Vice President Kamala Harris rallies in Philadelphia with SEIU members
The Philly Tribune covered the story of Vice President Kamala Harris’s return to Philadelphia when she spoke to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). (Link to the Philly tribune)
As the Tribune noted, “the country’s first Black vice president took the stage with the [SEIU’s] first Black president, April Verrett.”
This was the vice president’s third trip to the area in six weeks, following events in Kensington to announce student debt relief in April and in Elkins Park to highlight support for reproductive rights with actress Sheryl Lee Ralph almost two weeks ago.
After SEIU Healthcare Philadelphia member Lolita Owens introduced the vice president, Harris spoke on the often-overlooked work of home health care providers.
“What some people need to understand is that care work is physical work,” she said. “It is emotional work. It is a job and it is a calling, and care workers deserve to be paid fairly and fully for that work.”
Harris highlighted a new rule implemented by the administration that home health care providers receiving Medicaid funds must spend 80% on their worker salaries.
During Harris' speech, some union members gathered in the back of the hall in support of Palestine and calling for a ceasefire, among other things. Their chants did not interrupt the schedule, nor did the vice president or any other members directly confront or attempt to silence them. Many times the thousands in attendance drowned out the protesters with their own cheers and applause.
Harris concluded her visit to Philadelphia with a stop to Jim's West on North 62nd Street for cheesesteaks.