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Harris calls Trump's false claims about race 'the same old show' of divisiveness and disrespect

Harris calls Trump's false claims about race 'the same old show' of divisiveness and disrespect
Former President Donald Trump attempting to reclaim the spotlight. I think it's disgraceful that I came here in good spirit. I love the black population of this country immediately attacking reporters asking questions at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago. I think it's *** very rude introduction. I don't know exactly why you would do something like that. Trump also falsely attacking Vice President Kamala Harris on her ethnicity. She was Indian all the way and then all of *** sudden she made to turn and she went, she became *** black just to be clear and claiming his presidency was *** success for black Americans. I have been the best president for the black population since Abraham Lincoln's better than President Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. His appearance at the event sparking controversy and leading to the co-chair of the conference to step down from her role. Organization's president issuing *** statement defending the decision to invite Trump writing quote. We believe it is important for us to provide our members with the opportunity to hear directly from candidates and hold them accountable. Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign saying it was working with the group to arrange *** session in September after the Democratic convention. If *** liberal like Kamala Harris, the American dream is dead as Trump adjusts to running against *** new rival, the former president lobbying personal attacks at Harris suggesting the vice president would struggle to deal with foreign leaders. I think they'll walk all over her. She'll be so easy for them. She'll be like *** play toy. They look at her and they say we can't believe we got so lucky. The vice president challenging Trump directly during *** rally Tuesday in the battleground state of Georgia, the momentum in this race is shifting and there are signs that Donald Trump is feeling it calling out the former president for not committing to *** debate. I do hope you'll reconsider to meet me on the debate stage because as the saying goes, if you got something to say, coming closer to making *** final decision on who will be her running mate. *** campaign official telling CNN the duo will kick off *** tour of battleground states beginning next Tuesday in Philadelphia. The pair will then travel to Wisconsin, Michigan, Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. The top contenders include Minnesota. Governor Tim Walls Arizona, Senator Mark Kelly and Pennsylvania, Governor Josh Shapiro. We've been friends for 20 years. She's an outstanding vice president.
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Harris calls Trump's false claims about race 'the same old show' of divisiveness and disrespect
Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday that former President Donald Trump's false assertions about her race were the ā€œsame old show" as she emphasized the need for Black women to organize for his defeat this November.Addressing the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. — one of "Divine Nine" historically Black fraternities and sororities — in Houston, Harris told the crowd, "When I look out at everyone here, I see family.ā€She drew knowing chuckles from the audience as she mentioned Trump’s comments earlier in the day at the annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists. Trump said Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American to serve as vice president, had in the past promoted only her Indian heritage.ā€œI didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?ā€ Trump said while addressing the NABJ in Chicago.Harris responded briefly during her address to the sorority, saying Trump's display was "the same old show: the divisiveness and the disrespect.ā€She added: ā€œAnd let me just say, the American people deserve better. The American people deserve better.ā€ā€œOur differences do not divide us, they are an essential source of our strength,ā€ Harris said. Referencing the combative tone of Trump's interview at the NABJ convention, she said, ā€œThe American people deserve a leader who tells the truth, a leader who does not respond with hostility and anger when confronted with the facts.ā€Harris is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, both immigrants to the U.S. As an undergraduate, Harris attended Howard University, one of the nation’s most prominent historically Black colleges and universities, where she also pledged the historically Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. As a U.S. senator, Harris was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.Speaking to Sigma Gamma Rho members, Harris said, ā€œOur nation is counting on you" to register people to vote and ensure they go to the polls. ā€œWhen we organize, mountains move," she said.Black Greek life is often seen as a lifelong involvement, leading many members to return to regular gatherings — or ā€œboulĆ©sā€ in the organizations’ phrasing — that gather tens of thousands of members each. Harris has attended three such events in the last month, including the boulĆ© for her own sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.The Divine Nine organizations, which are officially apolitical, emphasize public service as a mission and have deep networks in politics, business and media.June Penny, 66, of Georgia, an attendee at Harris' speech in Houston, said Trump’s comments about Harris’ race reminded her of how he tried to discredit then-President Barack Obama.ā€œI’m not surprised he would try to find something like that,ā€ Penny said.She said Trump’s views don’t reflect the reality of race in the country, noting, ā€œI have biracial grandchildrenā€ -- her son-in-law is white -- ā€œand the world views them as black.ā€More than 30 members of Congress are affiliated with a Black Greek letter organization. Close advisers to President Joe Biden, including Stephen Benjamin, Cedric Richmond and Keisha Lance Bottoms, are members of Divine Nine organizations. Harris has welcomed such connections to staff her operation and build her own network in Washington.—Associated Press writer Matt Brown in Chicago contributed.

Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday that former President Donald Trump's false assertions about her race were the ā€œsame old show" as she emphasized the need for Black women to organize for his defeat this November.

Addressing the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. — one of "Divine Nine" historically Black fraternities and sororities — in Houston, Harris told the crowd, "When I look out at everyone here, I see family.ā€

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She drew knowing chuckles from the audience as she mentioned Trump’s comments earlier in the day at the annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists. Trump said Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American to serve as vice president, had in the past promoted only her Indian heritage.

ā€œI didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?ā€ Trump said while addressing the NABJ in Chicago.

Harris responded briefly during her address to the sorority, saying Trump's display was "the same old show: the divisiveness and the disrespect.ā€

She added: ā€œAnd let me just say, the American people deserve better. The American people deserve better.ā€

ā€œOur differences do not divide us, they are an essential source of our strength,ā€ Harris said.

Referencing the combative tone of Trump's interview at the NABJ convention, she said, ā€œThe American people deserve a leader who tells the truth, a leader who does not respond with hostility and anger when confronted with the facts.ā€

Harris is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, both immigrants to the U.S. As an undergraduate, Harris attended Howard University, one of the nation’s most prominent historically Black colleges and universities, where she also pledged the historically Black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha. As a U.S. senator, Harris was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Speaking to Sigma Gamma Rho members, Harris said, ā€œOur nation is counting on you" to register people to vote and ensure they go to the polls. ā€œWhen we organize, mountains move," she said.

Black Greek life is often seen as a lifelong involvement, leading many members to return to regular gatherings — or ā€œboulĆ©sā€ in the organizations’ phrasing — that gather tens of thousands of members each. Harris has attended three such events in the last month, including the boulĆ© for her own sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha.

The Divine Nine organizations, which are officially apolitical, emphasize public service as a mission and have deep networks in politics, business and media.

June Penny, 66, of Georgia, an attendee at Harris' speech in Houston, said Trump’s comments about Harris’ race reminded her of how he tried to discredit then-President Barack Obama.

ā€œI’m not surprised he would try to find something like that,ā€ Penny said.

She said Trump’s views don’t reflect the reality of race in the country, noting, ā€œI have biracial grandchildrenā€ -- her son-in-law is white -- ā€œand the world views them as black.ā€

More than 30 members of Congress are affiliated with a Black Greek letter organization. Close advisers to President Joe Biden, including Stephen Benjamin, Cedric Richmond and Keisha Lance Bottoms, are members of Divine Nine organizations. Harris has welcomed such connections to staff her operation and build her own network in Washington.

—

Associated Press writer Matt Brown in Chicago contributed.