PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Hours before the attempt on former President Donald Trump's life in Western Pennsylvania, Vice President Kamala Harris was at a presidential town hall in Philadelphia, hosted by Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), an advocacy group, to deliver the keynote speech.
The goal: to energize about 1,800 Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to go out and vote in November.
Harris touched on topics including reproductive rights, protection of the Affordable Care Act, and a major project in Philadelphia to cap the Vine Street Expressway and reunite the two halves of Chinatown, known as the "Chinatown Stitch."
"Decades ago, that expressway was built to cut right through Chinatown. It displaced families and devastated neighborhoods," Harris said.
"President Biden and I have invested nearly $160 million to build parks, bike paths and walking paths over the Vine Street Expressway."
It was the first time speaking in Pennsylvania for Harris, the country's first South Asian American vice president, since President Joe Biden's poor debate performance last month. She called the president a "fighter."
"The last few days have been a reminder that running for president of the United States is never easy — nor should it be," Harris said. "But one thing we know about our president, Joe Biden: He is a fighter. And he is the first to say, 'When you get knocked down, you get right back up.'"
This Asian and Pacific Island American town hall has been going on since 2008, giving the community a chance to voice concerns to lawmakers. Saturday's keynote was the end to a two-day AAPI National Leadership Summit held at the Sheraton Hotel.
Local community leaders, including Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija, said they believe Harris made the case to earn their vote.
"I thought she made a very powerful case for the reelection and, in particular, the dangers of Donald Trump coming back into the White House. She made clear the last line of defense we have is the ballot box," Makhija said.
Makhija predicted the vice president showing up will make a difference in how voters may show up.
"Her showing us that we matter, that she's gonna speak to our community's issues — just show that they're not gonna leave any stone unturned and that they're gonna appreciate every community and make sure that they represent us as Americans."
New Jersey state Sen. Raj Mukherji said he hopes the event can empower more people in his community to show up at the polls.
"These critical immigrant populations need to be sure we're over 90% turnout. If you don't secure for yourself a seat at the table, you're going to be on the menu."
APIAVote says they also reached out to Donald Trump's campaign to request their participation in the town hall, but the campaign did not send any representatives.
