By Kayla Smernoff
Howard University News Service
With a rousing cry for connection and rebellion, “cat ladies” hosted a virtual watch party to celebrate Kamala Harris and her historic nomination on the final day of the Democratic National Convention.
The founders of Cat Ladies for Kamala emphasize that the organization is open to cat lovers of all genders and to pet owners of different species, too.
“Cat ladies unite! We’re not going back to the alleys!” reads the event flyer.
The Cat Ladies for Kamala slogan is an allusion to the vice president campaign slogan: “We’re not going back.”
As Harris took the stage in Chicago, the applause from the convention’s live audience matched the excitement in the Cat Ladies for Kamala live chat. Messages from viewers popped up expressing joy for Harris’ speech and for the Democratic Party.
“Paws up! Claws out!” said YouTube user Mitts402002. Breena Blossom, another YouTube user and cat lover, said, “I have never been this excited about a presidential election.”
The emphasis on pet ownership stems from backlash to J.D. Vance’s July 2021 appearance on the Fox News series “Tucker Carlson Tonight.” During the television appearance Vance, an Ohio senator and Donald Trump’s vice-presidential running mate, shared his unfavorable opinions on people who do not have children voting and occupying public office.
“We are effectively run in this country … by a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made, and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable, too,” Vance told Carlson.
Cat Ladies for Kamala’s virtual meeting is the second of its kind. The Cat Ladies for Kamala Instagram boasts 22,000 followers and the hashtag: #ClawsOut2024. Founders Liv Carter, Linsay Deming and Blaire Postman hosted the first event with content creators, comedians, politicians and cats from across the United States.
According to the founders, the initial meeting raised $320,000 through the ActBlue Kamala Harris and Tim Walz donation link.
The Cat Ladies for Kamala team is excited for the future and feel like they are making a positive impact.
“Hope for a future for all of us!” Lila Cartledge exclaimed. “Childless cat ladies will help [Harris] win. Meowza!”
Kayla Smernoff is a reporter for HUNewsService.com.
