In Philly, Joe Biden rallies with Kamala Harris at historic city school, visits South restaurant

President Joe Biden came to the Philadelphia area Wednesday for the fifth time this year to lay out his case for why Black voters should support his reelection bid against former President Donald Trump, as polling has shown an erosion of Biden’s support among nonwhite voters statewide.

“Because you voted, we are investing more than ever in Black families and Black communities,” Biden said at a rally at Girard College. “It’s a promise we made and a promise we kept.”

After his speech at Girard College, President Joe Biden talked to a few dozen supporters and Black small-business owners at South Restaurant on North Broad Street.

Biden summed his visit up saying, “I came to say, ‘thank you. And I ain’t going anywhere.’"

Lynette Sutton, owner of Girl Concrete, a concrete contractor in the city, introduced President Joe Biden at a visit to South Restaurant and took the moment to stress the importance of diversity in the building trades.

She called it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a “girl in concrete” to speak before the president and challenged Biden to see that infrastructure dollars result in jobs and contracts for Black Americans.

Protesters involved with the Abandon Biden campaign gathered outside of Girard College, calling President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris “Genocide Joe” and “Killer Kamala” over the war in Gaza in a flier promoting the protest.

Abandon Biden was formed by Muslim activists who want Biden to lose the election as punishment for supporting Israel in its war against Hamas, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians in Gaza.

President Joe Biden is en route to South Restaurant & Jazz Club on North Broad St. where a few dozen supporters are gathered awaiting his arrival.

State Rep. Jordan Harris and actor and comedian D.L. Hughley are among those in attendance.

President Joe Biden went on the defensive against former President Donald J. Trump Wednesday, mirroring some ads Biden's campaign has been running recently.

"It's the same guy who wanted to tear gas you as you peacefully protested George Floyd's murder," Biden said. "The same guy who still calls the Central Park Five guilty, even though they were exonerated."

Seeking to mobilize Black voters, President Joe Biden told a crowd in Philadelphia on Wednesday that his administration's successes were made possible "because you voted."

"Because you voted, we are investing more than ever in Black families and Black communities," Biden said at an event at Girard College that launched his campaign's efforts to reach Black voters. "That's a promise we made and a promise we kept."

President Joe Biden just wrapped up an impassioned speech — full of zingers against former President Donald Trump, notes on his track record, and messages imploring voters to talk to their families.

At one point, he quoted the gospel song, "Can't Give Up Now" by Mary Mary: "I've come too far from where I started from, Nobody told me the road would be easy. And I don't believe He's brought me this far to leave me."

In his opening remarks at Girard College, President Joe Biden wished well to "our dear friend" U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, who is recovering from a minor stroke he suffered last week.

"He's recovering," Biden said. "He's going to recover. He's doing well."

"Hello, Philadelphia!" President Joe Biden began as the crowd chanted for four more years. "It's good to be almost home."

Like Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden spoke about the importance of voting.

At a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday touted the Biden administration's accomplishments on issues that disproportionately affect Black voters.

"In 2020, Black voters in Philadelphia and across our nation helped President Biden and me win the White House. Yes, you did," Harris told a crowd at Girard College. "And in 2024, with your voice and your power, we will win again."

The president and vice president have taken the stage at today's rally.

Vice President Kamala Harris began her address by acknowledging the "young leaders" in the room as students cheer.

Hadia Muhammad and Iliyaas Muhammad, of Drexel Hill, own Really Reel Ginger at Reading Terminal Market and were invited to attend the rally by the African American Chamber of Commerce.

Iliyaas Muhammad, 43, said he hopes Biden speaks about health disparities for Black and brown people.

Biden supporters and students entered a gymnasium at Girard College on Wednesday afternoon after navigating check-in lines outside.

Stickers were spread out on a table by the entrance that matched signs lining the doors: “Our voice our vote,” with a black fist raised, “First but not the last,” and “Historically Black.” Biden-Harris signs also hung on the door.

Sen. John Fetterman joined Morning Joe Wednesday to discuss President Joe Biden's scheduled visit and the presidential election.

The Pennsylvania Democrat said he was confident Biden would win this year, but anticipated a "close race" between him and former President Donald Trump.

Over the years, Philadelphia wards with a majority-Black population have overwhelmingly supported Democratic candidates in presidential elections.

President Joe Biden got 95% of the vote in majority-Black wards in Philadelphia in 2020, a share that is on par with other Democratic presidential candidates since 2004.

Ahead of President Joe Biden's visit, the American Business Immigration Coalition hosted a news conference Wednesday morning urging the president to grant work permits to immigrants.

Joined by several community and immigration advocacy organizations, speakers focused on the need for work permits for undocumented spouses, immediate family of U.S., citizens, dreamers ineligible for DACA, and long-term workers without a path to legal status.

President Joe Biden picked a majority-Black preparatory school in Philadelphia to launch his campaign’s summer effort to boost support among Black voters.

The city’s Democratic share of the statewide vote has declined in recent years and polling has shown an erosion of Biden’s support among nonwhite voters statewide, and here in the city, where Black voters make up about 43% of the population.

Ahead of President Joe Biden's trip to Philadelphia Wednesday, Republican Party of Pennsylvania chairman Lawrence Tabas criticized the president, calling him "hopelessly out of touch."

Tabas and the state Republican Party have criticized Biden regarding inflation for Pennsylvania consumers.

Girard College serves about 300 students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in first through 12th grades. It was founded by French immigrant and merchant Stephen Girard as a school for poor, white orphans when it opened in 1848.

The private school was integrated in 1968 after round-the-clock protests, a Philadelphia speech by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and years of court fights to open the gates to children of color. Girls were admitted beginning in 1984.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to arrive at the Philadelphia International Airport at 12:55 p.m., according to his public schedule.

From there, he’ll travel to Girard College in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, where he's scheduled to participate in a campaign rally alongside Vice President Kamala Harris at 1:30 p.m.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to speak at at campaign rally alongside Vice President Kamala Harris at Girard College, the historic boarding school in Fairmount.

Joining them will be Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Expect rolling closures on I-95 as President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris make their way to and from Philadelphia International Airport to Girard College in Philadelphia's Fairmount section.

Delays and closures are expected in the immediate vicinity surrounding the school.

While President Joe Biden will be visiting Philadelphia, his 2024 opponent will be sitting in a Manhattan courtroom awaiting a verdict.

Closing arguments in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial concluded Tuesday after more than four weeks of testimony. The jury could begin deliberations as soon as Wednesday, deciding whether Trump is guilty of falsifying business records to cover up news of an affair with a porn star ahead of a 2016 election.

This will be Joe Biden's seventh trip this year to Pennsylvania, one of five key battleground states that could end up deciding the 2024 presidential election.

For Vice President Kamala Harris, it will be her third trip to the Philadelphia this month. Last week, Harris delivered the keynote address at the 2024 Service Employees International Union’s international convention. Earlier this month, Harris joined Abbott Elementary star Sheryl Lee Ralph in Montgomery County in an event to highlight the fight over reproductive rights.