Tim Walz at Bethlehem rally makes his case for Kamala Harris
The presidential campaign returned to the Lehigh Valley on Saturday, as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz told hundreds of supporters at a Bethlehem-area rally "we're not going back" and made his case for electing Kamala Harris and rejecting former President Donald Trump.
Walz spoke for around 45 minutes to an enthusiastic crowd at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. He closed out the rally with a "When we fight, we win" chant, which has become one of Harris' trademark lines on the campaign stump.
"Forty-five days to bring joy back to our politics," Walz told the crowd, counting down the days to Election Day on Nov. 5. "All gas, no brakes."
Also appearing at the rally were Anthony Ramos, a Brooklyn-born Puerto Rican actor and singer who starred in "Hamilton," and Liza Colon-Zayas, an Emmy Award-winning actor on "The Bear" who also shares Puerto Rican heritage.
Ramos encouraged everyone at the rally to go out and vote.
"Why would we not want to hold onto this feeling?" he said. "This is the feeling we want to hold onto for the next four years and the rest of our lives."
Voting wasn't something he grew up excited about, Ramos said.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Liza Cono-Zayas,left, Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz, center, and Anthony Ramos end a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz greets Allentown School District Senior Kimberly Arias after she introduced him during a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Angel Pilkey-Chevez speaks as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Xxx speaks as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Liza Colon-Zayas speaks as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Xxx speaks as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Xxx speaks as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Student Representative on Allentown School Board Kimberly Arias introduces Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Xxx speaks as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) A protester is escorted out of Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz's rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) A woman leads a chant for the crowd as they wait for Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz to arrive at a rally Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) A woman leads a chant for the crowd as they wait for Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz to arrive at a rally Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The Freedom High School band performs for the crowd ahead of Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz's rally Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure speaks as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Representative Susan Wild speaks as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) The crowd reacts as Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz holds a rally on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township.(Amy Shortell/The Morning Call) Lori Richardson of Orefield makes a friendship bracelet with help from campaign volunteer Lauren Parkinson of Bethlehem as they wait for Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz to arrive at a rally Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (Amy Shortell/The Morning Call)"It's a gift that we are able to vote," Ramos said. "For so long I just feel like what I have to say doesn't matter."
"You matter," he repeated to the crowd.
Colon-Zayas talked about her win at last Sunday's Emmy Awards, noting that she was the first Latina to win Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series. She related her win to Harris' bid for the presidency.
"I am here to tell you that we can make history again by sending Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to the White House," she said.
The appearance by Ramos and Colon-Zayas at Walz's rally comes as the campaign makes a major push to rally Latino voters, including spending several million dollars on Spanish-language radio ads and community events in battleground states. Walz also taped an interview with La Mega Radio, which is expected to air Monday morning.
The speakers who addressed the crowd touched on a lot of the same topics, including voting rights, reproductive rights and the cost of living. They said those would be improved should Harris and Walz be elected. Walz noted that a proposed tax credit would give families $6,000.
"They don't have a plan for you," he said of Trump and running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
Walz referenced the debate between Trump and Harris earlier this month.
"He didn't say anything about how he can make life better for the American public," Walz said.
The Minnesota governor spoke about the similarities between his state and Pennsylvania, and noted that the iron from Minnesota was used by steel mills in the Lehigh Valley.
Walz reminded the crowd he's a veteran, hunter and gun owner. He also said Harris is a gun owner, something the Democratic presidential nominee has been repeating on the campaign trail in recent weeks.
Walz then criticized Trump for not supporting tougher restrictions on guns.
He touted what he called reasonable balances like enhanced background checks and red flag laws that were implemented in Minnesota.
Walz went on to praise Harris' record as a prosecutor, saying she worked across the aisle.
Outside of celebrity appearances, Lehigh Valley representatives came out to support Harris and Walz. Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds was the first to address the crowd, roughly two hours before Walz appeared.
Reynolds told the crowd that Lehigh Valley community will help get Harris and Walz elected, and added that Trump will leave the community "out to dry."
Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure followed Reynolds, and echoed similar sentiments.
"We want to chart a new way forward," he said. "And that's exactly what we will do when we elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz."
Walz's rally comes just two weeks after Harris' husband, Doug Emhoff, visited Allentown, the Lehigh Valley's largest city, for a "Latinos con Harris" rally . Emhoff was scheduled to visit Bucks County on Sunday.
Walz wasn't the only vice presidential contender in the region Saturday. Vance was campaigning in Bern Township, Berks County .
Trump had been expected to visit Bucks County on Sunday as well, but that visit was canceled for unspecified reasons.
Outside rally, no shortage of opinions
Outside Freedom High School — along the lengthy line of people waiting to get in and on the lawn on the edge of campus designated as a protest zone — there was no shortage of opinions about the Harris-Walz ticket, the Republican opposition and the state of politics in general.
A cadre of flag-waving Donald Trump supporters grew through the morning to about two dozen, not counting the occupants of pickup trucks bearing Trump 2024 flags that periodically cruised by on Chestnut Road.
Much of the horn-honking directed at the Trump crowd was supportive, though a motorist with a small dog riding shotgun yelled "Felon! He's a felon!" out her window.
Dianna Walls of Allentown walks to the security lines Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Attendees line up to see Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Carol Baylor of Bethlehem Township and Leo Atkinson of Fountainville hold signs in support of Palestine on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Protestors stand behind a Trump cutout Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Two dozen protestor for Donald Trump Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Two dozen protestor for Donald Trump Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Two dozen protestor for Donald Trump Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Dennis Nolast of Berks County holds a Trump sign Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Marty Klepeis of Bethlehem wears his Trump hat Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Vivian Jones of Columbus, South Carolina, sells merchandise Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, outside the Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Vivian Jones of Columbus, South Carolina, sells merchandise Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, outside the Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Vivian Jones of Columbus, South Carolina, sells merchandise Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, outside the Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Ron Hertz of Bethlehem enjoys the ambiance and festivities outside of a campaign rally with Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township, Danny, a Trump supporterstands Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, outside a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Trump supporters stand Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, outside a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Trump supporters stand Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, outside a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) A former Freedom High School student and supporter of Palestine walks past attendees lined up to see Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) A protestor stands behind a Trump cutout Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Palestine supporters hold signs as the motorcade carrying Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz goes past Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Carol Baylor of Bethlehem Township and Leo Atkinson of Fountainville hold signs in support of Palestine on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) Palestine supporters hold signs as the motorcade carrying Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz goes past Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call) The motorcade carrying Democratic vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Walz goes past Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at a Harris-Walz campaign rally at Freedom High School in Bethlehem Township. (David Garrett/Special to The Morning Call)She was greeted with laughter and shouted promises of a return to low gas prices and higher employment, among other presumed blessings of a second Trump term.
Another group held Palestinian flags and placards demanding Israel halt its deadly offensive in Gaza.
"I feel like we all very much want to see the Democrats win," said protestor Carol Baylor of Bethlehem. "But it's our tax dollars being used in the genocide in Gaza. We want to raise the issue in the community."
Baylor, a longtime activist and member of the peace group Lepoco, said the movement to halt the war is one of the most natural grassroots efforts she's seen arise since protests against the Vietnam War.
"All of us see the images on television and are horrified by it," she said.
Some people were removed from the rally after speaking out against the attacks in Gaza loudly while Walz was speaking.
By and large, people praised Harris and Walz for bringing energy and optimism to the race, contrasting their approach to the Trump campaign's insistence that the country is in grave trouble.
Ron Hertz of Bethlehem and his wife, Deb Messling — speaking over festive but near-deafening Spanish-language party music pumped out of speakers set up by La Mega Radio — said they admired Harris long before she became the nominee.
"I was massively for Kamala," Messling said.
Their liking for her has only grown since she stepped onto the main stage with Walz, the avuncular Minnesota governor.
"I think she surprised all of us," Hertz said. "She just flowered after she became the candidate."
Dianna Walls of Allentown, who's been involved in politics in one way or another for 40 years, arrived in a T-shirt reading "I'm Voting for Gus' Dad." It referred to a touching moment at the Democratic National Convention when the candidate's son Gus, who has special needs, pumped his fist and repeatedly shouted "That's my dad!"
"I support the ticket 100%," Walls said. "If I were a praying person, I'd pray they win."
Carol Heckler of Coopersburg — wearing a "Cat Ladies for Kamala" shirt, a dig at Vance calling childless women "cat ladies" — said she has been a staunch Democrat since her parents took her to see John F. Kennedy when she was young.
Heckler isn't childless — she has a daughter — but is a committed cat lady, with two 10-year-old cats named Chloe and Danny and a new kitten named Callie.
While she adopted a humorous approach to Vance's remarks, she said the issues at stake in the election are very serious. She likes Harris' support of labor — her husband is a retired Mack Truck employee and belonged to the UAW — and reproductive rights.
"I want my daughter and granddaughter to have the same rights I had," she said.
Vivian Jones of Columbia, South Carolina, set up a table of Harris-Walz merchandise outside the school's football field. She is self-employed, following the campaign wherever she can to peddle hats and T-shirts at tour stops.
As an admirer of Harris, she said the country's reluctance thus far to elect a woman as president has been misguided.
"A lot of people think women just wear their emotions on their sleeves, but we know how to handle things," Jones said. "It's just going to bring a different perspective to the White House."
Originally Published: September 21, 2024 at 2:17 p.m.
