Democratic presidential candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris, speaks onstage during the first day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on August 19, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois. | Source: Andrew Harnik / Getty
UPDATED: 7:55 p.m. ET
The DNC conducted its roll call, defined by the DNC as “all 57 delegations will deliver remarks and cast ceremonial votes for Vice President Harris and Governor Tim Walz as the Democratic nominees for President and Vice President of the United States, a powerful symbol of the party’s diversity, unity, and overwhelming support for the Harris-Walz ticket.”
Historic ceremonial roll call underway at DNC to nominate @KamalaHarris as POTUS and @Tim_Walz as VP picks. pic.twitter.com/YWypxg1VYo
— Jackson Richman (@jacksonrichman) August 20, 2024
This year, though, despite its historic nature, the roll call was symbolic because Harris was already formally nominated as the Democrat’s presidential candidate earlier this month.
UPDATED: 7:45 p.m. ET
The DNC’s house band is rocking again following a brief photo shoot of the audience.
And judging from the reaction on social media, not only are the folk at the DNC enjoying it but so are folks elsewhere.
The #DNCBand is
Jamming to Living in America pic.twitter.com/Y1CJpYpVqG
— Robin B. VOTE LIKE BLACK WOMEN (@solidadvice1981) August 20, 2024
DNC 2024 band are jamming!! pic.twitter.com/CrvmRQEDgy
— Kim Marie (@jaimelespeches8) August 20, 2024
UPDATED: 7:18 p.m. ET
Kenneth Stribling, retired Teamster from Milwaukee and the past president of the National Committee to Protect Pensions told the DNC how he had to fight Donald Trump’s administration while his pension was being threatened. He said he organized a nationwide grassroots movement for more than six years.
But once Biden was elected, Stribling said, Biden’s signature American Rescue Plan was enacted in legislation that he said saved pensions and secured retirements for many.
“They got it done without one single Republican vote in Congress,” tribling said. “They saved over 1 million pensions including 33,000 from Wisconsin.”
It was the latest show of union support at the DNC for Harris, who on Monday had six labor union president pledge their support.
“A promise is a promise is a promise”
— Kenneth Stribling
Fighting years for a pension that had been taken away, wife with cancer, President Biden VP Harris got the Bill passed without any R votes, in 50 days. She has passed, but not without meaning. pic.twitter.com/cu1z8K7LKF
— observe_ct (@CtObserve) August 20, 2024
UPDATED: 7:05 p.m. ET
A construction worker and then former White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham are among the former Trump supporters who are speaking to the DNC Tuesday night. Both admitted the errors in their previous ways and publicly pledgied their support for Kamala Harris. The duo followed a brief video montage of Trump’s gaffes and contradictory statements.
Former Trump press secretary Stephanie Grisham skewers her former boss, outs him as an immoral liar, as she endorses #KamalaHarris at #DNC2024 pic.twitter.com/YPLqBl6eGJ
— Doug Sovern (@SovernNation) August 20, 2024
UPDATED: 7:00 p.m. ET
There’s an all-Black band at the DNC playing funk music in between speaker and performance. As the television cameras pan across the crowd, it’s apparent they’re enjoying themselves to the tunes as they dance and have a good time.
DNC band playing instrumental “Tell Me Something Good” and I’m in the kitchen pretending I’m Chaka Khan singing with a spoon.
— Stella Beat (@StellaBeat) August 20, 2024
UPDATED: 6:55 p.m. ET
Chicago native and rapper/actor Common performed the song “Fortunate,” an inspirational single off his new album with hip-hop producer Pete Rock. The audience didn’t appear to be a hip-hop crowd, but they cheered Common all the same as he dropped positive bars of rhymes in front of his hometown crowd.
Common even incorporated Kamala Harris’ name into one of his rhymes.
Common, a Chicago native, makes an appearance at the #DNC pic.twitter.com/hZTdvPon9u
— John Haltiwanger (@jchaltiwanger) August 20, 2024
UPDATED: 6:50 p.m. ET
Pennsylvania State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta used his time to speak at the DNC to address the irony of Project 2025 — a 900+ page book and “plan to drag us backward” — being embraced by the same Republicans who have rallied behind efforts to ban books in the U.S.
Malcolm Kenyatta. PA’s next Auditor General. Speaking about the awful #Project2025.#DNC2024 #DNCConvention pic.twitter.com/biOueFb9G7
— April is voting for #HarrisWalz2024 (@April_Sassy) August 20, 2024
Kenyatta, who is the first openly gay candidate of color to win a state house primary in Pennsylvania, ended his speech by urged everybody to support Kamala Harris a the next president of the United States.
UPDATED: 6:45 p.m. ET
Superstar singer Patti LaBelle opened the second night of the DNC with a performance.
Source: Joe Raedle / Getty
Original story:
The second day of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) comes on the heels of a hard act to follow after Day 1 saw President Joe Biden pass the proverbial Democratic torch to his vice president, Kamala Harris, as she seeks to become the first Black and Asian president of the United States.
The entire United Center in Chicago was eager, engaged and energetic as a parade of Democrats took the stage to explain the urgency of Harris’ candidacy and why America can’t “go back” to a Donald Trump presidency.
MORE: The Blackest DNC Takeaways As Biden Passes The Democratic Torch To Kamala Harris
It’s a safe bet to expect more of the same, and then some, as another crop of influential speakers make their pleas to the American public.
And while the list of impressive speakers could include a number of surprises, those who are already confirmed include Harris’ husband and second gentleman Doug Emhoff; Democratic Illinois Congresswoman Sen. Tammy Duckworth; Republican mayor of Mesa, Arizona, John Giles; New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham; Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who was reported as being on Harris’ shortlist of running mates; Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders; and Senate Majority leader and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer.
However, two other people are later to appear and are expected to receive the loudest of ovations: Former President Barack Obama and his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama.
Each night of the DNC carries a different theme, and Tuesday’s is “A Bold Vision for America’s Future.”
A roll call vote that typically is used to formally nominate the party’s preferred candidate will also take place Tuesday night. The vote will be in name only as Harris was already formally nominated by Democrats earlier this month.
On Monday, Congresswoman Maxine Waters was among an impressive list of Black women leaders who each took to the stage to make the case for Harris’ candidacy while also drawing a stark contrast with Trump.
Later this week, Exonerated Five member and New York City councilman Yusef Salaam is expected to speak at the DNC as well.
There is a deep significance there as Salaam was among the five Black and brown teenagers falsely accused of raping a white woman in Central Park in the 1980s. Back then, Trump took out a full-page ad in a newspaper calling for the teenagers to receive the death penalty.
Decades later and Salaam could have a full circle moment at the DNC.
SEE ALSO:
DNC: Democratic Leaders Push For Deeper Connections With Black Male Voters
Tan Suit: Kamala Harris Channels Her Inner Obama With Wardrobe Choice For DNC’s Opening Night
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