Beyoncé fans organize national 'Beyhive for Kamala' call ahead of presidential election
Beyoncé fans are rallying behind Vice President Kamala Harris in the final days before the election and on the heels of an endorsement from the Grammy Award-winning singer.
Fans across the country joined together Tuesday evening for a national call, "Beyhive for Kamala," hours before presidential nominee Harris spoke at a rally in the nation's capital and one week before the next U.S. president is elected.
"Our love for (Beyoncé) brought us together and allows us to support each other through every struggle," said 28-year-old Earline Johnson who joined the call from Atlanta.
In hopes of getting fans "in formation" to vote for Harris on Election Day, the national call was organized by Kimberly C. Ellis, who goes by Dr. Goddess; Lakesha Cole, creator of the Beyhive for Kamala coalition; and Courtney Savoy Harper, creator of Clubhouse Beyhive, which is a room made within the popular audio app.
During the live stream, Ellis added that she looked forward to "voting out 45," in reference to Beyoncé's lyric from her 2022 song "Energy," where she sang about voting out the 45th president (aka Donald Trump).
"We've hosted many rooms on social issues important to Bey and our community. Her music continues to inspire us to fight for the change we want. Beyoncé always gives me the energy to fight for my rights," since her Destiny's Child era, said Johnson.
Rashad Trent, 28, who streamed from Charlotte, North Carolina, echoed those sentiments.
"This call is so important to me because I believe it's one of the first times I feel compelled to make a change," he said. "A lot of basic and essential human rights are at stake and with so many youth at arm's reach, (and) it's our job to create that village and spread the word."
On the call, speakers took the virtual stage including LGBTQ+ rights and culture activist Anthony Washington, reproductive health advocate Dr. Keisha Davis-King, LaTosha Brown of Black Voters Matter and founder of Win with Black Women Jotaka Eaddy.
Confirmed speakers who weren't able to attend the call included Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, and Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa.
Beyoncé shows support for VP Kamala Harris at Houston Rally
Beyoncé recently endorsed and joined Harris at a rally in the singer's hometown of Houston where she declared onstage, "I'm not here as a celebrity … but as a mother."
Months prior, Beyoncé and her family showed their support for the presidential nominee in other ways, including clearing the usage of her 2016 song "Freedom" as Harris' campaign song.
"The moment Beyoncé allowed VP Harris to use her song 'Freedom' as her campaign song and theme, was all the endorsement the Beyhive needed. This national call has been in planning since then, it was just even more fitting to have the call after Beyoncé attended the rally in Houston," 33-year-old Niguel Anthony, who is based in Atlanta, told USA TODAY after attending the national call.
And many Beyhive members felt inspired by the singer even outside this election cycle.
"Beyoncé’s music and the powerful themes in her lyrics act as a bridge, connecting us through shared stories of resilience, pride, and activism. By analyzing her lyrics and following her own journey in social justice, we find ourselves equipped to have dialogues that challenge, educate, and inspire," says Mary Samoa, 40, who attended the call from California.
Follow Caché McClay, the USA TODAY Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Beyonce, Kamala Harris fans boost campaign with 'Beyhive for Kamala'