Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris in a speech on Thursday slammed President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic in the US and defended the ongoing anti-racism protests.
“People are rightfully angry and exhausted,” Harris said.
“After the murders of Breonna (Taylor) and George (Floyd) and Ahmaud (Arbery) and so many others, it’s no wonder people are taking to the streets, and I support them. We must always defend peaceful protests and peaceful protesters.”
The police shooting of African-American Jacob Blake has led to a fresh wave of protests in the country. Blake was shot in the back seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Harris further said that peaceful protesters must not be confused with looters and rioters.
“We will not let these vigilantes and extremists derail the path to justice,” she added.
Harris and Biden met with Blake’s family on Wednesday and discussed the need to heal the country.
Lambasting Trump’s handling of the coronavirus, Harris said, “Donald Trump froze. He was scared. And he was petty and vindictive,” a CNN report reads. She also said that Trump was “fixated on the stock market” and “caved” to the Chinese government. Trump’s handling of the pandemic showed “a reckless disregard for the well-being of the American people”, she added.
Harris further said that the president believes the presidency is “all about him” and the Republican convention was designed to soothe Trump’s ego. “And the tragedy in all of this is, it didn’t have to be this bad. Just look around. It’s not like this in the rest of the world. All we needed was a competent president,” Harris said.
This is Harris’ first direct attack on Trump ever since she joined the Democratic race on the vice presidential ticket.
According to data at the John Hopkins University, the US has confirmed more than 5.8 million infections and 180,000 deaths related to COVID-19.
