Vice President Harris draws tens of thousands to D.C. as protestors demand action on Israel-Palestine conflict

Vice President Harris addressed tens of thousands of supporters at her closing rally at the White House Ellipse in Washington, D.C., Tuesday night. She reclaimed the site of Donald Trump’s Jan. 6th speech and put a stamp on the end of her campaign tour.

Lines stretched from the White House ellipse to 12th Street and Constitution Avenue NW. Excitement was in the air as the crowd amassed on the White House Ellipse, bleachers packed with flag-waving Harris supporters. Overflow spilled into Constitution Avenue and covered the Washington Monument lawn.

Karen and Derrick Hicks traveled in from Northern Virginia. Despite being a Harris supporter and avid poll watcher, Derrick couldn’t predict who would win the election, saying the polls were “really tight.”

Karen was more skeptical of polls saying, “I don’t put a lot of credence in the polling.”

The statement of Harris, not Trump, holding her closing rally in D.C. was felt by rally attendees. Derrick called the rally “a push for democracy. ”

Otto, originally from the United Kingdom and working for a national organization in D.C., said the U.K.’s electoral process is nothing like it is in the US, saying there’s “so much more joy!” involved in US elections as people around us – young and old – danced to Beyonce.

Lewis, also from the U.K. and living in D.C. with his wife, said he appreciated seeing the U.S. elections on the ground rather than through the lens of foreign media.

Others thought the reason the Harris campaign chose D.C. over Savannah, GA or Columbus, OH, was more obvious. Ladonna Williams of Capitol Heights, MD, gestured across the ellipses to the other side of the stage.

“This will be home,” Ladonna said, referring to the White House. She added, “Why not D.C.?!” Harris has lived in D.C. for less than 10 years, first taking residents in the city’s west end as a Senator, then residing at the US Naval observatory where vice presidents typically live.

Surrogates from across the country, including Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Arizona, kicked off the program, connecting their personal stories to Harris’ campaign promise of creating an opportunity economy, including tax credits for first-time parents and business owners.

But as the national anthem was sung, chants could be heard in the distance calling for an arms embargo and an end to the genocide. The chants turned into a small protest on the White House lawn. Activists unfurled banners calling for an arms embargo on Israel and shouted “Stop the genocide” of Palestinian civilians.

The impromptu demonstration reminded the crowd of Harris supporters and Harris of the undecided voting demographic, alluding to the Harris campaign’s allure in the three months since she announced her candidacy. Part of the protest contingent included policy staff in the executive branch. Feds United for Peace have sent letters to various inspector generals and the Department of Justice urging for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. 

One demonstrator who agreed to speak on anonymity for fear of losing their job said the administration has “crossed lines” in terms of funding a genocide, and said the administration is “outside the laws and values of the United States.” They highlighted resignations that have occurred from the US government over the U.S. role in the Israel-Palestine conflict and warned of more in the coming weeks.