Julia Roberts and Stacey Abrams Rally for Harris in Canton

Georgia-born actor Julia Roberts and former Georgia House Rep. Stacey Abrams visited downtown Canton Wednesday in support of Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign.

Roberts and Abrams met with Harris supporters at the gazebo in Cannon Park Oct. 9 to talk about the importance of voting for Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and in support of abortion rights.

"What we are going to do Nov. 5 is show America that Georgia shows up for our people and that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are the future of America and we are going to make sure we get it done our way," Abrams said. "We are going to speak up for those whose voices have been silenced for too long and pushback against those who will steal our rights, voices, choices."

Abrams added, "We are never going back. We are moving forward. The right to control your body should not be controlled by men in the Capitol, but by women wherever they are and whenever they need care."

Following Abrams, Roberts told the crowd in attendance that it is important to be united.

"The most important thing we can do right now as Georgians and Americans is talk to each other, not be combative, but be curious and interested in why people think differently," she said.

She also applauded those in attendance for supporting the campaign and women's reproductive rights.

"I hope that all the women here tonight talk to all of the men that aren't here tonight, and all you brave men that are here tonight talk to all the other men that aren't here tonight — let's just get it going, enough of the fighting," Roberts said. "Let's get to the uniting, the joy, the repair, prices dropping, rents dropping — let's get to the good stuff so we can start living our lives to the fullest potential that we have."

Lisa Brooks, regional organizer for Cherokee County with the coordinated campaign, encouraged attendees to vote for Harris.

"We are at a pivotal moment for our country in our history where we are presented with a choice — Vice President Harris's bright vision for our future or Donald Trump's very dark vision to drag us into the past," she said. "Harris is fighter just like us Georgians. We know how to fight, and we know how to win."

Debra Shigley, who is running for state House District 47, urged those in attendance to vote for Harris.

"The lives and freedoms of Georgia women are on the line this November. In Georgia, we are living under Donald Trump's extreme abortion ban... this ban is having devastating consequences," she said. "Democrats trust us to make our own decisions. We will not be silent. We will make our voices heard. We will fight."

The Cherokee County Democrats also celebrated the opening of the Harris-Walz campaign office at Thrive Canton in the Jones Building in downtown Canton.