HOUSTON (AP) — Kamala Harris and Beyonce sparked a rally in Houston on Friday with a two-faced dig at Donald Trump, with the superstar telling the Democratic candidate’s largest ever crowd that it was “time to sing a new song” while Harris warned that her Republican opponent was solid determined to further weaken women’s rights.

The rally was held in Republican Texas to draw attention to the growing medical consequences of the state’s strict abortion ban, but the message was intended to resonate in the politically battleground states where Harris hopes the fallout will occur the overturn of Roe v. calf will spur voters to support her quest for the presidency.

“To every man and woman in this room and viewers across the country: we need you,” Beyoncé said in a rare political appearance. The megastar’s speech was lofty, joyful and optimistic – a reflection of the seriousness of the subject and the message Harris wanted to deliver.

“I’m here as a mother, a mother who cares deeply about the world in which my children and all our children live,” Beyoncé said. “A world where we have the freedom to control our bodies, a world where we are not divided.”

Harris came out to huge cheers. She told the crowd that Trump reversed half a century of hard-fought progress when he appointed the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe and sparked a growing health crisis.

She listed the downstream effects she sees with various bans. Women who never intended to terminate a pregnancy suffer devastating complications if they do not receive medical care. They have fewer options and fewer medical students choose to specialize in women’s health.

“If you’re watching from another state and think you’re protected from Trump’s abortion bans because you live in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Nevada, New York, California or any other state where voters or lawmakers have protected reproductive freedom, know Please, “No one is protected,” Harris warned. “Because a nationwide ban by Donald Trump will ban abortion in every single state.”

“However, elections are important,” she said.

Trump has been inconsistent in his message to voters Abortion and Reproductive Rightsalthough he has said he would veto a national abortion ban. He has repeatedly changed his stance and given vague, contradictory and sometimes nonsensical answers to questions about an issue that has become a problem a major weakness for the Republicans in this year’s election.

Trump was also in Texas on Friday, where he predicted that if he won the election he would break a record for the number of people deported from the United States. He recorded a podcast with Joe Rogan before heading to a rally in Traverse City, Michigan, where he took the stage three hours late.

Harris was joined at the rally by women who nearly died from sepsis and other pregnancy complications because they were unable to receive proper medical care. Some of them have already campaigned for Harris and others have shared their harrowing stories Campaign ads to display how the issue has evolved into something far bigger than the right to end an unwanted pregnancy.

Since abortion was restricted in Texas, the same applies to the state Infant mortality has increasedmore babies have died from birth defects and maternal mortality has increased.

The crowd waited for hours, wearing flashing red, white and blue LED wristbands as “Trust Women” and “Freedom” flashed on large screens between performances.

“Sometimes they forget about us because we’re a Republican state,” said Rhonda Johnson, a Houston resident for 19 years. “But I’m glad she’s here.”

For Yannick Djomatchoua, reproductive rights, the economy and LGBTQ issues were the main reasons behind his decision to support Harris and wait in line for hours to see her. “It’s very personal,” he said, adding that he knows friends who have had to make difficult decisions because of state abortion restrictions.

Harris’ campaign has adopted Beyoncé’s 2016 track “Freedom” as its anthem, and the message fits with the vice president’s emphasis on reproductive freedom. Beyoncé was joined by her mother Tina Knowles and her former bandmate Kelly Rowland, all of whom spoke about Harris’ historic candidacy and the dream of a more unified nation.

“Our voices sing a chorus of unity,” Beyoncé said. “They’re singing a song of dignity and opportunity – are you all ready?”

Harris was also joined by country legend Willie Nelson, who sang some of his biggest hits, including “On the Road Again.”

“Hey, how are you all doing?” Nelson, 91, asked the crowd. “Are we ready to say Madam President?”

There are 14 states with strict abortion bans Women cannot receive medical care until their condition has become life-threatening. In some states, doctors can be prosecuted if they provide medical care.

Democrats warn that rights and freedoms will only be further weakened if Trump is elected. Republican lawmakers in States in the USA reject the Democrats’ proposal. Efforts to protect or expand access to birth control, for example.

“Freedom cannot be given in America. It cannot be given as a gift. It’s ours. Rightly so. And that includes a woman’s fundamental freedom to make decisions about her own body and not let the government tell her what to do,” Harris said.

There is evidence that abortion rights could encourage women to go to the polls during the 2022 midterm elections. voters in seven statesincluding some conservatives, have either protected abortion rights or rejected attempts to restrict them in statewide votes over the past two years.

Um 6 out of 10 Americans believe their state should generally allow a person to have a legal abortion if they do not want to become pregnant for any reason, according to a July poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Democrats also hope Harris’ visit will give the lawmaker a boost. Colin Allredwho is making a major attempt to unseat the Republican senator from Texas. Ted Cruz. Allred said Friday that if you, like Cruz, vote to repeal a woman’s constitutional right, you should lose your job.

Texas embodies the post-Roe landscape. The strict ban on abortion prohibits doctors from performing abortions as soon as cardiac activity is detected, which can happen as early as six weeks or sooner.

As a result, women increasingly suffer from poorer medical care. That’s partly because doctors can’t intervene unless a woman is experiencing a life-threatening condition or to prevent “significant impairment of major bodily functions.”

“Donald Trump’s abortion bans in Texas nearly cost me my life and left me physically and emotionally scarred,” said Ondrea Cummings, who lost her 16-week-old baby and nearly died of sepsis when she wasn’t treated quickly enough could .

“I never thought I would have such a personal experience. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.”

___

Reported for a long time from Washington.