By Lizzie Ramirez
Vice President Kamala Harris’ childhood best friend, Stacey Johnson-Batiste, fondly remembered the time Harris stood up to bullies and how that translated to her becoming the next potential President of the United States.
Johnson-Batiste is a recent transplant to Reno who was invited by the Harris campaign to speak at the Democratic National Convention for the first time ever. She recalled a time when she and Harris were only five years old and Harris stood up to a bully who shattered Johnson-Batiste’s clay art project.
“I got upset and started crying but Kamala … jumped in between me and him [the bully], said some words that made him so mad he picked up either a rock or a piece of that clay and hit her in the head,” Johnson-Batiste said. “It was a big deal. Blood was streaming down, her mom had to come and take her to the hospital and to this day, she still has that scar over one of her eyes.”
Johnson-Batiste said Harris has always had a fighting spirit. She continued this energy throughout her career and said she always “protected particularly women and children from abuse.”
Despite the hectic and busy lives of Harris and Johnson-Batiste, she said their lifelong friendship has been very natural. Harris moved away from the Bay Area, and Johnson-Batiste stayed and grew up there.That didn’t hinder their friendship.
“Whenever they would come back to the Bay Area, we would immediately get right back together and pick up where we left off,” Johnson-Batiste said.
When they were both in their 20s they also ended up living in the same building, she said. “We were always around each other. My children grew up around her.”
Johnson-Batiste visited Reno a few times in 2020 and immediately fell in love with the Biggest Little City. She expressed her appreciation for the tight-knit community, saying everyone she’s met has been friendly. Overall, she said she loves that it’s an art town, which led her to have a permanent residency in Reno.
About a month ago, Johnson-Batiste and her mother started knocking on doors to get the community engaged in the upcoming election. They were briefly anxious, but they soon realized how positive people were and how willing they were to have conversations.
“I also went to the debate watch party with the Northern Nevada Black Voters and that was a lot of fun,” Johnson-Batiste said. “We were networking, we were talking, everyone was so positive and excited.”
Johnson-Batiste also noted she loves how “Kamala has been able to energize the younger people. That’s what politics… should be about,” she said “We want people engaged and participating.”
