Kamala Harris Speaks at San Francisco's Emerge Gala

Kamala Harris at Emerge Gala 2025

At the Australasian Real Estate Conference in April 2025, former Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a bold and urgent message, speaking not only to global leaders but directly to the American people. Her speech pulled no punches. Drawing powerful comparisons to the rise of authoritarianism in the 1930s, Harris warned that democracy is not promised and that we are standing at a turning point. The United States, she said, cannot afford to retreat, isolate itself, or forget the hard lessons of history.

Without saying his name, Harris made it clear that Donold †®*mp remains a threat to democratic institutions, global alliances, and America’s credibility. She warned that if someone like him returns to power without checks in place, the values that matter most—truth, cooperation, and basic decency—could be thrown aside. She reminded listeners that America’s real strength comes from trust and integrity, not bluster or bullying.

Harris also spoke to the anxieties many Americans face today: the future of jobs, the rise of artificial intelligence, manufactured narratives of “fake news,” and deepening inequality. She acknowledged those fears but pushed for a vision rooted in honesty, unity, and collective action, rather than fear and division. Her speech was a call to remember what this country stands for and to fight for it.

During her speech, Harris illustrated that point with a story about an earthquake and how elephants reacted to danger. When the ground shook, the elephants instinctively encircled their young, forming a living shield against predators waiting to strike. Harris used this image as an analogy for America: when the lions are at the gate, we must encircle and protect the most vulnerable among us. That story inspired the Citizens Against Tyranny logo to be what it is.

References

KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco. (2025, April 30). Full speech: Kamala Harris speaks at San Francisco’s Emerge gala. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/S5jUKGhYy1w