Vice President Kamala Harris was interrupted by a protester screaming about “genocide!” — who was then shouted down by supporters chanting “Kamala! Kamala! Kamala!” and escorted out.
VP Harris continued her “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” Tour with a speech at the Savannah Civic Center in Savannah, Georgia this week.
But a few minutes into the speech, a protester began screaming “You’re committing genocide!” — an apparent reference to the Israel-Hamas war.
The crowd shouted her down, but the VP defended the right of protest in a “healthy democracy” before continuing her speech as the protester was escorted out:
THE VICE PRESIDENT: In states across our nation, extremists have proposed and passed laws that criminalize doctors and punish women.
Laws that threaten doctors and nurses with prison time, including right here in Georgia, even for life — in some states, prison for life — simply for providing healthcare. Laws that in some states make no exception even for rape and incest.
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Now, I know it’s a difficult conversation to have, but we need to face reality. Right?
As many of us know, and many of you may know —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: (Inaudible.)
AUDIENCE: Booo —
THE VICE PRESIDENT: — I started —
AUDIENCE MEMBER: Shame on you! You’re committing genocide! You’re committing genocide! (Inaudible.)
AUDIENCE: Kamala! Kamala! Kamala!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: It’s okay.
AUDIENCE: Kamala! Kamala! Kamala!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you.
AUDIENCE: Kamala! Kamala! Kamala!
THE VICE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you all.
And we know, in a healthy democracy, we value the freedom of all people to be heard. And — but right now, we are talking about a different issue, and that is the issue of what has happened to the women and people of America as a result of the Dobbs decision. (Applause.)
So, as I was saying, no exception even for rape or incest. And we must have difficult conversations about what that means.