On Saturday, an election pep rally was held at Reading High School, featuring prominent Democratic figures including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Representative Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Representative Madeleine Dean (PA-04), and Representative Nydia Velázquez (NY-07). The event aimed to energize local voters, emphasizing the importance of participation in the upcoming election and mobilizing voter turnout across Berks County and beyond.
The rally, which featured cheerleaders and a DJ, brought a festive yet impassioned atmosphere as speakers highlighted key issues, voter engagement, and the stakes of the upcoming election. Local leaders, including PA Rep. Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz, Rep. Manny Guzman, State Senator Judy Schwank, Reading Mayor Eddie Moran, and City Councilman Jamie Baez, were also present, delivering speeches to rally support for the upcoming election.
Representative Madeleine Dean opened her remarks by praising Rep. Chrissy Houlahan for organizing the event, noting the importance of strong Democratic leadership. She emphasized that the upcoming election is about ensuring progress, especially on issues like women’s rights and democracy. “We are not going back,” Dean stated, urging the crowd to reject what she described as “chaos, corruption, and carnage.”
She also referenced the tight margins by which Pennsylvania was won and lost in past elections, calling for voters to widen the gap this year: “President Biden won Pennsylvania by 81,000 votes across the whole Commonwealth. If you look back in 2016, the ex president won by only 44,000. So in 2024, will you work with me? Every one of us together unified to make sure the margin isn’t 81,000. Let’s make it a 181,000.”
Dean concluded by reminding attendees of what is at stake, listing freedom, decency, and democracy as the core values on the ballot. She encouraged the audience to work tirelessly in the final days leading up to the election, underscoring the need to bring friends and family to the polls.
Representative Chrissy Houlahan followed with a heartfelt speech connecting her personal experiences as the daughter of an immigrant and a military veteran. She spoke about the importance of association and character, encouraging voters to look closely at who candidates surround themselves with. Houlahan pointed to the high stakes of the election, describing the policies of the former president as dangerous and divisive, with specific references to mass deportations, misuse of the military, and attacks on labor rights.
“This is the kid you don’t want to hang out with in the high school cafeteria,” Houlahan said, drawing a comparison to how she believes voters should evaluate leadership. She urged the crowd to continue their efforts and recognized the support from volunteers who traveled from neighboring states to help canvass, adding, “It matters and it happens right here where we are.”
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) took the stage to enthusiastic cheers, sharing her personal connection to Pennsylvania, where her family first settled after moving from Puerto Rico. AOC emphasized that reaching out to non-traditional voters was key to winning elections, reflecting on her own 2018 campaign in New York, which saw a 65% increase in voter turnout. “People say that towns like Reading don’t vote… I feel the opposite,” she said, stressing the importance of engaging with communities that are often overlooked.
AOC’s speech highlighted various policy issues, including healthcare, workers’ rights, and immigration. She contrasted what she called the divisive rhetoric of the former president with the policies proposed by Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic candidates. “While Donald Trump’s answer to why our rents and mortgages are so expensive is immigrants… Kamala Harris’ answer is, we’re going to help you with your down payment,” she said.
She concluded with a call to action, encouraging the audience to bring “one person from couch to booth” to vote, emphasizing that Reading has the power to shape the outcome of this election. “The stakes are far too high… we need to work a 100 times as hard to pull this out,” she stated, rallying the crowd to continue their efforts.
Attendees were reminded that the voter registration deadline was approaching on October 21, urging the community to ensure their voices were heard. The rally followed a canvassing event earlier that day, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), aimed at mobilizing volunteers for door-to-door efforts.