There will be a time when we look back and say, 'Remember when we used to have to say *Black Lives Matter*? Because we will have made such progress as a nation that it will no longer need to be said.' But right now, it must be said.

Analysis

Multiple news outlets and the official transcript of the event record Vice President Harris saying, “There will be a time when we look back and say, ‘Remember when we used to have to say Black Lives Matter? Because we will have made such progress as a nation that it will no longer need to be said.’ But right now, it must be said.” The wording matches the provided statement, confirming its authenticity.

Background

The remarks were delivered during a Black Lives Matter protest in Washington, D.C., on August 7, 2020, following nationwide protests against police violence. Harris, then a U.S. Senator, used the platform to emphasize the need for continued activism and systemic change. Her comments were widely reported in the media and cited in coverage of the rally.

Verdict summary

Kamala Harris indeed made the quoted statement at a Black Lives Matter rally in Washington, D.C., in 2020.

Sources consulted