Biden, Harris set to visit Philly this week

Biden Harris
Democratic presidential nominee, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a presidential debate hosted by ABC with Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 10, 2024.
REUTERS/Brian Snyder

President Joe Biden and his VP – Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris – will be making separate trips to Philadelphia early this week.

Biden will speak Monday afternoon at the National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Week Conference, which is being held at the Marriott Downtown, located at 12th and Filbert streets in Center City.

More than 2,500 people registered for the conference, which aims to “identify and target tangible opportunities that will connect federal and private resources to the HBCU community while showcasing HBCU excellence,” according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The city’s Office of Emergency Management is advising residents, especially those heading to the Eagles home opener Monday night, to expect rolling closures in the mid-afternoon and during evening rush hour along highways in South Philadelphia and Center City.

Harris is scheduled in town Tuesday afternoon for a conversation with the National Association of Black Journalists. WHYY is hosting the event at its Old City office, near 6th and Race streets.

Gerren Keith Gaynor, of TheGrio; Politico White House Correspondent Eugene Daniels; and Tonya Mosley, co-host of WHYY’s “Fresh Air,” are going to be part of the panel speaking to Harris. NABJ members, along with students from local HBCUs, will be in attendance.

The event is not open to the public; however it will be live-streamed on the association’s social media pages.

A similar NABJ interview in July with former President Donald Trump quickly turned hostile.

Trump and Harris were both in Philadelphia last week for the presidential debate at the National Constitution Center. They are both expected to return to Pennsylvania often ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.