Kamala Harris ignites the convention with a powerful start
A night of unity and vision
Kamala Harris kicked off the convention on Monday night with a brief yet electrifying appearance, sending waves of excitement through the Democratic delegates present.
“This is going to be a great week!” Harris exclaimed, expressing gratitude to President Joe Biden, who was scheduled to speak later that evening. “We are forever grateful to you.”
A star-studded introduction
Harris’ entrance was preceded by a biographical video narrated by Jeffrey Wright, set to the empowering tune of Beyoncé’s “Freedom.” The vice president then handed the stage over to Tony Goldwyn, known for his role as the president on the ABC show “Scandal.” Goldwyn, along with other entertainers like Jason Isbell, who performed ”Something More Than Free,” and Mickey Guyton, who sang “Ain’t We All American?”, set the tone for the evening.
Goldwyn assured the audience that the week would provide a comprehensive introduction to Harris and highlight the stark contrast between Donald Trump’s agenda and her vision for the future. “It is a message that’s joyful, not mean-spirited,” Goldwyn said. “Public service — not self-service, optimism and opportunity, not chaos and division. It’s a message that has woken us up to who we are.”
AOC’s fiery address
One of the most anticipated speakers of the night was Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Earlier in the day, Trump’s campaign had attempted to link Harris to Ocasio-Cortez’s positions on issues like defunding the police and the Green New Deal. When it was her turn to speak, Ocasio-Cortez didn’t hold back in her criticism of Trump.
“I, for one, am tired of hearing about how a two-bit union buster thinks of himself as more of a patriot than the woman who fights every single day to lift working people out from under the boots of greed trampling on our way of life,” she declared. “The truth is, Don, you cannot love this country if you only fight for the wealthy and big business. To love this country is to fight for all people, working people, everyday Americans.”
Celebrities and supporters
Spotted in the basement of the United Center were Marisa Tomei, JJ Abrams, and producer Bruce Cohen, all expressing high hopes for the campaign. Abrams and his wife, Katie McGrath, have donated over $3 million to Democratic committees this cycle, while Cohen is also a prolific donor.
James Taylor was also scheduled to perform, leading into Biden’s speech, adding to the star-studded lineup.
The buzz in Chicago
As Democrats prepared for the opening night, downtown Chicago was abuzz with flags, bunting, bootleg t-shirt vendors, and all the usual trappings of a political circus. Delegates from across the country took time to explore the city before the major speeches at the United Center. A rally in support of Palestinians in Gaza drew about 15,000 people, according to organizers with the Coalition to March on the DNC.
Despite the bustling downtown scene, the area near the delegates’ hotels remained relatively calm, even outside the gleaming silver Trump Tower overlooking the city’s Riverwalk.
DemPalooza and logistics
Another hub of activity was the sprawling McCormick Place center, hosting the DemPalooza showcase featuring a range of left-leaning organizations and causes. Although the stages for discussions and Q&As were sparsely attended, the five-mile distance between McCormick Place and the United Center provided advantages for security and crowd control. However, it also made attendees heavily dependent on DNC shuttles operating between the hotels and the two venues. The security perimeter around the United Center was so large that ride-share drivers and public transit couldn’t get too close.
Slogans and spirit
Elections are often defined by slogans, and there was no shortage of them displayed on the lapels, polo shirts, and blouses of delegates. From “Remember Jan 6” to “Keep Kamala and Carry On,” “Another Cat Lady for Kamala,” and “Make Lying Wrong Again,” the spirit of the convention was palpable.
the night was a testament to the unity and vision of the Democratic Party, setting the stage for a week of powerful speeches and inspiring moments.