Thousands of AFT members were energized by a visit from Vice President Kamala Harris on the last day of our 88th biennial national convention this past Thursday. AFT was the first labor union to endorse Vice President Harris after President Joe Biden’s stunning announcement this past Sunday that he would not seek reelection to the White House.
AFT President Randi Weingarten said, “They heard the vice president champion our public schools and economic opportunity, families, reproductive freedoms, safety from gun violence, the freedom to join a union, and a future in which every person has the opportunity not to just get by, but to thrive. And they are committed to pouring all of their energy into helping her make history as the first woman president.”
Hundreds of Texas educators attended Harris’ speech, “I’m excited because I know that she cares,” said Aldine AFT delegate Gena Coston, who teaches eighth grade English Language Arts in the Aldine Independent School District.
Cy-Fair AFT delegate Tiffany Spurlock, who teaches second grade math and science in Cy-Fair ISD, said Harris has the perfect chance to advocate for a system that serves all families, “We have to make sure we’re doing things that’s best for kids…Not just processes wise, not just systematically, but also morally.”
Texas AFT was proud to hear Harris echo the themes of our Thrive campaign: “We see a future where every student has the support and the resources they need to thrive and a future where no teacher has to struggle with the burden of student loan debt.”
We need Texas members to stand up for Harris in her campaign, but also to support a thriving democracy right here in Texas. Learn more about our campaign and next steps as we work to get our COPE-endorsed candidates elected and pass our Educator’s Bill of Rights in the next legislative session: https://www.texasaft.org/together-we-thrive/