- Press Release
In a First-Ever Endorsement, March For Our Lives Endorses Kamala Harris for President
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At a time when America faces growing authoritarianism, far-right leaders in the halls of power, and a gun violence epidemic that is ravaging our communities, we need a champion who will march for our lives—Kamala is that champion.
New York, NY — March For Our Lives is pleased to endorse Kamala Harris for President of the United States. This is the first endorsement we’ve ever made, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. As one of the largest youth-led movements in the nation, we are clear-eyed about the challenge ahead and we believe that Kamala Harris is uniquely suited to meet this moment.
The country that young people will soon inherit stands at the precipice—on one side, authoritarianism that threatens our fundamental rights, including our right to live freely without fear of gun violence; on the other, a world where we can keep fighting to build the future that young people know we deserve. We need an ardent defender of democracy, a gun violence prevention champion, and a leader who will listen to young people, give us a seat at the table, and fight for our future. We believe that Kamala Harris is that candidate, and the right person to stand up for us and fight for the country we deserve.
Young people are inheriting an increasingly precarious world as gun violence remains the leading cause of death for young people for the third year in a row, the war in Gaza continues to rage on, the climate crisis escalates, and far-right politicians are pushing one of the most extremist agendas in our country’s history. We have been struggling to feel excited about voting in this election, and are increasingly pessimistic that change is possible. But we know that another Trump Presidency is simply not an option that young people can afford—our lives are literally at stake. Kamala Harris’ task is a tall one—to run a campaign that boldly paints a future that we can believe in. We call on her to run a campaign that fights for the policy solutions that young people want, like an assault weapons ban, action on climate change, a vigorous defense of abortion, court reform, and an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza. Young people are savvy voters, who will see through empty promises and cynical horsetrading. We believe that Kamala will step above that and fight for a bold, progressive future—and we will hold her accountable for that.
Throughout her time in DC, first as a Senator and then as Vice President, she has been a forceful champion for gun safety and for young people. At the 2020 Presidential Gun Safety Forum we hosted with our friends at Giffords, Vice President Harris outlined a bold plan to tackle gun violence from every angle—demanding action from Congress and using the power of the presidency to fight for our lives. Since becoming Vice President, she has met regularly with advocates and survivors of gun violence, and we’ve had the pleasure of working with her as she’s led the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Importantly, Vice President Harris has put gun violence survivors at the center of policymaking, demonstrating her commitment to empowering those most impacted by the issue to implement the right solutions. As she begins her campaign for president, we look forward to working with her to develop a comprehensive plan to combat gun violence, focused on a holistic and preventive approach.
“Kamala Harris has proven herself to be a thoughtful and forceful leader on gun violence, who has time and again listened to young people and fought for our lives,” said David Hogg, Co-Founder of March For Our Lives. “Given her strong record on gun safety and prioritizing youth voices during her time in office, I’m proud that Kamala Harris will receive March For Our Lives’ first-ever endorsement, and I’m so excited for our work to mobilize young people for her campaign.”
“The youth vote will make up the margin of victory in races up and down the ballot this year, and Harris is the candidate that we know can win those votes if she embraces a youth-focused agenda,” said Natalie Fall, Executive Director of March For Our Lives. “March For Our Lives will work to mobilize young people across the country to support Vice President Harris and other down-ballot candidates, with a particular focus on the states and races where we can make up the margin of victory—in Arizona, New York, Michigan, and Florida. We are ready to double down on this commitment and elect the first woman, first Black woman, and the first person of South Asian descent to become our next president.”
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