At a rally in Houston on Friday night, music icon Beyoncé made her first political appearance of the election season, lending her support to Vice President Kamala Harris at a gathering focused on abortion rights. Known for her Houston roots, Beyoncé walked on stage to immense applause from a crowd of about 30,000, sharing the spotlight with former Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland. Instead of performing, Beyoncé spoke directly to the audience, emphasizing that her attendance was not as a celebrity but as a mother, concerned about fundamental freedoms and the rights of the next generation.
“Your freedom is your God-given right, your human right,” Beyoncé told the crowd, an opening statement that set the tone for the rally. Her words resonated deeply in Texas, a state that has taken a hardline stance on abortion access, with legislation among the nation’s strictest. Following her remarks, Beyoncé introduced Harris, who entered to her campaign anthem, “Freedom,” a powerful track from Beyoncé’s 2016 album Lemonade. The two embraced, and Beyoncé exited to continued cheers, though some attendees began to leave as it became clear she would not be performing.
For Harris and the Democrats, Texas holds symbolic weight, despite its long-standing support for Republican presidential candidates—Texas last backed a Democratic president in 1976. The rally provided a platform for Harris to address abortion rights, pointing out the implications of Republican policies, especially those proposed by former President Donald Trump, on reproductive freedoms. “Texas, what is happening across this state and our country is a healthcare crisis, and Donald Trump is the architect of it,” Harris asserted. Her speech highlighted the current administration’s commitment to preserving abortion rights amid a political climate of heightened restrictions.
Meanwhile, Trump was also in Texas, stopping in Austin to appear on “The Joe Rogan Experience,” a podcast with millions of male listeners, underscoring the contrast between his campaign style and Harris’s. Later, at a rally in Michigan, Trump criticized Harris for attending the Houston rally amidst international conflicts, accusing her of lacking competence. “So Israel is attacking. We got a war going on and she’s out partying,” he said, contrasting his campaign’s stance with hers and noting that he and his team were “working to make America great again.”
Harris responded by underscoring that the push for abortion rights is a fight for freedom. “In America, we know freedom is not to be given. It is not to be bestowed. It is ours by right, and we are prepared to fight for it,” she said. Harris further highlighted Texas’s significance in this battle, calling it “ground zero in the fight for reproductive freedom” and urging voters to protect those rights. Harris’s speech also tackled Texas’s restrictive abortion laws, reiterating the need to resist efforts that “take us back.”
A few protesters, seemingly Trump supporters, disrupted the rally but were quickly escorted out. Harris humorously addressed one, quipping that he could join a smaller Trump rally nearby, adding, “We’ll show him the way.” Her comments drew loud cheers from the audience, especially as she addressed the broader implications of maintaining democratic values. “We’re fighting for democracy,” Harris stated, referencing Texas’s rigid abortion restrictions and calling out attempts to distract from the central issues at hand.
Beyoncé, as she took the stage, acknowledged the gravity of the moment, saying, “It’s impossible not to feel the energy in this room.” She commended women for sharing their stories about the impacts of abortion bans and reflected on the rally’s significance. “We are at the precipice of an incredible shift, the brink of history,” she said. Beyoncé concluded with a call to action, underscoring the power of collective action: “We are all part of something much bigger; we must vote.” This rally, featuring the superstar’s powerful words alongside Harris’s impassioned speech, underscored the momentum of the Democratic campaign as they aim to mobilize voters in Texas and across the country on this crucial issue.
