Los Angeles-area African American leaders held a reception to support California Attorney General Kamala Harris’ U.S. Senate campaign on Sunday Ain Baldwin Hills.
About 75 people gathered at the Post and Beam restaurant to hear Harris talk about why she’s running for Senate.
“Everywhere I go, Californians tell me they want more leaders in Washington who will break through the dysfunction and actually help families in our state,” she said. “I’ve done just that as a career prosecutor — winning results that have made a real difference for California families — and that’s what I would continue to do in the U.S. Senate.”
Areva Martin, a civil rights attorney and children’s advocate who co-hosted the event, said she got involved because it’s important to support qualified African American women.
“Her win doesn’t just mean a new office for her, but it will reverberate throughout our community,” Martin said. “It’s so important that women of color are seen in these sorts of positions because it starts to create a narrative for our daughters, for younger women, that if they work hard, if they strive, if they’re accomplished, and they stay true to their community, these positions are not out of reach for them.”
Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas said he’s been supporting Harris since her first campaign for Attorney General in 2009.
“She’s forward-looking, she’s thoughtful, she’s engaged, and more than anything, she’s competent,” Ridley-Thomas said. “She’s going to be an excellent federal representative for the state of California in D.C., and she’ll help get through some of the log jams and the challenges that they have there.”
Harris is the first African American and first woman to serve as attorney general of California. She is currently running for California’s first open U.S. Senate seat in 24 years. The primary will be held on June 7.
