Kamala Harris' Milwaukee stops include tour of IBEW training factory, roundtable with Black business owners

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Updated: 5:20 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2020 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris made stops in Milwaukee on Labor Day, Sept. 7. 

Shortly after landing,, Harris' first order of business was speaking to family members of Jacob Blake at Mitchell International Airport. 

"Express concern for their well-being, and of course, for their brother, and their son’s well being. To let them know that they have support," Harris said. 

After that, the focus was on Labor Day with a tour of the training ground for the local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) training facility, then a roundtable with Black business leaders at JPC Construction. 

"It's especially meaningful that this is the first Black female vice president candidate. I mean, it’s obviously monumental, and it’s great to be in the room with such incredible history," said Nadiyah Johnson, founder of Jet Constellations. 

CBS 58 spoke to Cynthia Brown, a small business owner who participated in the roundtable. Brown said Harris will get a lot of support in Milwaukee because of the way she's connecting with Black voters. 

"A lot of times our voices aren’t heard, and we’re not at the table with a lot of things, so for her to come and hear a lot of the interest and concerns as it relates to Black small businesses in Milwaukee, that’s going to be very, very important and insightful," Brown said. 

This marked the second trip to Wisconsin in four days for the Biden-Harris team. Joe Biden visited Blake's family in Kenosha last week, Sept. 3. 

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Updated: 4:46 p.m. on Sept. 7, 2020 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Kamala Harris will participate in a roundtable with Black business owners in Milwaukee on Labor Day. 

Watch the event live just below:

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Published: 6:43 a.m. on Sept. 7, 2020 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris will visit Milwaukee on Labor Day, Sept. 7. 

Harris will tour an an International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) training facility. She'll also have a Black business owner roundtable.

Watch the tour here: 

Meantime, VP Mike Pence will speak in La Crosse. Labor Day visits from both candidates, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Professor Mordecai Lee says, makes sense from both parties, especially since Wisconsin will most likely choose the next president.

"Tradition in Wisconsin is very much the political season starts on Labor Day," Professor Lee said. "In the past there were parades, picnics and festivals. Now in the pandemic, Labor Day is still important but the campaigns have to figure out a way to be present."

Lee says he's expecting more visits from both parties, adding that it could help undecided voters on making a decision.

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