Joe Biden Visits LA Trade Tech
Former vice president and 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden visited Los Angeles Trade Technical College last Thursday in his first public campaign event in the state. His half-hour speech in front of hundreds of students and locals focused mainly on the issues of gun violence, immigration, access to higher education, and President Donald Trump.
In a city commonly associated with left-leaning liberal politics, longtime centrist Biden received a warm and enthusiastic reception at LATTC’s campus in downtown Los Angeles. Both Biden and his fellow speakers focused on his connection to former President Barack Obama, including reciting their old campaign slogan, “Yes We Can.” Biden repeatedly brought up his record of “bringing people together…bringing Democrats and Republicans together,” including going into politically purple and red areas of the country to bring his message to Americans of all political persuasions.
The former vice president began his speech by commenting on the most recent mass shooting that had taken place earlier in the day at Saugus High School in Santa Clara, Calif. The shooting, which resulted in the death of three children and the wounding of three others, happened approximately seven hours before Biden took the stage. He mentioned his history of opposing the National Rifle Association (NRA) and their political allies in Congress. The anger and outrage in his voice was palpable as he spoke about the Sandy Hook massacre of 20 elementary school children and six adults in 2012.
Speaking about gun violence and the mass murder epidemic engulfing the nation, Biden lamented, “It’s not just here [in California], it’s all across America. And it’s sickening…What does that say about our soul? What does that say about who we are? I really mean this. I’m so tired of people talking about their prayers. Dammit, we have to protect these kids. We have to do it now…I’m the only one that’s ever beaten the NRA nationally, and beat’em twice.” He graphically described how the six- and seven-year-old’s “bodies [were] piled on top of one another,” while also mentioning the long-lasting psychological consequences for those first responders who witnessed the aftermath. Biden pleaded with the hushed crowd, “What has become of us?”
2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden, speaks during an event on Thursday, November 14 at Los Angeles Trade–Technical College, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Yasamin Jafari Tehrani / The Corsair)
Throughout his speech Biden stressed the need to defeat President Trump in the upcoming presidential election, claiming that he would be able to “put this country back together again, both nationally and internationally, domestically and foreign.” The former vice president warned the audience that, "eight years of Donald Trump will change the very character of who we are as a nation, and we cannot let that happen…it’s not enough to defeat him, we have to beat him badly.” The largest applause of the afternoon came when he committed to making Trump a one-term president.
On the heels of a mariachi band warming up the crowd in LATTC’s quad area, Biden reiterated his strong opposition to what he deemed as the president’s “hateful” and “racist” language dating back to Trump’s 2016 campaign. At Trump’s initial campaign event in the summer of 2015, he infamously stated his belief that Mexico was purposely sending murders, rapists, and drug-dealers to America, saying, “They are not our friend, believe me…They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some [Mexican immigrants], I assume, are good people.” Biden also refuted Trump’s repeated claim that Hispanic’s were invading America through the southern border, “as if somehow a plague was on the way.” Biden spoke at length on the issue of immigration, stating, “my values are immigrant values.”
Although Biden didn’t mention Elizebeth Warren or Bernie Sanders by name, he drew a clear distinction between himself and others in the Democratic field of presidential hopefuls. He repeatedly talked of being a “proven leader” who would be able to “get the job done” if chosen as the Democratic nominee for president. Hearkening back to the last administration, Biden said America needed to build upon what “Barack and I” had achieved, particularly in the areas of healthcare and immigrant rights.
Loyola Marymount University (LMU) sociology majors Aden and Lily, who preferred not to give their last names, were generally impressed with Biden’s speech. Both attended as part of a larger group volunteering on behalf of Planned Parenthood, wearing pink shirts that read, “Health Care is a Human Right.”
“He’s in my top [tier of Democratic presidential candidates] right now,” said Aden. “And with how today went, he’s still there. I agree with everything he says.” While they would have liked to hear more on the issue of women’s healthcare, they agreed that the mass shooting earlier in the day was something Biden was right to have focused on.
While many who attended the event were politically active, others hadn’t yet spent much time thinking about the upcoming election cycle. Diego Alvarez had just gotten out of class as Biden finished shaking hands after wrapping up his speech. “What’s [Biden] look like?…Dang, so he gonna run against Donald Trump? That’s crazy that he’s here!” While Alvarez may not have been as up to date on national politics as others in the crowd, he expressed excitement and interest. As Biden shook his last hand and walked off into an adjacent building, Alvarez shouted, “No, bring him back! No!” Biden hopes to continue sparking more interest in his campaign over the next few months. California’s Democratic primary is scheduled for Super Tuesday next March 3rd.