Celebrating the Biden/Harris win at Marin Circle on Nov. 7. Photo: Nancy Rubin
Celebrating the Biden/Harris win at Marin Circle on Nov. 7. Photo: Nancy Rubin Credit: Nancy Rubin

Almost immediately after CNN called the presidency for Joe Biden, meaning Kamala Harris would be vice president, Berkeleyans took to the streets to celebrate.

Not only did it mean that the tumultuous presidency of Donald Trump will end, it means that Harris, who spent much of her first 12 years in Berkeley, would make history as the first woman, the first Black woman, and the first Indian-American woman to be vice president. It is the highest position a woman has ever held in the U.S.’ 244-year history.

A number of people made a pilgrimage of sorts to the Bancroft Way house that Harris lived in as a child and chalked out congratulatory messages on the sidewalk.

Shortly after #BidenHarris win was called, this young boy and a trumpeter walked by my Berkeley home! (Bad video, good vibes!) pic.twitter.com/kA5AW6PpnW— Tracey Taylor (@tktaylor) November 7, 2020

Congratulations Madame Vice President ⁦@KamalaHarris⁩!! Love from your #Berkeley CA neighbourhood ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/SRbYmhzajV— Abby Friedman ☮️ (@Friedman4Abby) November 7, 2020

People visiting Kamala Harris' childhood home.
People visiting Kamala Harris’ childhood home on Saturday after she became vice president-elect. Photo: Pete Rosos
People visiting Kamala Harris’ childhood home on Saturday after she became vice president-elect. Photo: Pete Rosos
Woman posing outside Kamala Harris' childhood home.
Leslie Filed-Morse, 54, from Oakland, posed outside Kamala Harris’ childhood home on Bancroft Way in Berkeley. Photo: Pete Rosos
Leslie Filed-Morse, 54, from Oakland, posed outside Kamala Harris’ childhood home on Bancroft Way in Berkeley. Photo: Pete Rosos
Girl chalking sidewalk in front of Kamala Harris' childhood home.
Elia Schifrin, 7, chalked her congratulations onto the sidewalk in front of Kamala Harris’ childhood home. Photo: Pete Rosos.
Elia Schifrin, 7, chalked her congratulations onto the sidewalk in front of Kamala Harris’ childhood home. Photo: Pete Rosos.

People honked horns, rang bells, and made noise. The scene at Marin Circle was particularly boisterous and celebratory.

Berkeley celebrates #BidenHarris at Marin Circle!! pic.twitter.com/1l8JcieI82— Tracey Taylor (@tktaylor) November 7, 2020

There was literal dancing in the streets, too.

Street party on Berryman in North Berkeley @berkeleyside pic.twitter.com/XkPEkdGBXL— Darrell Owens (@IDoTheThinking) November 7, 2020

Artist R. Black was at Shotgun Players to paint an advertisement for the theater group’s 30th anniversary when he heard the news, and decided to add another quick message to the theater’s facade on Ashby Avenue( at MLK). Onlookers took selfies with the mural.

R. Black, who paints all the murals on the front of the Shotgun Players’ Ashby Stage building put up an impromptu one Saturday morning after the news broke of the Biden/Harris win. Photo: Supriya Yelimeli
R. Black, who paints all the murals on the front of the Shotgun Players’ Ashby Stage building put up an impromptu one Saturday morning after the news broke of the Biden/Harris win. Photo: Supriya Yelimeli

President Trump has never been popular in Berkeley. In the 2016 election, he garnered 3.2% of the vote compared to Jill Stein’s 4.6% and Hillary Clinton’s 90.4%, Rob Wrenn wrote in the Daily Planet. Just ten days after Trump took office, the first of a number of street battles that would consume Berkeley for much of 2017 happened.

Judy Robinson, whose mother owns the property now and used to babysit Harris, is thrilled. “We knew this would happen,” as she watches celebrations down the street. It’s been a little overwhelming with everyone coming by today, but “[Harris] spent her itty bitty years here.” pic.twitter.com/Tsma4jFFhm— Supriya Yelimeli (@SupriyaYelimeli) November 7, 2020

Photo: Stephen Kaus

"*" indicates required fields

See an error that needs correcting? Have a tip, question or suggestion? Drop us a line.
Hidden

Berkeleyside is Berkeley, California’s independently-owned local news site. Learn more about the Berkeleyside team. Questions? Email editors@berkeleyside.org.