As Kamala Harris officially becomes Joe Biden’s running mate for the 2020 presidential election, the far-right is wasting no time in demonizing her and launching vicious attacks.

From conspiracy theories about her eligibility to serve as vice president to racially charged comments about her heritage, the far-right is resorting to the same tactics they used against Barack Obama in an attempt to delegitimize Harris’s candidacy.

One particularly insidious tactic being used is questioning Harris’s Indian heritage and attempting to paint her as somehow not truly African American. This is not only a dangerous line of attack that seeks to pit minority groups against each other, but it is also entirely baseless and rooted in ignorance.

Additionally, Harris’s record as a prosecutor is being twisted and distorted by the far-right in an effort to paint her as a heartless authoritarian. While it is true that Harris’s time as a prosecutor has been met with criticism from progressives, it is important to remember that she has also been a champion for criminal justice reform and has worked to right the wrongs of the system from within.

Furthermore, the far-right is seizing on any opportunity to cast doubt on Harris’s abilities and qualifications for the vice presidency. They are accusing her of being “too ambitious” or “too radical,” as if these are somehow disqualifying traits for a political candidate.

It is crucial to push back against these attacks and hold those spreading lies and misinformation about Harris accountable. As the first Black and Indian American woman to be nominated for vice president by a major political party, Harris is facing a level of scrutiny and resistance that is all too familiar to women and people of color in positions of power.

But we cannot let the far-right’s attempts to demonize and discredit Harris succeed. We must challenge their false narratives and stand up for the historic nature of her candidacy. Kamala Harris deserves to be judged on her merits, not on the twisted caricatures being painted by the far-right.