HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A new tally shows 36 people lost their lives because of Hurricane Beryl across the state, 34 of whom died in the Houston area.
The latest deaths happened in Fort Bend County, where at least four people died from overheating.
Meanwhile, Centerpoint Energy apologizedfor where it fell short and shared its plan to improve. The company’s initial assessment showed room for improvement in three main areas: resiliency, communication, and community partnerships.
Texas Energy and Power Newsletter author Doug Lewin joined Eyewitness News to analyze Centerpoint’s action plan and discuss other possibilities to keep the power on. Lewin said their plan is a start, but it has some holes.
Lewin believes community meetings should be ongoing instead of limited, and he has also written about and advocated for a system that pays utilities for performance. Companies could also be penalized when they don’t meet standards.
Lewin said the industry needs real change and doubts it will result from the Public Utility Commission’s investigation into Centerpoint’s response to Hurricane Beryl.
Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine joins Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool in Marvel Studios’ highly-anticipated new movie that opens July 26 in movie theaters across the U.S.
Here’s what we know about the upcoming film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
When does “Deadpool & Wolverine” hit the big screen?
“Deadpool & Wolverine” hits theaters July 26.
The film is directed by Shawn Levy and written by Levy, Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick and Zeb Wells.
What is “Deadpool & Wolverine” about?
In pure Deadpool fashion, the official synopsis for “Deadpool & Wolverine” calls the film Marvel Studios’ “most significant mistake to date” and pokes fun at how “synopses are so f—— stupid.”
The official description reads: “A listless Wade Wilson toils away in civilian life. His days as the morally flexible mercenary, Deadpool, behind him.”
“When his homeworld faces an existential threat, Wade must reluctantly suit-up again with an even more reluctantlier… reluctanter? Reluctantest? He must convince a reluctant Wolverine to…” it continues, before trailing off.
Long story short? Deadpool and Wolverine are teaming up to save the world — and perhaps the multiverse, as previews have teased.
Who stars in “Deadpool & Wolverine”?
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine and Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool in Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine.”Disney/Marvel Studios
In addition to Reynolds as Wade Wilson and Jackman returning as Wolverine, “Deadpool & Wolverine” features a star-studded cast.
The film features Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams and Karan Soni reprising their respective roles as Vanessa, Wade’s love interest; Peter, a member of Deadpool’s X-Force team; Blind Al, Deadpool’s quippy roommate; and Dopinder, Deadpool’s loyal taxi driver.
Newcomers to the cast are Matthew Macfadyen as Paradox and Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova.
Emma Corwin as Cassandra Nova in Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine.”Disney/Marvel Studios
Perhaps most importantly, though, Dogpool, a canine variant of Deadpool, will also make its debut.
Director Shawn Levy promises “huge surprises” for fans
During an appearance Thursday on “Good Morning America,” director Shawn Levy said the film is about a “surprising friendship.”
“I think you can expect the funny … definitely the action and the spectacle, but I think what maybe people are expecting a little less is the warmth of this movie,” he said. “Because it really was a movie made by friends about friendship … you have these two characters who really don’t match up in an easy way, but, eventually, through a lot of conflict, find something of a surprising friendship.”
Ryan Reynold, Hugh Jackman talk about coming together for new Deadpool and Wolverine movie.
Levy also said the film was “built for audience joy” and teased that fans can expect “huge surprises.”
“I’m just thrilled that our movie’s coming out soon, and there’s huge surprises that somehow the internet has not anticipated and the world is not yet aware of,” he said cryptically. “And so, I think that’s gonna be a nice thing, all of the unexpected things.”
The director also joked that having four daughters is “like living with a focus group,” saying, “They’re always my first audience and, fortunately, they really like this movie.”
What trailers for “Deadpool & Wolverine” have been released?
Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine.”Disney/Marvel Studios
Speaking of trailers, here’s a breakdown of what fans have been shown — so far — about the film.
A teaser trailer for “Deadpool & Wolverine” debuted during Super Bowl LVIII, showing Wade Wilson celebrating his birthday when the Time Variance Authority — featured heavily in the Disney+ series “Loki” — shows up at his doorstep. He’s taken to the TVA headquarters where he’s told he’s “special” and is being given the chance “to be a hero among heroes.”
“Your little cinematic universe is about to change forever,” Wade replies — later calling himself “Marvel Jesus” — as we then see him back in his Deadpool gear.
We only get a hint of Wolverine — as his shadow silhouette reveals his adamantium claws — in the final moments of the clip.
Watch the “Deadpool & Wolverine” teaser trailer here
The first official trailer dropped in April, giving fans an extended look at the dynamic between Deadpool and Wolverine as the two characters team up.
In this timeline, MacFadyen’s Paradox says Logan “let the entire world down,” and Deadpool attempts to give Wolverine a pep talk — while Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” plays — reminding him of his days on the X-Men team.
It must work, because later we see the two face off against Corrin’s Cassandra Nova, a powerful mutant and the twin sister of X-Men founder Charles Xavier — aka Professor X.
“Boys are so silly,” Corrin’s baddie says.
Watch the first official trailer for “Deadpool & Wolverine” here.
The final trailer for “Deadpool & Wolverine” switched things up by taking a more serious tone, diving into the more emotional moments between the two titular characters.
At one point, Wade holds up a photo to show Logan exactly who he’s fighting for, saying, “It’s only nine people, but my entire world is right here in this picture. And I have no idea how to save it alone, but you! You know how to save ’em!”
Later, we see Logan speaking to someone standing in the shadows. “Whoever you think I am … you got the wrong guy,” he says.
As the person turns around, it’s revealed to be Dafne Keen’s X-23 from “Logan” all grown up — confirming one cameo for fans. “You were always the wrong guy … till you weren’t,” she tells him.
Watch the final official trailer for “Deadpool & Wolverine” here.
What films came before “Deadpool & Wolverine”?
While “Deadpool & Wolverine” is the first time Wade Wilson/Deadpool is officially joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it isn’t the first “Deadpool” film.
Two previous installments, 2016’s “Deadpool” and 2018’s “Deadpool 2,” have delighted fans on the big screen.
A former Uvalde, Texas, school district police officer pleaded not guilty to the 29 counts against him on Thursday as families of the Robb Elementary School victims looked on.
Two teachers and 19 students were killed in the May 24, 2022, mass shooting. Law enforcement waited some 77 minutes at the scene before breaching a classroom and killing the gunman.
A Uvalde resident holds signs outside court ahead of Adrian Gonzales’ court appearance, July 25, 2024.ABC News
Former Uvalde school district police officer Adrian Gonzales faces 29 charges of abandoning and failing to protect children: 19 for the 19 children killed and 10 for the children who survived in classroom 112.
The indictment alleges that despite having time to respond to the shooting, Gonzales failed to act to impede the gunman and failed to follow active shooter training by not advancing toward the gunfire.
Over 30 survivors and victims’ families watched in the courtroom on Thursday as Gonzales pleaded not guilty.
The families included the parents of 10-year-old victim Tess Mata, the parents of 9-year-old victim Jackie Cazares and the parents of survivor Khloie Torres.
The sun sets behind the memorial for the victims of the massacre at Robb Elementary School on Aug. 24, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas.Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Images, FILE
“It’s not that we want to be here — we just feel like we have to,” Tess’ mom, Veronica Mata, told ABC News after the hearing. “We’re here ’cause we have to be here for Tess.”
Tess’ dad, Jerry Mata, said while he feels more than two officers should have been indicted, he hopes this is the start of accountability.
“The emotions right now are so high,” he said. “We’ve been waiting for this for a long time.”
Families of the victims in the Uvalde elementary school shooting file out of the Uvalde County Courthouse where former Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District police officer Adrian Gonzales appeared to face charges of abandoning and failing to protect children, on July 25, 2024, in Uvalde, Texas.Eric Gay/AP
Texas state troopers outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, May 24, 2022. Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Gonzales’ defense attorney, Nico LaHood, told reporters, “We have not seen any evidence that would lead us to believe that Mr. Gonzales is guilty of these allegations. … All he did was show up to try to help those children.”
“There was over 370 officers there. We have not seen or even heard of a theory of why Mr. Gonzales is being singled out,” LaHood said.
Former Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District police officer Adrian Gonzales arrives at the Uvalde County Courthouse, on July 25, 2024, in Uvalde, Texas. Eric Gay/AP
Gonzales is due to return to court on Sept. 16.
The former school district police chief, Pete Arredondo, who was the on-site commander the day of the shooting, was arrested last month on the same charges as Gonzales. He has also pleaded not guilty.
The booking photo for former Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo.Uvalde County Sheriff’s Department
The indictment alleges that, after hearing shots fired, Arredondo failed to identify the situation as an active shooter, failed to respond as trained, and instead, called SWAT, thereby delaying the response by law enforcement.
The indictment also alleges he chose to negotiate with the gunman instead of engaging; failed to timely provide keys and breaching tools; failed to determine if the classroom door was locked; failed to follow the school district’s active shooter policy; and failed to develop an immediate action plan.
In a recorded interview with investigators one day after the shooting, Arredondo said he did not view himself as the incident commander, contrary to the active shooter plan he devised.
Warner Bros. Discovery has filed a lawsuit against the NBA over the league’s decision to sell a package of rights to Amazon Prime Video.
Filed under seal on Friday morning, the suit aims to enforce WBD’s rights after the NBA rejected their attempt to match a third-party offer. WBD argues this move is not only their contractual right but also benefits fans by maintaining access to NBA content on their platforms like TNT and Max.
The NBA recently announced new TV and streaming rights deals with Disney, NBCUniversal, and Amazon, retaining Disney as the primary rights partner while adding NBC and Amazon. WBD, claiming matching rights from a prior contract, sought to match Amazon’s deal.
However, the NBA informed WBD that their proposal did not align with Amazon’s offer, leading WBD to accuse the league of misinterpreting their contractual rights.
This legal action echoes a similar dispute from 1973 when ABC Sports sued the NBA over a deal with CBS. Although that lawsuit was unsuccessful, it became a notable and costly battle in the industry.
WASHINGTON — Two top leaders of the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel have been taken into custody by United States authorities to face charges for their role in leading the group’s vast drug trafficking enterprise, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.
Sinaloa cartel co-founder Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, the son of “El Chapo” Guzman, were placed under arrest in El Paso, Texas on Thursday, according to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“Both men are facing multiple charges in the United States for leading the Cartel’s criminal operations, including its deadly fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks,” Garland said in a statement.
“El Mayo and Guzman Lopez join a growing list of Sinaloa Cartel leaders and associates who the Justice Department is holding accountable in the United States,” Garland said.
Zambada faces multiple federal indictments for his alleged role in the cartel and has been on the run from U.S. and Mexican law enforcement for years. His fellow co-founder of the Sinaloa cartel, El Chapo, was extradited to the U.S. in 2017 and convicted in 2019 and sentenced to life in prison.
“Today, the FBI and DEA arrested two alleged cartel leaders who have eluded law enforcement for decades. Ismael Mario ‘El Mayo’ Zambada García and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, son of El Chapo, will now face justice in the United States,” Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray said in a statement.
“Garcia and Guzman have allegedly overseen the trafficking of tens of thousands of pounds of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the U.S. along with related violence. These arrests are an example of the FBI’s and our partners commitment to dismantling violent transnational criminal organizations like the Sinaloa Cartel,” Wray said.
The circumstances behind Zambada and Guzman Lopez being taken into custody were not immediately clear as of Thursday evening, however, the men were arrested in an operation that ended on U.S. soil.
They were placed in handcuffs by FBI agents during an operation culminating at an airstrip not far from El Paso.
“The arrest of Ismael Zambada García, better known as ‘El Mayo,’ one of the alleged founders and leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel, strikes at the heart of the cartel that is responsible for the majority of drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, killing Americans from coast to coast. El Mayo is one of DEA’s most wanted fugitives and he is in custody tonight and will soon face justice in a U.S. court of law,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram.
“Joaquin Guzman Lopez, another alleged leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, and the son of ‘El Chapo,’ was also arrested today – his arrest is another enormous blow to the Sinaloa Cartel. In 2017, he and his brothers, the Chapitos, allegedly took control of the Sinaloa Cartel after El Chapo was extradited to the United States. DEA will continue to seek justice for any American life that is lost and will work tirelessly to prevent more needless deaths and pursue those that are responsible,” Milgram said.
The U.S. government had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Zambada.
Guzman Lopez’s brother, Ovidio Guzman Lopez, was charged last year with two dozen others as part of a crackdown targeting a global drug trafficking network run through Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel. According to the charges, the cartel used precursor chemicals shipped from China to fuel the fentanyl crisis plaguing the U.S.
Ovidio Guzman Lopez had been wanted by U.S. authorities since 2019 and was captured by Mexican armed forces in January 2023 in a small town just outside the city of Culiacán, the capital of the Mexican state of Sinaloa.
He was captured in an overnight raid that had been in the works for more than six months, officials said at the time. The arrest followed an infamous incident in 2019, in which authorities briefly detained Guzman Lopez at a home in Culiacán, before word spread and heavily armed gunmen flooded the city. Massive shootouts occurred between cartel members and Mexican armed forces around the city. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador ordered Guzman Lopez released in order to avoid more bloodshed.
Their father is serving a life sentence in the U.S. after being convicted in 2019 of conducting a continuing criminal enterprise, including large-scale narcotics violations and a murder conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracies, unlawful use of a firearm and a money laundering conspiracy.
Former Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña speaks at a press conference at City Hall on July 3, 2024. Credit: Indira Zaldivar / Que Onda Magazine.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced on Friday that he replaced former Houston Fire Department Chief Samuel Peña with former Houston Emergency Mangement Coordinator Thomas Muñoz.
Peña joins the list of City Hall employees who’ve been replaced by Whitmire during his first seven months.
Peña had served as fire chief since 2016 and has almost 30 years of experience in fire department.
However, the mayor’s decision was in a way suspected partly related to disagreements between the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association that endorsed Whitmire and the former chief.
Meet the new Chief of HFD: Thomas Muñoz
Thomas Muñoz, 37th chief of the Houston Fire Department.
The department’s new 37th chief, Muñoz, served 24 years in the HFD, prior to his most recent roles as OEM coordinator and acting Director for the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security.
“I’ll work hard to make our Houston Fire Department the best in the world,” Muñoz said in Spanish during his first press conference as the fire chief on July 26.
Muñoz is a member of FEMA’s National Advisory Council and has more than 29 years of experience as a first responder and emergency manager. During his 24 years with the Houston Fire Department, Muñoz oversaw Homeland Security, Public Affairs, and HAZMAT. Muñoz completed the Executive Leadership and Management Certification from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza School of Business and is a Homeland Security Executive Leadership Program graduate from the Naval Postgraduate School. He also completed the Component National Security Course at the National Defense University in Washington, DC.
“Mayor Whitmire is a no-nonsense leader who has supported our firefighters since day one,” said Chief Muñoz.
“I am committed to taking care of the residents of Houston, which must begin with taking care of the men and women of the Houston Fire Department. The work we do today will have a lasting impact for years to come, and I know that with this administration, we can improve the safety of all residents and future generations.”
Whitmire announced the decision in a statement on Friday praising Muñoz’s leadership.
“Chief Muñoz is a strong leader dedicated to preparing and protecting Houstonians for emergencies. I believe he is the best emergency management coordinator in the country,” said Mayor Whitmire. “He is experienced, knowledgeable, and widely respected. I have worked alongside him during the flooding in Kingwood, the derecho, Hurricane Beryl, and the winter freeze. I am confident that Chief Muñoz is the best person to lead the City’s fire department at this time.”
Whitmire didn’t go into extensive detail onto why he replaced Peña.
“I want my team in place,” Whitmire said during a press conference following his announcement of the new fire chief.
PARIS — The 2024 Paris Summer games are set to formally kickoff Friday in what will be an opening ceremony like no other before its time.
There will be all of the pageantry and spectacle you’d come to expect from an Olympics opening ceremony, only there will be one big difference. Instead of parading around a stadium, some 10,000 plus athletes will get on boats and sail down the heart of Paris on the Seine River.
Olympic organizers say this will be the first time in the history of the Summer Games that it will be held outside of a stadium.
Roaring back from the pandemic era
The Paris Games somewhat represent a return to normalcy. The last Summer Olympics in Tokyo occurred in 2021, delayed a year amid a global pandemic, which for the Games meant large-scale restrictions — no spectators, quiet stadiums and mask mandates.
Paris aims to offer a stark contrast.
According to Paris’ Tourism Board, some 11 million tourists are expected to visit the French capital for the Games.
Paris 2024 Olympic Organizers on Thursday said that Paris Games broke the record for most tickets sold or allocated in the event’s history, the AP reported.
In total, 9.7 million tickets have been so far for this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, breaking the previous ticket sales record set in 1996 during the Atlanta Games when 8.3 million were sold.
Massive security operation
Paris officials knew that floating the opening ceremony down the Seine would not come without security risks and as the Games are about to officially open, the streets are flooded with 45,000 police officers and an additional 10,000 soldiers — including search dogs, bomb squads and tactical teams — essentially transforming the French capital into a maximum security site, complete with checkpoints and metal barricades.
As it gets closer to the ceremony, the airspace in and around the Seine will close, stretching some 93 miles. Four nearby airports will also be shuttered as a result, including Paris Charles de Gaulle, one of Europe’s three largest airports.
Floating down the Seine River
More than 300,000 spectators are expected to gather along the Seine River to watch the historic opening ceremony on Friday night as dozens of team boats will ferry 10,000 Olympic athletes from east to west along the river, a route that extends nearly four miles, passing famed landmarks and bridges along the way.
There, the Eiffel Tower will serve as an illustrious backdrop for the remainder of the ceremony.
Coco Gauff and LeBron James picked as Team USA flagbearers
Coco Gauff of the U.S. returns the ball d…Show moreManu Fernandez/AP
Tennis star Coco Gauff will represent Team USA as the female flag bearer at the opening ceremony, joining NBA star LeBron James.
Gauff will make history as the first American tennis player to carry the flag.
“I had no idea and it was definitely very shocking,” Gauff told ABC News when recounting the moment she found out she would be carrying the flag.
“And I haven’t met LeBron yet,” she added. “but I am excited to meet him.”
First Lady Jill Biden arrived in Paris on Thursday, the eve of the opening ceremony, and spent the day meeting Olympic athletes and their families before representing the United States at the opening ceremony on Friday evening.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — It’s an active start this morning with multiple flood warnings and flood advisories southeast of Houston. That includes parts of Southeast Harris County, Chambers County, and Galveston County. The heaviest of the rain has been around Galveston Bay this morning.
Elsewhere, the Flood Watch for Houston and other parts of Southeast Texas has been extended until 4 p.m. Friday as high levels of tropical moisture remain overhead. We encourage you to stay weather aware because any heavy shower that pops up now through Saturday could lead to localized street flooding.
When will it finally dry out?
Not until after the weekend. Tropical moisture will linger overhead through Sunday, and that means rain chances will stay high with pockets of street flooding possible. The rain won’t be as widespread as what we experienced Thursday, but it will come down heavily where it does rain. The tropical moisture will be mostly gone by Monday, and that’s when rain chances will drop to 30% or less. Temperatures next will climb back toward the mid-90s as the sunshine returns, and there will probably be many swarms of mosquitoes coming for a neighborhood near you.
What are you tracking in the tropics?
Right now, we’re tracking plumes of Saharan dust, so no tropical development is expected over the next seven days. We are still seeing signs that the tropics could come back to life the first week of August. Head to our daily Tropical Update page for the latest on what’s happening in the tropics.
DALLAS — Southwest Airlines plans to drop its tradition of more than 50 years and start assigning seats and selling premium seating for customers who want more legroom.
The airline said Thursday that it has been studying seating options and is making the changes because passenger preferences have shifted. The moves could also generate revenue and boost financial performance.
Southwest made the announcement on the same day that both it and American Airlines reported a steep drop in second-quarter profit despite higher revenue.
Airlines are struggling with higher costs and reduced pricing power, especially on flights within the United States, as the industry adds flights faster than the growth in travel demand.
Southwest, based in Dallas, said its second-quarter profit fell 46% from a year earlier, to $367 million, as higher costs for labor, fuel and other expenses outstripped an increase in revenue. The results met Wall Street expectations.
American Airlines also reported a 46% drop in profit, to $717 million, and said it would break even in the third quarter – well below Wall Street expectations for the July-through-September period.
American “did not perform to our initial expectations” because of a since-abandoned sales strategy and an oversupply of domestic flights, CEO Robert Isom said. He said the airline was responding with a strategy that boosts profits and “makes it easy for customers to do business with American.”
Southwest has used an open-seating model since its founding, with passengers lining up to board, then choosing their own seat once they are on the airplane. But, the airline said, preferences have “evolved” – as more travelers take longer flights, they want an assigned seat.
The airline also said it will offer redeye flights for the first time.
Southwest said that its first overnight, redeye flights will land on Feb. 14, 2025 in nonstop markets that include Las Vegas to Baltimore and Orlando; Los Angeles to Baltimore and Nashville; and Phoenix to Baltimore. It plans to phase in additional redeye flights over time.
The change in seating policy comes as Southwest is under pressure from Elliott Investment Management. The hedge fund argues that the airline lags rivals in financial performance and has failed to change with the times. It wants to replace CEO Robert Jordan and Chairman Gary Kelly.
Shares of all major airlines dipped before the opening bell Thursday. Southwest Airlines Co. fell 6% and American Airlines Group Inc. fell 7%. Delta, JetBlue and United slipped more than 1%.
Customers Thursday appeared to have mixed reaction to the news.
“They should have done this a long time ago,” Tawan Bosley said. “I can check in comfortable, and know I have a seat.”
While many Southwest loyalists are applauding the move, others are giving the announcement a thumbs down.
“Sometimes my friend will get called first, and she can save my seat. So, I like it when it’s first come, first served,” Esi Quartey said.
“I’m not too happy about it either. It’s one of the things that makes Southwest unique,” Kaycie Wilson said.
In a statement, Southwest said, “The research is clear and indicates that 80% of Southwest Customers, and 86% of potential Customers, prefer an assigned seat. When a Customer elects to stop flying with Southwest and chooses a competitor, open seating is cited as the number one reason for the change. By moving to an assigned seating model, Southwest expects to broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future Customers.”
Patrcia Kuhl of Naperville is concerned the decision will affect cost.
“Prices are going up everywhere, and I know Southwest is trying to be competitive. But, if it means more price increase, it’s an issue for sure,” she said.
Southwest said it plans to begin bookings on assigned seating in 2025.
Vice President Kamala Harris addressed hundreds of public education staff at the American Federation of Teachers Union convention in Houston on Thursday as her election campaign kicked off. Credit: Edward Saenz / Que Onda Magazine.
By Indira Zaldivar & Edward Saenz
Houston (Que Onda Magazine) – Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive new Democratic candidate for the upcoming presidential election, addressed hundreds of public education staff at the American Federation of Teachers Union convention in Houston on Thursday as her election campaign kicked off.
Kamala, immediately endorsed by President Joe Biden after the 81-year-old ended his presidential bid, outlined her campaign points before a crowd of more than 1,500 people at George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston.
“We are not going back,” Harris said in reference to calls to limit freedoms such as book banning, change public education’s curriculum including limiting teacher’s freedoms in the classroom, restricting reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, and more.
“A proud product of public education,” Harris thanked AFT for being the first union to endorse her presidential bid.
“It is because of Mrs. Wilson and so many teachers like her that I stand before you as vice president of the United States of America,” Harris said. “And that I am running to become president of the United States.”
The vice president condemned “a full-on attack on hard-won, hard-fought freedoms.”
“We want to ban assault weapons, and they want to ban books,” Harris said. “Can you imagine?”
“There are those who are really trying to take us backward,” she warned, referencing the Project 2025 policy agenda that drew boos from the crowd.
Harris emphasized how this election comes down to choosing between “two very different visions.”
“A country of freedom, compassion and rule of law, or a country of chaos, fear and hate?” she said.
“The beauty of our democracy is that we each have the power to answer that question when we vote.”
If Harris is successful in her election campaign against former U.S. President Donald Trump, 59-year-old Harris would become the first woman, Indian American, second African American, elected to that position.
The 2024 U.S. presidential election is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5.
“Our country faces a question,” Harris asked. “What kind of country do we want to live in?”
