. She spoke at a Michigan Democratic Party fundraiser Oct. 15 in Detroit.
Harris also was scheduled to speak at a DNC fundraiser in the San Francisco Bay Area Oct. 18.