“What I want young women and girls to know is: You are powerful, and your voice matters” -Kamala Harris. Kamala Harris is an American politician and attorney who is the 49th and current vice president of the United States. Breaking many systemic barriers, Harris is the first woman, Black American, and South Asian American, to be elected into her position. At the start of her career, Harris served as a district attorney for San Francisco and attended law school at UC Law San Francisco. Later, she served as the attorney general for the state of California. Currently, she is serving as the vice president of the United States of America.
As a leader of the democratic party, Harris is fluent in a wide range of issues, including racial and social justice issues. As a former practicing attorney, Harris is vocal about social justice reforms, especially in reducing mass incarceration. Also, she brings to light many issues with sentencing related to racial disparities. Harris co-sponsored the Justice in Policing Act (2020). This bill aims to address police misconduct and advocate for people who such organizations are mistreating. She also supported the SAFE Justice Act, which addresses problems with federal sentencing.
As the first female vice president, Kamala Harris advocates for women’s rights and gender equality. She is a leading voice for women’s reproductive rights and for combating any gender-based violence. Harris introduced and co-sponsored legislation supporting women’s rights when she was admitted into office. In the bill, there were issues including equal pay, reproductive rights, paid family leave, and access to health care. Today, she continues to advocate for women, as shown in her active support role.
Because of her strong opinions and high position in government, Kamala Harris has received much criticism. In the courthouse, she has received hate for her progressive cases, which include topics about drug-related offenses. Also, Harris has been accused of political opportunism, including her issues about criminal justice reforms. Social media is a common way for people to target their hated audience. In this case, people attacked Harris by creating misinformation and memes about her. Additionally, there were conspiracy theories created against her that accused her of faking her citizenship.
As a leader and a symbol of hope and aspiration for many, Harris advocates for many causes. She is vocal in women’s rights and criminal justice reform issues. As a person with high government power, she has the power to change the nation for the better. Kamala Harris is an inspiration for future generations to come!
