Two Christian college students, who were mocked by Vice President Kamala Harris at a recent campaign rally, are urging Christians to prepare for more challenges to their faith in the public sphere.
Grant Beth and Luke Polaske attended the Harris-Walz rally at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where they voiced their beliefs by shouting phrases like “Christ is King!” as Harris discussed abortion rights.
In an interview with Fox & Friends Weekend, Beth reflected on the experience, sharing that their expressions of faith were met with hostility. "I was pushed by an elderly woman. We were heckled, cursed at, and mocked,” he explained. "But in hindsight, Jesus was mocked too, and so were His disciples. We were there for the right reasons, doing God’s work."
Polaske confirmed that Harris acknowledged them during her speech. "There's a lot of talk about whether she was addressing us directly, and I can say she was. I held up my cross necklace, and she looked me in the eye, giving a sort of smirk,” he said. Harris responded to the students by saying, “You guys are at the wrong rally,” prompting applause from the crowd. The moment quickly gained attention on social media.
The vice president, while focusing primarily on economic issues, also criticized former President Donald Trump for overturning Roe v. Wade. She emphasized her commitment to restoring reproductive rights nationwide if elected president in 2024.
Beth cautioned that a Harris presidency might lead to greater friction with the Christian community. “She’s already shown that she’s willing to alienate a significant portion of the U.S. population, which is Christian,” he said, citing Harris’ decision to skip the Al Smith Memorial Dinner, a long-standing tradition attended by presidential candidates.
Polaske echoed these concerns, warning of "spiritual warfare" in the upcoming election. In a social media post, he wrote: “Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world, and I experienced that firsthand when the Vice President mocked my faith. We are in a spiritual battle this election cycle, and we must not compromise our morals.”
Despite the challenges, Polaske reminded Christians to follow Christ’s teachings. “Jesus tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. In the end, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We know how this story ends — we win.”
U.S. Senator JD Vance, R-Ohio, touched on the incident during his own rally in Wisconsin. After an attendee shouted, “Jesus is King,” Vance responded, “That’s right. Jesus is King.” He then criticized what he described as Harris’ “anti-Christian rhetoric,” connecting it to a larger trend in contemporary politics.
“I say this as a Christian, as someone who was baptized just a few years ago,” Vance shared. “There’s something deeply concerning about Kamala Harris’ approach to public policy and her disregard for Christian values.”