In the Celebrating America event, Kamala
Harris said, “President Joe Biden has called upon us to summon now the courage to see beyond prices, to do what is right, do what is good, to unite, to believe in ourselves, believe in our country, believe in what we can do together.”

Her speech comes after being sworn in as America’s first woman, Black and South Asian-origin
Vice President on Wednesday.

Speaking after
her historic inauguration during the 59th inaugural ceremonies,
Harris said, “Even in dark times, we not only dream, we do. We do not only see what has been, we see what can be. We shoot for the moon, and then we plant our flag.”

Harris was
sworn-in as the 49th US Vice President by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. She took oath using two
Bibles, one belonging to the first African-American to serve on the Supreme
Court, Thurgood Marshall, and the second to a former neighbor and family friend
of Harris, Regina Shelton.

Also Read | ‘Democracy has prevailed at this hour’: Joe Biden during his inaugural speech

“Ready to serve,” the former California Senator wrote in her first tweet as Vice President. 

Harris’
oath-taking was shortly followed by Joe Biden being sworn-in as the 46th
President of the United States.

The 78-year-old, who became the oldest
President in American history, is expected to immediately begin work on
reversing some of Donald Trump’s most divisive and controversial policies on
immigration, climate change and other issues with at least 15 executive orders
on day one of his presidency.

Also Read | “…In many ways, dear Joe, you are our Moses”, Rabbi Michael Beals blesses Biden

The inauguration ceremony was attended by every former US President still alive – Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton – and first ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton. 

Significantly, Donald Trump skipped the ceremony, becoming the first President in 152 years to snub his successor’s inauguration.