The Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago. By Thursday, delegates are expected to discuss the party’s platform and officially nominate Kamala Harris. The US vice president appeared on stage in person. The party’s candidate thanked Biden for his “historic leadership.”
In a brief speech that was not previously announced and was not included in the convention program, Harris took the stage and emphasized Biden’s contributions to the country.
Joe, thank you for your historic leadership and lifetime of service to our country. We are forever grateful to you – Harris said.
Harris’s keynote address is scheduled for the final day of the convention, Thursday. He will then officially accept the party’s nomination. The highlight of Monday’s program was a speech from Biden himself, who endorsed Harris in handing her the party leadership.
No president should bow down to dictators, as Donald Trump did with Vladimir Putin; Kamala Harris won’t do that – US President Joe Biden said at the Democratic presidential convention in Chicago. He also suggested that he withdraw from the race for the presidency to save democracy.
At the end of the speech, he admitted that he was too old to remain president for another four years, but added: “America, I gave my all for you.”
In addition to the Democratic Party candidate, former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and First Lady Jill Biden were also in attendance. Celebrities also attended, including singers Jason Isbell and James Taylor. Steve Kerr, coach of the US Olympic basketball team and multiple NBA champion, also gave a speech supporting Harris and criticizing Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Harris was also supported on stage by the head of a major auto workers union, Shawn Fain, who said that “Kamala is one of them (unionists)” and Donald Trump is a “loose” and “a dog of the billionaire class”.
Film director Steven Spielberg helped choreograph the event.
Donald Trump fell asleep during his own trial and when he woke up, he made his own history – becoming the first presidential candidate with a 34-count conviction – Hillary Clinton told the crowd while speaking at the convention. Moments later, the crowd responded with chants of “lock him up” and applause.
Trump used the same slogan – but in reference to Clinton – during the 2016 election campaign, although during a recent press conference he claimed that it was thanks to his decision that Clinton was immune from accusations of improperly storing her work emails when she was the head of diplomacy.
Clinton – the first woman in history nominated by a party for president – devoted most of her speech in Chicago to Kamala Harris, her demands for women’s rights and the restoration of abortion rights, and her opportunity to “breaking the glass ceiling”.
A group of pro-Palestinian protesters broke through a section of the metal fence separating the Democratic presidential nomination site in Chicago, USA. The group clashed with police but were unable to enter the event area.
The barrier was breached by a group of several dozen people wearing arafatkas, tearing down a section of the outer fence that separates the area from the United Center hall, where the Democratic National Convention (DNC) is being held on Monday. After breaching the first fence, they were stopped by police and another fence. The protesters chanted slogans accusing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris of “funding genocide.” However, violent clashes were avoided.
Several thousand pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated on Monday at Union Park, a few hundred meters from the convention site. A group of protesters, organized by pro-Palestinian and African-American organizations, including the communist Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO), later marched to the DNC grounds. Some of them broke away from the main march and attacked the fence.
Speakers on stage called on Vice President Harris “Killer Kamala”President Biden “Genocide Joe” (“Genocide Joe”), and Foreign Minister Antony Blinken, who was involved in the ceasefire negotiations, a “baby killer” and discouraged participation in the elections. Some communist and socialist groups held up posters and banners calling for an end to aid to Ukraine and for “Russia and China to defend themselves against American imperialism.”
We believe that the war in Ukraine is a war caused by NATO. Russia does not do what Israel does and murders civilians. – said an activist of the League of the Fourth International in an interview with PAP.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Chicago began Sunday with a smaller march downtown. New protests will be held each day of the Democratic convention, which will run through Thursday.
