Two Monroe women accompanied Vice President Kamala Harris to Detroit

MONROE — Sharon McNeil and Darcy Piedmont of Monroe met with Democratic presidential candidate Vice President. Kamala Harris when they approached her motorcade. McNeil also managed to meet Liz Cheney.

For several days in October, the women volunteered with Harris-Waltz’s advance party. McNeil and Piedmont rode in Ford Transit vans in a large motorcade that transported Harris, her support team, local campaign staff and others to events in Kalamazoo and Royal Oak.

From October 14 to 16 and October 21, the motorcade took Harris and his team to places such as the Detroit Hotel, the Detroit Art Gallery and Eastern Market, where Harris recorded an interview for a podcast with Charlemagne Tha God. On October 26, McNeil and Piedmont attended Harris’ rally in Kalamazoo, where former first lady Michelle Obama was among the guests.

Meeting between Vice President Harris and Liz Cheney

“I was very fortunate to be able to stand next to Vice President Harris and take one photo on October 16th,” Piedmont said. “Even though we were told to just stand still and not interact, the drivers erupted in applause and applause when Vice President Harris got out of her car and approached us. Since I was next to her, I said quietly: “You are killing her; you are killing him.” She turned to me, looked me straight in the eyes and said, “We’re doing this together.” Both Sharon and I were struck by her dignity, her display of gratitude, and her humanity and warmth.”

The Monroe women and other drivers posed for a photo with Harris in front of her Air Force 2 plane.

“We welcomed and expressed mutual gratitude,” Piedmont said. “Kamala Harris tried to look at us, communicate and smile warmly. We’re told she has many more photo opportunities than the candidates before her. We will receive ‘official’ campaign photos in these two days.”

McNeil also had the opportunity to meet with Cheney, a former U.S. representative and former chairman of the House Republican Conference.

“She and a staff member were in my van at an event with Vice President Harris in Royal Oak moderated by Maria Shriver,” McNeil said. “(Cheney) is so friendly. I asked if she would say a few words to my Republican brothers and sisters.”

Chaney recorded a video for McNeil.

McNeil and Piedmont attended one of Harris’ rallies because there were many volunteer drivers there on Oct. 26.

“We were supposed to be drivers, but we volunteered to give up our seats to family and friends at the Kamala Harris rally in Kalamazoo,” McNeil said.

“We watched Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris and others closely at the Kalamazoo Wings Arena,” Piedmont said.

How were McNeil and Piedmont chosen as motorcade drivers?

“It’s good to be active in this political campaign,” Piedmont said. “An activist friend of mine from Ann Arbor knew I was involved in politics and sent me information so I could become a driver. I, in turn, reached out to Sharon, who is one of the most involved and influential organizers in Monroe.”

What was the security like?

“We went through a thorough background check and vetting process by the Secret Service every step of the way,” Piedmont said.

“Drivers and volunteers receive information on a “need to know” basis, and it was this aspect that made the driving days both interesting and fun. We usually knew what events were scheduled for those days thanks to the news cycle. But we were also in our vans, ready to go and do what we were told. Our vans were regularly ‘checked’ and monitored by the Secret Service,” Piedmont said.

Most of the drivers were women. The motorcade along the routes was heavily guarded.

“Each time there were nine drivers, usually one male driver, except for one day when it was all female,” McNeil said. “In addition to two armored vehicles for Vice President Harris and our 9-14 passenger vans, there were Secret Service drivers in and around the motorcade, as well as numerous local and state police vehicles and ambulances.”

“Police officers flew past you to get ahead of you and stop traffic and protect the motorcade,” Piedmont added.

Both women enjoyed their short time helping with Harris’ campaign.

“We were very fortunate to be able to get a behind-the-scenes look at how all of these campaign events really work,” Piedmont said. “There are always more volunteers than openings, and we were very lucky to have this opportunity.” “It was an honor to serve this year,” McNeil said. “It was very interesting to be a small part of history in the making.”

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at: [email protected].