Harris tells supporters ‘never give up’ and urges peaceful transfer of power

BBC:

Defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has urged her supporters to accept Donald Trump’s White House victory, while telling them to “never give up” fighting for their ideals.

At a concession speech in Washington DC, the US vice-president acknowledged “the outcome of this election is not what we wanted”, but insisted there must be a peaceful transfer of power.

Harris, who cancelled a victory speech that had been planned at the same venue one night earlier, also told the crowd not to despair.

Trump has won enough key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Wisconsin, to secure the presidency, with several states left to declare.

Defeated Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has urged her supporters to accept Donald Trump’s White House victory, while telling them to “never give up” fighting for their ideals.

At a concession speech in Washington DC, the US vice-president acknowledged “the outcome of this election is not what we wanted”, but insisted there must be a peaceful transfer of power.

Harris, who cancelled a victory speech that had been planned at the same venue one night earlier, also told the crowd not to despair.

Trump has won enough key battleground states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Wisconsin, to secure the presidency, with several states left to declare.

Her supporters responded with loud boos when she noted that she had had a phone call with President-elect Trump, and “I told him we will help him and his team with his transition. And we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.”

“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fuelled this campaign,” she added. Her speech referenced “fight” or “fighting” 19 times.

During the campaign the rivals often traded insults, with Harris calling Trump a “fascist” and a threat to American democracy.

Harris told her supporters on Wednesday: “I know many people feel like we are entering a dark time. But for the benefit of us all, I hope that is not the case.”

The former California senator was running to become the first woman, black woman and South-Asian American to win the presidency.