Graduation ceremonies are being done differently since the pandemic has broken out, with some more scaled back than others. Vice President Kamala Harris will be addressing the 2021 graduates in an upcoming special by CNN.
Harris will headline a CNN tv special titled “Graduation 2021: A CNN Special Event,” that will air on May 23, honoring the graduates of 2021. The vice president will join a star-studded lineup of celebrities including Kristen Bell, Kim Kardashian West, Loren Gray, Brianne Howey, Ludacris, Candace Parker, Shaquille O’Neal, Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, Dwyane Wade, Russell Wilson, Matthew McConaughey, and Addison Rae.
The special will also feature performances from the students of Duke Ellington School of Arts in Washington DC and the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City. Portugal. The Man, Andy Grammer, Lukas Graham, and EARCANDY will also give musical performances. The program will be hosted by CNN’s Brianna Keilar and Don Lemon.
This would be the second time schools across the US are planning virtual commencement exercises due to the ongoing pandemic that has affected millions all over the world. However, there are schools that are taking precautions in an effort to continue in-person graduation ceremonies. Nevertheless, all schools are hoping for in-person events to return next year.
In other news, Harris spoke at the recent AAPI Victory Alliance unity summit this week, expressing her outrage regarding the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes across the US. Harris also condemned efforts by Republican legislation to implement voting restrictions that would affect minorities. Harris cited the “pain” of the hate crimes targeting the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community during the pandemic and noted that this awareness would provide an opportunity to make a change.
“We all see that and as a member of this community, I share in that outrage and grief and I believe that we have an opportunity now to turn that pain into action, to turn that pain, that righteous anger, because of the injustice of it, we have an opportunity to turn that into power,” said Harris, who is of Indian descent through her mother and the first Asian-American to be elected in the vice presidency.