
On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris held a campaign rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., just a week before Election Day. The event, which was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET with doors opening at 3 p.m. ET, may have drawn over 50,000 attendees, causing major traffic closures in the area. Harris' speech, which was livestreamed on her YouTube page, took place at the same location where former President Donald Trump delivered his Stop the Steal rally on January 6, 2021, before the Capitol riot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | Tuesday, October 29, 2024 |
| Time | 7:00 p.m. ET (start time), 3:00 p.m. ET (doors open to the public) |
| Location | The Ellipse, Washington, D.C. |
| Expected Attendees | 50,000+ |
| Streaming | Kamala Harris YouTube page |
| Registration | Free via the Democratic National Committee's website |
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What You'll Learn

Kamala Harris' closing argument to voters
On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris delivered her closing argument to voters in Washington, DC, at the Ellipse, a park located south of the White House. The event was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, with doors opening to the public at 3 p.m. ET. Harris's speech was expected to draw more than 50,000 attendees to downtown DC, leading to major traffic closures and parking restrictions in the area.
In her address, Harris presented a vision of unity, calling for an end to division, chaos, and mutual distrust. She emphasized the need for Americans to "stop pointing fingers and start locking arms." Harris also addressed the issue of immigration, stating that politicians should stop using it as a political wedge and instead treat it as a serious challenge that needs to be solved. She pledged to work with Democrats and Republicans to sign into law the border security bill that former President Donald Trump had blocked.
Harris's choice of the Ellipse as the venue for her speech was significant. It was the same location where Trump delivered his "`Stop the Steal`" rally on January 6, 2021, shortly before the Capitol riot. By returning to this site, Harris intended to contrast her message of unity and collaboration with Trump's legacy of division and chaos.
The rally in DC was part of Harris's campaign efforts just a week before Election Day. With the election hanging in the balance and polls showing a statistical tie in swing states, Harris's closing argument to voters was crucial. The event was livestreamed on the Kamala Harris YouTube page, allowing those unable to attend in person to watch her speech and engage with her message.
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The event's location and time
Vice President Kamala Harris held a campaign rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, 29 October 2024, a week before Election Day. The Ellipse, also known as President's Park South, is a park located just south of the White House. It is the same location where former President Donald Trump delivered his "Stop the Steal" rally speech on 6 January 2021, before the Capitol riot.
Harris's rally was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, with doors opening to the public at 3 p.m. ET. The event was expected to draw more than 50,000 attendees to downtown D.C. and caused major traffic closures. The D.C. Chief of Police, Pamela Smith, directed overflow crowds to the northeast grounds of the Washington Monument.
On Tuesday, 5 November 2024, Vice President Harris's campaign held an election night watch party at Howard University in Washington, D.C. This event also caused parking restrictions and street closures, with motorists and the public advised to expect delays.
On Saturday, 2 November 2024, thousands of people were expected to gather in Washington, D.C., and other cities across the country for the Women's March event, "We Won't Go Back!". The march aimed to show support for Vice President Harris just days before Election Day. Demonstrators gathered at Freedom Plaza at 3 p.m. for music and activities before the 4 p.m. rally, and they planned to march to the White House, concluding by 6 p.m.
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The Women's March
The 2024 Women's March in D.C. will begin at Freedom Plaza at 3 p.m. on Saturday, with music and activities before a 4 p.m. rally. The demonstrators will then march to the White House, and the event is scheduled to conclude by 6 p.m. The march comes at a time when women are expressing their fear of another Trump presidency and are taking action through canvassing, calling, and texting potential voters.
Rachel O'Leary Carmona, the Women's March executive director, highlighted that many women are marching for the right to choose after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. O'Leary Carmona asserted that women will not stand down until all their rights are restored. The 2024 Women's March holds symbolic value as it will take place at the same location where Trump held his "Stop the Steal" rally on January 6, 2021, before the Capitol riot.
Vice President Harris's speech at the Ellipse near the White House is expected to attract over 50,000 people. This location was chosen intentionally, as it provides a platform for Harris to present her economic policy proposals and contrast her vision of unity and leadership with Trump's "chaos and division." Harris's address emphasized the need to stop using immigration as a political wedge and instead treat it as a serious challenge that requires a bipartisan solution.
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Traffic and travel disruption
Kamala Harris' rally in Washington, D.C., is expected to attract more than 50,000 people, causing major traffic disruptions and road closures. The event, held on Tuesday evening, is taking place at the Ellipse, a park located near the White House. To accommodate the large crowd, several streets in the area will be closed to all vehicle traffic, including Gresham Place, Girard Street, Fairmont Street, Euclid Street, Howard Place, and Barry Place. These closures will be in effect starting at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 4, and motorists should anticipate extended periods of street closures.
In addition to vehicular traffic, pedestrian and public transportation services will also be impacted. Metrobus, Metrorail, and MetroAccess services will experience detours and delays, and customers are advised to allow for additional travel time. The Metrobus detours will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, and include several routes such as the 52, 54, and 59. MetroAccess customers should note that door-to-door service will not be available within the security perimeter, and delays are likely. Capital Bikeshare has also announced that several stations near the event will be deactivated starting on November 4.
The high attendance at the rally is expected to result in increased foot traffic, and drivers are warned to be cautious and consider alternative routes. Parking restrictions will be enforced, and vehicles parked in violation of "Emergency No Parking" signs will be ticketed and towed. The designated Emergency No Parking zones include 17th Street, Constitution Avenue, and 15th Street. These restrictions will be in place from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
The rally, held just days before Election Day, is a significant event as Harris could become the first female president in U.S. history. The location, the Ellipse, is the same place where former President Donald Trump held a rally on January 6, 2021, before the Capitol riot. Harris' speech is expected to focus on her economic policy proposals and a vision of unity, urging voters to "stop pointing fingers and start locking arms."
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Security measures
On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris held an election night watch party at Howard University in Washington, D.C. In anticipation of the event, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and the United States Secret Service implemented several security measures and traffic advisories.
To ensure the safety of attendees and maintain order during the event, the MPD and the United States Secret Service coordinated to put in place comprehensive security measures. These measures included:
- Road closures and parking restrictions: Several streets surrounding Howard University's campus were closed to all vehicle traffic, including Gresham Place, Girard Street, Fairmont Street, Euclid Street, Howard Place, and Barry Place. These closures were implemented to facilitate the smooth movement of people and prevent traffic congestion near the event venue.
- Emergency No Parking zones: Specific areas, such as 17th Street, Constitution Avenue, and 15th Street, were designated as Emergency No Parking zones. Any vehicles parked in violation of these restrictions were subject to ticketing and towing.
- Public transportation impacts: The event impacted various modes of public transportation, including Metrobus, Metrorail, and MetroAccess services. Customers who used stations or bus routes in the vicinity of Howard University were advised to allow for additional travel time due to expected detours and delays.
- Capital Bikeshare deactivations: Certain Capital Bikeshare locations near the university were temporarily deactivated during the event.
- Security perimeter: A designated security perimeter was established around the event venue, affecting access for MetroAccess door-to-door services within this area.
- Delays and detours: Motorists and the public were advised to expect delays and plan their routes accordingly due to the extended period of street closures and potential unforeseen impacts on transportation services.
These security measures were implemented to ensure the safety and security of attendees, maintain order during the event, and minimise potential disruptions to transportation and traffic flow in the area. The MPD and the United States Secret Service worked together to assess and address the security requirements for the event, with the duration of street closures and related measures being adjusted as needed to ensure the protection of all individuals involved.
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Frequently asked questions
The Kamala Harris rally in DC on Tuesday, October 29, was scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET, with doors opening to the public at 3 p.m. ET.
The rally took place at the Ellipse, also known as President's Park South, located just south of the White House.
The rally was expected to attract more than 50,000 attendees, with overflow crowds directed to the northeast grounds of the Washington Monument.
The rally was part of Kamala Harris's closing argument to voters, presenting a vision of unity and addressing economic policy proposals in the final days of the 2024 election campaign.

























