U.S. News

A group of Deadheads plan to commemorate Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia’s birthday with a virtual fundraiser for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.

Spearheaded by David Gans, host of the national radio show “The Grateful Dead Hour,” and Steve Leventhal, owner of Acid Flashback Radio, the event dubbed Deadheads for Kamala aims to mobilize voters to support the Oakland native at the polls.

The free online gathering, which promises special guests, is scheduled for 8 p.m. Aug. 13.

Garcia, who died in 1995, was born on Aug. 1, but organizers were unable to pull together the event on the day due to scheduling conflicts. The San Francisco musician would have been 82 this month.

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Deadheads for Kamala is one of many fundraising efforts to support the vice president, who swiftly launched her presidential campaign after President Joe Biden announced his exit from the race on July 21. Earlier this week, a group called White Dudes for Harris hosted a virtual rally, with appearances from fellow Oakland native Mark Hamill of “Star Wars” fame, director J.J. Abrams and “The Big Lebowski” actor Jeff Bridges.

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Other celebrities such as pop singer Charli XCX, whose “kamala IS brat” tweet sparked countless memes of the candidate; Grammy-winning crooner John Legend, who shouted out the “wonder woman” during his recent performance with the San Francisco Symphony; and rapper Cardi B, who tweeted her excitement for Harris, have voiced their support.