Kerry Washington, the host of Thursday night’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, didn’t waste any time addressing critics of celebrity political endorsements as she threw her support behind Kamala Harris.
“As I stand here, I know that there are folks on social media already saying, ‘Go back to your TV show! Shut up and act.’ But I am not here tonight as an actor,” Washington said at the top of her speech. “I am here as a mother, as a daughter, as a proud union member. I am here as the granddaughter of immigrants, as a Black woman descended from enslaved people. I am here tonight because I am an American and because I am a voter, and because we the people are stronger when all our voices are heard.”
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Washington’s former TV paramour and “Scandal” co-star Tony Goldwyn, who hosted the first night of the convention Monday, joined her on stage to film a video for social media as she hyped up the crowd: “When we fight, we win!”
Washington isn’t the only celeb lending their star power to Harris’ campaign on Thursday, with performances from The Chicks and P!nk, along with speeches from Eva Longoria and D.L. Hughley.
“Of course, Trump is saying that Kamala isn’t Black,” Hughley quipped. “I guarantee you this: Kamala’s been Black a lot longer than Trump’s been a Republican.”
Longoria took a moment to reclaim a well-known saying in Harris’ name during her speech. “In the Latino community, we have a saying, ‘Si se puede,’ which means ‘yes we can.’ But tonight, I’m here to tell you, yes she can. So we’re gonna say she se puede,” Longoria said before encouraging the crowd to join her in chanting the phrase.
Earlier in the evening, Golden State Warriors star player Steph Curry also delivered a virtual message endorsing Harris. “Together, we can do all things and continue to inspire the world. That’s why I believe that Kamala as president can bring that unity back, and continue to move our country forward. This is about preserving hope and belief in our country,” he said.
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