INDIANAPOLIS -- "We are not playing around."
That was the message that Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president of the United States, brought to Indianapolis on Wednesday during Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.'s Grand Boulé event.
This comes after Harris was recently endorsed by President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee for president in November's general election. Biden announced on July 21 that he would withdraw from the presidential race.
At the beginning of her remarks, Harris began by addressing Biden's scheduled Wednesday evening speech. According to previous reports, Biden is expected to speak at 8 p.m. on his decision to drop out of the race, his decision to endorse Harris for president and what the remaining months of his presidency could look like.
Harris said that Biden will speak on the "extraordinary work" that he has accomplished. Harris called Biden a leader with a "bold vision" and a leader who has compassion for the people of this country, stressing that many are "deeply grateful for his service."
Harris then highlighted the shared vision that she and the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. have toward a better future: a vision that highlights social justice, health justice and economic justice.
“I deeply believe in the promise of America, a promise of freedom, opportunity and justice, not for some but for all," Harris said during her remarks.
Harris said she believes that the current administration has worked toward that better future through its initiatives to cap insulin for more affordable health care, passing the child tax credit and forgiving student loan debt for millions of United States residents.
"Now, in this moment, our nation needs your leadership once again. In this moment, I believe we face a choice between two different visions for our nation," she said. "One focused on the future, the other focused on the past. With your support, I am fighting for our nation’s future.”
Harris then highlighted the upcoming campaign, stating that there are "those who are trying to take (the United States) backward." Harris mentioned Project 2025, a published conservative presidential transition plan that has been discussed at length over the last few months.
Harris, quipping " can you believe they put that in writing?" in regards to the controversial plan, stated that she believes Project 2025 would return America to a "dark past" — highlighting how it would impact medical freedom as well as the United States' educational system.
At the end of her speech, Harris called on attendees, as well as the community at large, to stand together in defense of freedom. Harris stressed the need for universal background checks as well as an assault weapons ban to help Americans be free from gun violence.
Harris also said that if she was elected as president, she would work to overturn the Supreme Court's decision that overturned Roe V. Wade, continuing to fight for a woman's right to choose.
“There is so much at stake in this moment," Harris said. "In this moment, our nation, as it always has, is counting on you to energize, to organize and to mobilize. To register folks to vote, to get them to the polls and to continue to fight for the future our nation and her people deserve.”
After her Indianapolis stop, Harris is expected to travel to Houston on Wednesday to speak at the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers.
According to previous reports, the Indiana State Party Chair of the Democratic Party has until noon on Sept. 10 to certify the names of the party’s candidates for president and vice president of the United States on the Indiana ballot.
U.S. Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, the Republican vice presidential candidate for former President Donald Trump is also campaigning in Indiana on Wednesday evening at a fundraiser in Fort Wayne. Both Vance and Harris are expected to miss the joint session of the U.S. Congress when they host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The speech can be watched in full in the video player above.