Kamala Harris has vowed to “keep fighting” for freedom during her US election concession speech.
It was her first public appearance since her resounding defeat to Donald Trump and she took the opportunity to express deep gratitude and love to her supporters.
Despite the loss, Harris was met with cheers from the crowd at Howard University.
A smiling Harris said she was proud of the race her team ran, adding they had been “bringing people together from every walk of life and background”.
“My heart is full today, full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me,” she told the crowd.
“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for.
“But hear me when I say, hear me when I say the light of America’s promise will always burn bright.
“As long as we never give up. And as long as we keep fighting.”
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The outgoing vice president said she was committed to assisting in a peaceful transition of power, at odds with Trump’s own rejection of the 2020 results and the January 6 insurrection by his supporters.
“I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I also told him that we will help him and his team with their transition and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power,” she said.
“A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results.”
Harris told her supporters she would never give up the fight for freedom, acknowledging the work was not over.
“We will continue to wage this fight in the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square,” Harris said.
“Sometimes the fight takes a while. That doesn’t mean we won’t win. The important thing is don’t ever give up.
“Don’t ever stop trying to make the world a better place.
“The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people, a fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation, the ideals that reflect America at our best – that is a fight I will never give up.
“I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions and aspirations, where the women of America have the freedom to make decisions about their own body, and not have their government telling them what to do.”
As she wrapped up her speech, Harris offered an uplifting message to those feeling down about the election results.
“This is not a time to throw up our hands,” she said.
“This is a time to roll up our sleeves…only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars.”
Harris walked off the stage with her family to the sounds of Beyoncé’s Freedom.
