‘White dudes’ raise over $4 million for Kamala Harris, discuss women’s rights

By Stephanie Kelly

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A star-studded reside video name urging white males to vote for Kamala Harris raised about $4 million on Monday night time for the U.S. Democratic presidential candidate, attracting over 190,000 folks together with ‘Star Wars’ actor Mark Hamill and singer Josh Groban.

The “White Dudes for Harris” occasion, which lasted over three hours, centered on how and why white males ought to assist elect Harris, presently the vp, within the Nov. 5 presidential election towards Republican rival Donald Trump.

Trump gained the votes of over 60% of U.S. white males in each the 2016 and 2020 elections, mentioned organizer Ross Morales Rocketto, founding father of “Run for One thing.”

“If white guys would simply present up, if we’d get up and be counted, if we’d discuss what it actually means to be a fantastic companion, and a person, which is to guard, and to assist, and to raise up, and to not push down, all of us are going to be higher for it,” Mitch Landrieu, a Harris marketing campaign co-chair, mentioned throughout the name.

The decision is the newest in a collection of video requires Harris which have attracted massive audiences and raised hundreds of thousands, sparked by one held by Black girls the night President Joe Biden stepped apart from the race and endorsed her.

Different visitors included Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, actor Jeff Bridges, who defined his presence on the decision by noting his position as “The Dude” within the basic movie ‘The Large Lebowski,’ North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.

“What a wide range of whiteness we’ve right here,” mentioned actor Bradley Whitford, who starred within the film ‘Get Out’ and the hit TV present ‘The West Wing.’ “We acquired The Dude. We acquired Pete (Buttigieg). It’s like a rainbow of, uh, beige.”

Audio system emphasised that white males profit from supporting others’ rights, and particularly reproductive rights for ladies, a key marketing campaign concern for Harris and Democrats within the election.

LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and filmmaker J.J. Abrams every promised to match $50,000 in donations raised throughout the name, which sparked over 60,000 particular person contributions, Morales Rocketto mentioned.

“Smash that donate button,” ‘Frozen’ actor Josh Gad implored attendees.

Greater than 40,000 folks beforehand joined a name for Black girls supporters. One for Black males drew over 50,000 folks and there have been separate requires South Asian girls and LGBTQ allies. Over 200,000 joined a name for white girls and raised over $11 million.

(Reporting by Stephanie Kelly; Modifying by Heather Timmons and Deepa Babington)