‘When I am president’: VP Harris delivers keynote at Zeta Phi Beta Convention

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Kamala Harris during the Zeta Phi Beta conference.
Vice President Kamala Harris delivered the keynote speech during the Zeta Phi Beta, Inc Grand Boulè on July 24, 2024 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. (Photo/Chloe McGowan)

Vice President Kamala Harris returned to Indianapolis just days after President Biden endorsed her for the Democratic nomination.

Harris’ visit marks her second official appearance since being nominated; however, her visit was not campaign related. The vice president took the stage at the Indiana Convention Center on July 24 to deliver the keynote speech during the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.’s Grand Boulè and Social Justice Town Hall.

“I know who we all are, I know who is here and I know therefore we share a vision for the future of our nation,” Harris said. “A future where every person has the opportunity not just to get by but to get ahead. A future of social justice, health justice, economic justice — justice you have laid out in this year’s theme.”

Zeta Phi Beta, Inc, which was founded in 1920 by five Black students at Howard University, stands on the founding principles of scholarship, service, sisterhood and finer womanhood. The Zeta’s diverse membership includes more than 130,000 college-educated women with more than 900 chapters worldwide.

Harris’ speech at the Social Justice Town Hall makes Zeta Phi Beta, Inc. the first Black Greek Letter Organization to host the first woman-of-color presidential nominee.

READ MORE: Biden has withdrawn his campaign for reelection — what does this mean for Democrats?

“As the President and CEO of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., I am honored and grateful to God for the opportunity to welcome Vice President Kamala Harris to join in conversation with us and discuss the impact and legacy of the Biden Harris administration,” Sorority President Stacie NC Grant said in a statement. “While we as an organization do not endorse any political candidate or party over the other, we have stayed firm in ensuring exposure to crucial education about our political process and information needed for them to make informed decisions come election day.”

Harris, who is a Divine Nine Member herself, highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration and how it’s invested into supporting communities, advancing economic opportunities and helping people thrive.

The Zeta Phi Beta, Inc. held a Social Justice Town Hall during the Grand Boulè on July 24, 2024 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. (Photo/Chloe McGowan)

Harris began her speech by thanking Grant, noting the sorority’s international president and CEO invited her a month ago. She also spoke to the incredible leadership of the Zetas and said she knew after seeing them in the halls of Congress during Zeta Day that they were “some of the most powerful advocates for justice in America.”

After a few brief remarks about President Biden’s July 21 announcement where he withdrew from the presidential race, she told the crowd come election day, they would soon have a choice to make — between the future and the past.

“We are not going back,” Harris said. “Ours is a fight for the future, and ours is a fight for freedom.”

READ MORE: Black women rally behind Kamala Harris after Biden steps aside

Harris ended her speech by stating that when she is president, she would restore Roe v. Wade and sign it into law before once again addressing the members of Zeta Phi Beta, Inc., urging them to vote.

“Our nation, as it always has, is counting on you to energize, organize and to mobilize, to register folks to vote, to get them to the polls and to contribute to fight for the future, our nation and her people deserve,” Harris said.

The vice president’s visit to the Hoosier state and keynote speech falls on the heels of her keynote speech at Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.‘s 71st Boulé in Dallas, TX and is a continuation of her summer series of engagements, which included more then a dozen Divine Nine engagements since taking office.

The speech was live-streamed at WhiteHouse.gov/Live.

Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at chloegm@indyrecorder.com. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.

Arts & Culture Reporter |  + posts

Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe graduated with a degree in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and her previous work includes freelancing for Indy Maven, Assistant Arts & Life Editor for The Lantern, and editorial assistant at CityScene Media Group. Chloe enjoys covering all things arts and culture — from local music, visual art, dance, theater and film, as well as minority-owned businesses. In her free time, Chloe enjoys reading, cooking and keeping her plants alive.