‘Sisterhood’ of Black women leaders gather in St. Paul to watch Harris-Trump debate

More than 100 Black women leaders gathered in St. Paul Tuesday night to watch the debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

“We wanted to gather in honor of our ancestors and our elders, our mothers and our aunties to celebrate this moment,” said Alberder Gillespie, who helped organize the event. “It was just a sisterhood kind of feel in that room.”

If Harris were to become president, she’d be the first woman and second person of color to lead the nation.

“We haven’t quite made it where we want to be, but we’re so far from where we used to be,” Gillespie told Morning Edition host Phil Picardi Wednesday.

Gillespie ran for Congress in 2020 and led the city of Minneapolis’ civil rights office until February.

“I do think as a woman, more so than even just as a Black woman, balancing being on the offensive and defensive and not being too much of an attack, kind of finding that right mix is really important. I think she struck that balance,” Gillespie said.

Listen to the full conversation by clicking on the player above.

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