Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker was joined by Hollywood heavyweights Saturday night at a Philadelphian’s for Kamala Harris event along Ben Franklin Parkway. The event was intended to boost turnout for the upcoming presidential elections.
Academy Award winners Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio headlined the Harris for President campaign event along with Emmy winner Kerry Washington, actress Tessa Thompson and actor Brian Tyree Henry.
Presented by Mayor Parker and Dawn Chavous, regional chair of the Black Women for Harris Campaign. Several local elected officials also participated in the meeting, highlighting the potential impact of voter turnout in Pennsylvania.
“The path to the White House cuts through the Commonwealth of Philadelphia,” said Mayor Parker.
Mayor Parker emphasized Philadelphia’s importance in shaping national outcomes, noting recent elections in which the state played a decisive role.
Parker pointed to the disparity in voter turnout during the past two elections. In 2016, former President Donald Trump won Pennsylvania by more than 44,000 votes, while President Joe Biden claimed the state by more than 80,000 votes in 2020 as turnout soared.
The A-list celebrities spoke to the crowd about the importance of voting, with each celebrity lending their support to candidate Harris.
De Niro expressed his disdain for Trump using a colorful series of expletives and urged voters to knock on doors and hold their fellow Philadelphians accountable this Election Day.
“Everything, everything is at stake, and it will all come down to what happens here in Philadelphia and across this great commonwealth,” De Niro said.
Leonardo DiCaprio highlighted Harris’ position on climate change.
“Whether or not we have a government that does not deny the scientific facts and that believes in 99% of the scientific community when it comes to the man-made climate crisis,” DiCaprio said. “The choice couldn’t be clearer, and that choice is Vice President Kamala Harris’s.”
Kerry Washington also emphasized the importance of the vote in Philadelphia.
‘We are not here as actors and actresses. We are here as Americans,” Washington said. “There is too much at stake to become afraid, silent and complacent. That’s why we’re here.’
Creed’s Tessa Thompson and Brian Henry of the TV show Atlanta reminded Philadelphians of the city’s central role and urged them to see the impact of their votes in shaping the country’s future.
Agree early New Jersey and Delaware On Saturday, the two states in the Philadelphia area began offering the option to residents. Pennsylvania does not allow early voting.
The red carpet will remain in Philadelphia for a few more days Bruce Springsteen will headline a concert and rally with former President Barak Obama in support of Harris on Monday.
