Excitement in the Air
It was Shikha Hamilton’s third time attending the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, but there was something different in the air this time. “There was the same level of excitement at this Democratic National Convention (DNC) at Kamala Harris’s selection as the Democratic Party Presidential candidate for 2024 as at the DNC in 2016 when Hillary Clinton was selected as the first female Presidential nominee,” said Hamilton, the Vice President of Organizing at Brady: United Against Gun Violence.
“In 2016, there were many Bernie Sanders delegates at the convention, but at this convention, while there were some uncommitted delegates, the general milieu was of excitement from different age groups and ethnicities and a coming together of sorts.”
A Harris Supporter
Hamilton who serves on Kamala Harris’ National Finance Committee and Joe Biden’s National Finance Committee has supported Kamala Harris since her days as California District Attorney.
“From District Attorney (DA) to Attorney General to Senator to Vice President-Kamala has covered all the bases. I have seen how brilliant she is and how hard she has worked every step of the way. Nothing was handed to her.”
“By endorsing his Vice President as the Democratic Presidential nominee, President Biden has put a formal seal of approval to her candidacy,” said Hamilton.
“As women, all of us work up the ladder and realize how much harder we have to work. Kamala’s nomination is an endorsement for all of us.”
Advocating to prevent gun violence
Hamilton, a licensed attorney in California and Michigan, has been working on the issue of gun violence prevention since 2000.
While living in Detroit, Shikha helped organize the Million Mom March, one of the largest protests against gun violence in U.S. history. She advocates for sensible gun laws on the local, state, and national levels. At Brady, she works to develop strategies and oversee the implementation of grassroots advocacy and mobilization, including state and federal legislative efforts, and public health and safety campaigns to further Brady’s mission to prevent gun violence.
Hamilton is most proud of her work in Michigan where she led the effort to close the “newspaper loophole,” persuading the Detroit Free Press and News to stop the placement of gun sales in classified ads, and in California, where she works with the Brady Chapters to pass gun laws every year. These laws have been instrumental in reducing California gun deaths by 49%-higher than the national average.
Views on a candidacy
Hamilton shared her views on several aspects of Harris’ campaign.
Addressing protests at the DNC against continuing violence in Gaza, she clarified that the protestors presented general policy concerns, not directed at Harris’ nomination.
Hamilton also emphasized the importance of volunteering. She listed the opportunities available as part of the “Do Something” messaging that resonated at the convention to mobilize people to action and get people to the voting booths, especially the work required in the swing states. “When our party votes, we win,” she said.
The upcoming election
Regarding Harris’s upcoming debate with Trump on September 10, Hamilton felt confident about Harris’s ability to lay her vision for America and counter the lies that Trump is likely to spew. “Kamala has been a prosecutor and knows how to debate. People will see how smart she is. I want her to be able to convince the independents to see the clear difference between her and Trump,” she added.
She emphasized that Harris’s actions have followed her words pointing to her work against the banking behemoths or for the reproductive rights of women as examples of her beliefs and policies.
Hamilton and her family have supported Harris for the last fifteen years and trust her qualifications and leadership. “She is ready for the job. Has been in training for the last four years. How often do you get that? I believe her and trust her because of her proven track record.”
