And that’s a wrap! 10: 25 p.m.
Conventions are a traditional, strange, fun thing — and this one, this year, more than ever. Jess and GCM were able to witness it first-hand. And, speaking of … let’s give Jess a hand for covering her first political convention!
The convention was not conventional. Nothing about the Democratic has been in recent weeks. But the DNC whipped up a rally that was vibrant, inclusive, fresh and young — unlike anything we’ve seen. I was telling people today that we used to think conventions of the past were exciting, and I suppose they were. Trust me, I am not borrowing a Harris campaign phrase, but I am going to say I hope we don’t go back, regardless of the party convening.
Harris, in her address, called for unity as her narrative vilified her challenger, former President Donald Trump. She also addressed the war in Gaza, although it may not have been enough for those calling for a pro-Palestinian speaker at the DNC this week.
“With respect to the war in Gaza, President Biden and I are working around the clock because now is the time to get a hostage deal done and a ceasefire deal done,” Harris said as she lamented the humanitarian crisis there.
“Let me be clear: I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself and I will always ensure Israel has the ability to defend itself,” she added.
Her speech, however, drew mixed reviews — at least so far — with some saying her policies were not clear enough, while others say she delivered the strongest speech so far in her career. We have no word quite yet from our local delegates, but when we get some, we’ll post it.
Protestors are still gathered outside, although at the time we’re publishing this, they were dispersing. Jess sent some video photos from her exit.
As for the surprise? Maybe we’re burying the lede here … We just don’t know. Speculation floated — and TMZ reported — that Beyoncé would perform. Later, The Hollywood Reporter said that was never the case. There were social media hints, including a bee emoji, real or otherwise, but we just can’t yet confirm anything.
For some Harris was the buzz. But for the Beyhive and Swifties — and our staff pool (kind of) — we have to wait.
Thank you all for supporting us as we tried to make the national local. GCM is in a unique position. We cover Austin, Oak Park, River Forest, Forest Park, Brookfield and Riverside, and we are home to some of the state’s biggest power players. Not many local news organizations can claim that. We work hard every day to show you what that means for you, and the DNC was no different.
It’s not every day that something so big, so consequential, so exciting and so powerful plays out in our backyards. We did our best to demonstrate what that means. We also worked to show you, too, what that meant for your everyday life: what traffic was like, where to park, what police response is and how to watch what you’re looking for.
It was a pleasure to do that for you. We couldn’t do it without you.
— Erika
The Harris speech, 10:20 p.m.
Kamala Harris came on stage around 9:30 p.m. She waited for minutes for the crowd to quiet down.
Harris gave the audience her history, from her mother coming from India and father from Jamaica to growing up in a working-class neighborhood in the Bay Area.
“She taught us to never complain about injustice, but to do something about it,” Harris said of her mother, who mostly raised her and her sister. “And never do anything half-assed.”
Harris became a prosecutor, she said, to change those injustices, and to protect people.
“A harm against any one of us is a harm against all of us,” she said. “My entire career, I’ve only had one client: the people.”
Harris said her presidency will be marked by listening, practicality, and the will to fight. She said she will create an economy for all, fighting big pharma, protecting social security, creating more affordable housing, and advocating for reproductive freedom,
She promised she would sign reproductive freedom into law as president, pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and bring back the bipartisan boarder security bill.
Harris promised her and Biden are working “around the clock” to call for a ceasefire deal and hostage release in Gaza.
“Free Gaza” cheers were heard sporadically throughout the crowd.
Harris said Donald Trump, on the other hand, would use the presidency as power, to serve himself, as is laid out in Project 2025.
“But America, we are not going back,” she said, and the crowd joined in, chanting. “We are charting a new way forward.”
She accepted the presidential nomination. The crowd erupted the loudest I’ve heard this week — as 100,000 balloons fell from the ceiling.
— Jess
Quiet and watching. 10:04 p.m.
Twitter is pretty quiet. The legit accounts, anyway. Watching? Want to catch up?
You can watch Harris here: https://x.com/demconvention?lang=en
— Erika
KAMALA HARRIS IS IN THE HOUSE, 9:34 p.m.
“Kamala is ready,” 9:24 p.m.
We’re in the final stretch. It’s Kamala’s night. And the surprise has yet to come…
Roy Cooper, governor of North Carolina, spoke just before Vice President Harris was scheduled to take the stage.
He told a story from 2011, when hundreds of thousands of Americans lost their houses to foreclosure.
He was attorney general in his state, as Harris was California’s. He said attorney generals were about to settle with big banks, which were going to give $4 billion to California families. But Harris said they deserved more, and that number became $20 billion.
“That was the first time I witnessed Kamala in action,” Cooper said. “And what I saw was a leader who does exactly what she says she’s going to do, who never settles for less.”
“Even if you don’t agree with her on everything, Kamala Harris will fight for you to the very end,” he added, from better health care to better schools
The question is: Are we? Are we gonna stand up and fight for Kamala like she’ll stand up and fight for us?”
That Illinois Republican on Harris — and Trump, 9: 11 p.m.
Adam Kinzinger, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois, is a Republican. But he’s one of several this week who have spoken on the United Center stage to dedicate their vote to Harris.
“I want to let my fellow Republicans in on the secret,” he said. “The Democrats are as patriotic as us. They love this country just as much as we do. And they are as eager to defend American values at home and abroad as we conservatives have ever been.”
And though he still identifies as a Republican, Kinzinger said his allegiance is not to Trump.
“Donald Trump has suffocated the soul of the Republican Party,” Kinzinger said in one of the softer of his barbs. “How can a party claim to be patriotic if it idolizes a man who tried to overthrow a free and fair election?”
That Trump incited the Jan. 6 riots is another reason Kinzinger said he’s not voting for the former president.
“That day, I stood witness to a profound sorrow—the desecration of our sacred tradition of peaceful transition of power, tarnished by a man too fragile, vain, and weak to accept defeat.”
Voting for Harris, Kinzinger said, is how he’s putting his country first as a Republican.
“I know Kamala Harris shares my allegiance to the rule of law, the Constitution, and democracy.”
A conversation on gun violence, 8: 47 p.m.
Five people took the stage to give their anecdotes about gun violence — a teacher, parent and student who survived school shootings and parents who lost their children to gun violence.
They shared their stories and said that as district attorney and attorney general, Harris has worked toward gun control. She has passed gun legislation to keep guns from criminals.
Next, Gabrielle Giffords, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona, took the stage.
She became a gun control activist after experiencing a brain injury after an assassination attempt.
“My friend Kamala will be a great president,” Giffords said, adding that she’s tough and has the right policies, like fighting for gun control.
It was slightly jarring for them to announce P!nk next, but she sang “What About Us,” which carried a new meaning to me following such poignant stories — especially considering her daughter sang with her and her backup singers.
Mark Kelly, U.S. Senator in Arizona and Giffords’ husband, graced the podium to shift the conversation to foreign affairs and military efforts. He’s a former astronaut and naval officer.
“She’ll be modernizing our military to support our troops,” he said of Harris.
The speakers who followed help rattle off her wrap sheet: Harris has worked with over 150 world leaders. And her running mate, Walz, has served in the armed forces.
The Biden-Harris administration has had the lowest veteran unemployment rate in history, according to Ruben Gallego, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona and a former marine.
“Donald Trump does not understand the world, and he does not understand the sacrifice of our military,” said Leon Panetta, former U.S. Secretary of Defense. Harris, on the other hand, he said “knows the tyrant when she sees one, and our allies know a leader when they see one.”
— Jess
Uncommitteds end sit-in without speaker, 8:17 p.m.
The Sun-Times is reporting that the group that spent the night outside of the DNC has ended its protest. They had been pushing for the DNC to permit a pro-Palestinian speaker to take the stage tonight. Scroll down to see our coverage. The sit-in, it appeared, didn’t work. Read more.
“Man, these girls can harmonize,” Jess says, 8:10 p.m.
Country stars The Chicks sing The Star-Spangled Banner:
Rocking the house, 8:02 p.m.
The DNC is being treated to a long stretch of music. From Jess:
Deb Haaland, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, 7:33 p.m.
Haaland is a part of the Turquoise Clan in New Mexico.
Growing up, she said she learned from her family to take care of the planet.
“Donald Trump never learned that lesson,” Haaland said. “He called the climate crisis a hoax.”
Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in Florida, also took his stage time to center on the climate crisis.
Frost said he’s seen the effects of climate change first-hand.
“I’ve walked the streets of communities that have been forced to rebuild their lives after hurricane flooding destroyed their homes. I’ve heard the stories of immigrant farm workers made to work in horrid conditions exacerbated by this crisis.“
Frost said Biden and Harris have created jobs in tackling the climate crisis by investing in clean energy and mass public transit. Harris has also defended the Clean Power Plan in court.
“Fighting the climate crisis is patriotic,” Frost said. “And unlike Trump, our patriotism is more than some slogan on a hat. It’s about actually giving a damn about the people who live in this country.”
— Jess
Madigan remarks, 7: 21 p.m.
Lisa Madigan, former Attorney General of Illinois, took the stage with a few other public officials for remarks.
Madigan worked with Harris during the recession to protect homeowners from foreclosure.
Madigan said Harris helped those people, demanding that banks provide mortgage relief.
“She has always taken principle decisions and never wavered,” Madigan said.
Nathan Hornes was also on stage as a former student at Corinthian Colleges.
Corinthian Colleges defrauded thousands of students, and Harris prosecuted the college.
The Biden-Harris administration canceled all their debt.
— Jess
Tonight’s energy, 6:21 p.m.
DJ Metro is DJ for the night. He’s from Chicago, but I’ve never heard of him, even though he’s worked with the likes of Rick Ross, Lil John, Ariana Grande, Pitbull and Justin Bieber. But every time he plays loud music, everyone on the United Center floor dances and claps.
The mood is not nearly as light in the press area. People keep coming up saying there’s a line of reporters to get into the section. And that if an empty seat is open the next time they come back in a few minutes, they’re taking it. Threats!
So please forgive any typos today. I’ve given up all hope for my laptop’s Wi-Fi connectivity and am writing from my phone. What a day to be a journalist.
–Jess
Slight change in plans, 6:50 p.m. (Post note: see above)
Folks, this is not a complaint. It’s just the facts. We weren’t able to purchase a seat and dedicated WiFi (It was $1,000 or more), so we went with the free option.
That means Jess got the last seat in the free press area (no dedicated seat), where it’s elbow-to-elbow, and where her hot spot is competing with lawd knows how many other devices for the same bandwidth. And it’s a tussle. She’s winning sometimes. She can’t get a good WiFi or cellular signal, so we’re winging it.
She’s texting me or calling it in (like in the old days when we had to do it with pay phones). So … we may be a bit slow. But we’ll have it all. And you’ll love it.
Support local journalism. Against all the odds, when all the balloons have deflated and all of the cameras have decamped, we’re still here for you.
— Erika
Let’s wrap it up! 6 p.m.
It took me over an hour to get into the United Center again tonight. I entered the same side of the building as yesterday, but this time no one let me cut to the front of the line with my Secret Service credentials like they did yesterday, though I asked. And I couldn’t tell you why.
By the time I got inside, it was tough to find a seat, though programming was just starting. Now, no one around me wants to get up because they know they likely won’t get to come back to their spot. That’ll make bathroom and food breaks interesting.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the crowds are bigger and came earlier tonight than yesterday, considering the evening’s lineup. Take a look:
- Katherine Clark, U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Whip
- Joe Neguse, U.S. House of Representatives Assistant Democratic Leader
- Raja Krishnamoorthi, Illinois representative in the U.S. House
- Joint remarks from the Central Park Five, including Dr. Yusef Salaam of the New York City Council, Korey Wise, Raymond Santana, and Kevin Richardson
- Lisa Madigan, former Attorney General of Illinois
- Gabrielle Giffords, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona
- Adam Kinzinger, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois
- Maya Harris, sister to Vice President Kamala Harris
There’s a few musicians and actors on the program too. The Chicks are singing the National Anthem at 8 p.m. Kerry Washington and Eva Longoria will make an appearance, and P!NK is scheduled to perform.
And as you’ve all heard already, Kamala Harris will close out the evening with her speech accepting the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Accompanied by a big balloon drop, I’m sure.
See you from the stands, 2:30 p.m.
Before I do my final bit of DNC story prep and head over to the United Center for the last time this week, I wanted to share one more update I found from Kambium Elijah “Kam” Buckner — house representative for the 26th District in South Chicago and the assistant majority leader of the Illinois House of Representatives.
Yesterday, Buckner posted to thank Illinois Senator Dick Durban for hiring him as an aide years ago. Durbin is also Democratic Whip, the second-highest rank in the Senate for the Democratic Caucus, and the Senate Judiciary Committee’s chair.
Buckner also joined nurses from the University of Illinois Hospital & Clinics, represented by the Illinois Nurses Association, in picketing for better pay and staffing. Their one-week strike started Monday.
After the DNC wraps, I’m hoping to get some feedback about how the week went from Illinois delegates relevant to Chicago’s West Side and the western suburbs. Stay tuned to see if that includes some intel from Buckner.
Last night’s Preckwinkle spotting, 1:45 p.m.
I haven’t heard about Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s whereabouts all week. Today, I discovered that last night, she attended a DNC watch party reception with a few other public officials.
Preckwinkle is the first Black woman to be elected as president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners. In the second-most-populous county in the nation behind Los Angeles, Preckwinkle oversees Cook County’s public health and criminal justice systems.
During her term, Preckwikle has created CountyCare, a program for Medicaid-eligible residents, and expanded the Justice Advisory Council to include juvenile justice reform. She has also worked to safely reduce the population of the Cook County Jail and Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center while promoting equitable access to justice.
Preckwinkle created the Bureau of Economic Development in 2011 to promote economic growth that’s equitable across all communities. She’s also solved for nearly $3 billion in budget deficits to reduce unfunded pensions.
Hooray for Hiplet, 1:20 p.m.
At a fundraiser for Rep. La Shawn Ford that I attended Tuesday, Congressman Danny Davis gave the intel that the Hiplet Ballerinas would be performing at the DNC today.
I’ve heard wonderful things about the dance troupe, who’s performed in Europe and Asia and is well-known for fusing ballet with hip-hop, Latin, modern and jazz dancing.
But at the fundraiser, neither Founder Homer Bryant nor Robin Edwards, executive director at the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center and the Hiplet Ballerinas, knew where exactly the dancers would be in McCormick Center today. And neither did the three volunteers I asked, though they said my best guess was DemPalooza because of the floor space.
And they were right, thankfully. At 12:30, nine dancers performed a few songs as a few dozen people watched and cheered .
Bryant founded Hiplet on the West Side as an outlet for Black dancers to receive equitable dance training.
“Black women were not accepted in the field of ballet,” Edwards said. “We want to make sure that our Black dancers have equitable funding, equitable education, equitable platforms.”
The Hiplet ballerinas will appear on Windy City Live tomorrow.
Illinois House Speaker in the house, 1 p.m.
Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch has continued to post on social media, letting his followers know how he’s spending his time at the DNC.
Last night, he gave an interview ahead of the Black Excellence in Bleu DNC bash.
“I’m in year four now, and it’s just as special as it was in year one,” Welch said of being Illinois’ first Black speaker of the House. He’s also a state representative from the 7th District, which covers parts of Maywood and Melrose Park.
Uncommitted National Movement calls for a Palestinian-American speaker at the DNC, 11:31 a.m.
Members of the Uncommitted National Movement and DNC officials are at a standoff over whether to include a Palestinian-American who endorses a Gaza ceasefire to speak on the final day of the convention.
Supporters of the movement and the DNC have clashed over the issue. About 300 supporters, who include uncommitted leaders and delegates, including Arab, Palestinian, Jewish and Democratic individuals, staged a sit-in outside the DNC Wednesday night to try to force the DNC to include the speaker during Prime Time events. They also held a morning news conference Thursday that was endorsed by Illinois House Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid. He could not be reached for comment by publication.
In November 2023, Rashid, whose district includes Berwyn, Brookfield, North Riverside and Riverside, called on the White House to back a ceasefire.
“The longer it takes for President Biden to call for a cease-fire and the more civilians are killed and injured, the more that public trust in his leadership will erode,” Rashid told the Landmark.
DNC officials have declined to include a pro-Palestinian on the main stage, but said they gave supporters time to speak in other, untelevised forums.
Several dozen members remained at the sit-in Thursday morning.
Representatives of the movement said they tried overnight to negotiate with DNC officials. The representatives said they were still told no.
“I have not received a call back,”Abbas Alawieh, an uncommitted Michigan delegate and co-founder of the movement, said just after 10 a.m.
At the DNC, Chicagoans Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin spoke at the United Center about their son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken hostage by Hamas in October.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli-American, was attending a music festival in Israel with his friend, when there was an attack that killed his friend, caused Hersh to lose part of his arm, and resulted in his capture.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin broke down in tears, lowering her head on the podium, before speaking about the disappearance of her son on Oct. 7, 2023.
“Since then, we live on another planet. Anyone who is a parent or has had a parent can try to imagine the anguish and misery that Jon and I, and all the hostage families, are enduring,” Goldberg-Polin said.
The couple have met multiple times at the White House with Biden and Harris, who they said are working on a ceasefire deal and release of hostages.
Alawieh said he welcomed the couple’s speech, but that he would continue to press for a Palestinian-American to speak at the convention.
Speakers at the press conference often paused to choke back tears, or spoke through them as they told stories of children being murdered by militant attacks in Gaza — and called for such stories to be shared on the United Center stage tonight on the DNC’s last day.
U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Cori Bush joined uncommitted Democratic delegates Wednesday and uncommitted officials said that they have gotten support for a Palestinian-American speaker from over 30 delegates, as well as the United Auto Workers.
At the press conference, there were sheets of paper calling for delegates to pledge their support for a permanent ceasefire and for the U.S. to stop supplying Israel with weapons.
We’ll be adding more to this story. Please check back.
— Erika and Jess
The final quarter, 11:15 a.m.
It’s the last day of the DNC, and I’m excited to return to some sense of normalcy after this evening.
But first, Vice President Kamala Harris will accept her nomination as the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party tonight.
All week, I’ve been gazing up in awe at the countless red, white and blue balloons, bunched up in nets hanging from the United Center’s ceiling. I can’t fathom how many there are, or what they’ll look like when they rain down during Harris’ speech tonight.
This morning, I attended a press conference at McCormick Place, where delegates and leaders who have not committed to voting for Harris called for a Palestinian-American speaker at the United Center tonight. My editor, Erika, will be posting what we heard at the press conference in a bit.
Today’s theme for the convention is For Our Future. Speakers will share how Donald Trump’s potential second term could be worse than his first, and how voting for Harris is a choice for freedom and forward progress.
Freedom has been a big talking point in the Harris-Walz ticket’s messaging this week.
At the United Center last night, the jumbotron played what I thought was one of the more moving clips of the week, a video of Americans sharing what freedom means to them.
This afternoon, I’m going to try and find where the Hiplet Ballerinas — the troupe from Chicago’s West Side that’s fusing ballet with other dance genres — are performing at McCormick Place. I’ll be sure to post a video.
Uncommitted Movement and IL House Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid at 9:30 a.m.
The movement, made up of uncommitted leaders, delegates, Arab, Palestinian, Jewish and Democratic leaders, hold a press conference at 9:30 a.m. today. Rashid will be there. I’ll be covering it virtually.
Jess will cover a related vigil at 11 a.m.
Check back for more.
–Erika
Day three
That’s it for us tonight!
Jess will be back bright and early tomorrow to wrap up the DNC and capture the moment Democrats have been waiting for: Vice President Kamala Harris accepting the presidential nomination.
Good night and be safe.
— Erika
Walz Wednesday, 10:38 p.m.
As Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accepted the Democratic vice presidential nomination, he and the speakers before him highlighted what everyone is calling his Midwestern values.
Walz has served more than two decades on the National Guard. He was a teacher and football coach at a Minnesota high school. A previous student who introduced him brought out the football team that Walz coached and led to winning a state championship.
His students and players, he said, inspired his run for Congress.
“Never underestimate a public school teacher,” he said.
He got a standing ovation.
Walz then highlighted how he’s grown rural economies, taken care of veterans and cut the costs of prescription drugs.
He said he can compromise without compromising his values.
“I believe in the Second Amendment, but I also believe in the responsibility of keeping our kids safe,” said Walz, a hunter.
“We’re not going back,” he said. And the crowd repeated it back. Loudly and several times.
He promised he and Harris would work to cut taxes for middle-class families and create more affordable homes.
The crowd chanted “coach” as he wrapped his speech.
“We have the right team,” he said “Our job is to get in the trenches and do the blocking and tackling.”
— Jess
Buttigieg’s “better kind of politics,” 10:04 p.m.
Pete Buttigieg, U.S. Secretary of Transportation and former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, came out smiling wide.
“America is ready for a better kind of politics. Politics, at its worst, can be ugly, crushing and demeaning. But it doesn’t have to be,” Buttigeig said.
“I believe in a better politics, one that finds us at our most decent and open and brave. And that kind of politics also just feels better to be part of. There is joy in it, as well as power.”
Buttigieg described a heartwarming scene when politics is furthest from his mind, when he’s getting ready for dinner in his Michigan home. The dog is barking, the pot on the stove is boiling over, and he struggles to get his two three-year-olds to sit down for a meal.
“And yet, the makeup of our kitchen table, the existence of my family, is just one example of something that was literally impossible as recently as 25 years ago,” Buttifieg said. “That didn’t just happen.”
It was brought about, he said, by the right kind of politics.
“This November we get to choose our president, our policies, but most of all, we can choose a better politics — one of hope, of promise, of freedom, of trust. This is what Kamala Harris and Tim Walz represent.”
–Jess
Oprah comes “home” to rally for Harris, 9:40 p.m
The people love Oprah Winfrey, a surprise guest for the evening.
“When we stand together, it is impossible to conquer us,” said Winfrey, who’s an independent voter. The crowd cheered.
“Freedom isn’t free,” Winfrey added. “American is an ongoing project,” requiring commitment, hard work and, occasionally, standing up to bullies.
As Winfrey shouted out a few states, the delegations sitting on the floor screamed. And the room yelled loudest when she acknowledged Chicago as her home. And even louder somehow when she said Harris would be the 47th president of the United States.
“This election isn’t about us and them. It’s about you and me and what we want our futures to look like,” Winfrey said.
“Values and character matter most of all, in leadership and in life. More than anything, decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024.
I’m not Googling — are you Googling? 9: 25 p.m.
Amanda. Gorman. Just. Spoke.
The name of her poem? Vanity Fair reports it’s called “The Sacred Scene.” No lyrics yet.
Let’s look back to 2021, when she dazzled the crowd with “The Hill We Climb” during the Biden (and Harris) inauguration.
— Erika
Clinton’s remarks, 9:03 p.m.
Note from Erika: We’re having tech issues again tonight. I’m posting for Jess, so we apologize for any delays.
Bill Clinton spoke for at least a half hour. He likened the presidency to a job interview, which made me chuckle but isn’t wrong.
“We, the people, are the employers, charged by our Constitution to hire a president to do a job that we get to redefine every four years,” he said. “In 2024, we have a clear choice: ‘We The People’ versus ‘Me, Myself and I.’”
He challenged viewers to “count the ‘I’s’ instead of the lies” the next time they hear Trump speak,
He praised Harris’ accomplishments toward affordable housing, health care and child care. And her positive demeanor.
“Not a day goes by that I’m not grateful for the chance the American people gave me to be one of the 45 people who have held the job,” Clinton said. “Even on the bad days, you can still make something good happen.”
“Kamala Harris,” he said, “is the only candidate in this race with the vision, the experience, the temperament, the will, and yes — the sheer joy – to do that on good and bad days, to be our voice.”
Finally, Clinton called voters to keep rallying around the Harris-Walz ticket.
“Talk to your neighbors. Meet people where they are. Don’t demean them. Ask them for their help,” he said. “And ask them, as Kamala still does, ‘How can I help you?’”
— Jess
There’s been a string of singers and actors here tonight, 8: 35 p.m.
Stevie Wonder came out and did a little keyboarding with dancers. Kenan Thompson hit the stage carrying a comically large Project 2025 book. And Mindy Kaling talked about cooking a meal with her friend, Harris.
Then Hakeem Jeffries, U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Leader, took the podium.
“Kamala Harris is a courageous leader, a compassionate leader, and a commonsense leader who will deliver real results for everyday Americans,” Jeffries said.
He touched on the right to a living wage, affordable homes and healthcare, and schools free from gun violence.
“Extreme MAGA Republicans don’t care about everyday Americans. They only care about themselves,” Jeffries said.
“Our approach—led by Kamala Harris and Coach Walz—is very different. We care about you, the American people. And, we will fight hard to make sure that the American dream is alive and well in every single community.”
— Jess
When Bill Clinton was on the West Side, 8:30 p.m.
The former president’s speech tonight reminded me of when he stumped for his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, in 2016.
“At MacArthur’s Restaurant in the Austin neighborhood, Cherita Logan looked into the former president’s eyes and told him boldly: She’s proud of his wife, Hillary Clinton, for standing by him, despite his affair.
‘I thanked Hillary for keeping her [marital] vows. Marriage is for better or worse, good or bad, up or down, sickness or health, rich or poor. She kept her vows and that means more than anything, Logan, a district director for U.S Rep. Danny Davis said. ‘We know what Trump is going to be saying, and we need to put that down,” the Sun-Times reported.
Our own Austin Weekly News covered the opening of Clinton’s campaign office, there, too.
‘“I have a daughter who is 16 years old and she might be the [first] black woman president. I wanted to do this for her,” said community organizer and nonprofit professional Deborah Williams, who was influential in luring the Clinton campaign to the Chicago Avenue space,” we reported.
–Erika
The DNC has a playlist! 7:56 p.m.
No one can ever say this convention was not remarkable. And as NPR reported today, music has almost always been a part of American elections. But a playlist?
Yep. On Spotify. The entire roll call playlist. The B-52s. Chappell Roan. Sister Sledge. Kendrick Lamar.
That’s a far cry from just four years ago.
Check out the states’ roll call from 2020. It was during the pandemic, but still…
— Erika
Protests, Day 3, 7:33 p.m.
ABC News is reporting that about 1,000 pr0-Palestinian protestors are near the DNC. They tried to approach the United Center, but were turned away. Learn more about who they are and where they are.
These were not unexpected. This group comes after dozens of protestors were arrested last night during a protest that began outside the Israeli consulate and spilled out onto the surrounding streets, as AP reported.
–Erika
DNC viewership, 7:45 p.m.
With night three of DNC programming well on its way, viewership statistics from the previous evening have come out.
On Tuesday, over 80 million people tuned into the DNC through broadcast, streaming and digital channels, according to convention officials.
Over 20 million people watched the DNC on TV. Comparatively, at the RNC, the second night averaged over 14 million broadcast viewers.
“There’s a simple reason why more Americans are tuning into the Democratic National Convention than Donald Trump’s MAGA convention: The American people believe in the Harris-Walz vision for a brighter future and they want to support a campaign built on hope, joy, and progress – not a campaign built on extremism, fear, and grievance,” DNCC Senior Director of Communications Matt Hill said in a statement.
On the DNC’s second evening, more than 13 million people watched on streaming services and 55 million views on partner-created content (the DNC credentialed over 200 content creators with a total of 169 million followers this year).
The viewership numbers only increased from the previous evening. The first night of the DNC reached over 57 million people.
Stay tuned to find out where we end up tonight.
An update from some of the DNC volunteers from Oak Park, 7:30 p.m.
Victor and Iris Yipp wrapped their last day of volunteering yesterday, “exhausted but exhilarated,” Victor Yipp wrote in an email.
On Tuesday, the couple was a part of the Bus Operations Group, which meant they greeted delegates and guests as they traveled from their shuttles to the United Center — just like I did a little over an hour ago.
“Our task was to welcome them, cheerleading , pompoms, high-fiving, whooping it up, singing, dancing — whatever it took to evoke a smile, a thank you, and boost them for another exciting evening at the DNC,” Victor Yipp said.
It was also to lessen some of the stress they might have experienced after getting off the buses took some people up to two hours Monday evening, I heard, because of protestors. I took the train to the United Center that day, but attendees around me were disgruntled to say the least.
On Tuesday, Yipp also volunteered to help push visitors in wheelchairs to the United Center, where another volunteer took over inside the building.
After their volunteer duties were done, the Yipps said that leaving the area was a challenge.
“Due to the public protests of the day before, security was tightened by an extra set of perimeter fences,” Yipp said. There was only one way to enter and leave the area, he added. “We had to walk around a few blocks before we found the one and only opening to the rest of Chicago.”
Sounds about right to me. Even after my third day here, I don’t feel like I know where exactly the entrance and exit points are. I know the general direction, but there’s only ever one opening in a tall fence that security escorts you through, single file. Frustrating, but I suppose safety is key.
Ford, Hoskins at Soul Veg City
Sitting in the United Center, I got some updates about the day from Rep. La Shawn Ford of the 8th District and Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins, both Illinois delegates at this DNC.
They both attended a Salute to African Americans from noon to 2 p.m.. The event was at Soul Veg City, a family-owned vegetarian restaurant at 203 East 75th Street on Chicago’s South Side.
“The purpose was to bring the convention goers to the South Side,” Hoskins said.
Congressman Danny Davis co-hosted the event with Hoskins and Ford.
Also present were Congressman Jonathan Jackson, Chicago City Council Black Caucus Chair Stephanie Coleman, and Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. of the 27th Ward.
The special guest of the event was Congresswoman Yvette Clarke of New York. Clarke’s mom, Hoskins said, immigrated from the Caribbean and was the first non-American-born woman to serve on the New York City Council.
Back at the United Center, 6 p.m.
Entrance into the United Center has only gotten easier and quicker as the DNC progresses. Today, I took the shuttle for attendees from McCormick Place to the United Center. Though we had to ferment on the bus for 20 minutes or so, as soon as I got off, I went straight through security.
Speakers for tonight’s programming include:
- Cory Booker, senator of New Jersey
- Amy Klobuchar, senator of Minnesota
- Nancy Pelosi, former house speaker
- Pete Buttigieg, transportation secretary
- Former President Bill Clinton
Tim Walz will close out the night, accepting the nomination as the Democratic Party’s vice presidential candidate.
As I previously said, John Legend told me — and everyone else in the room at the Black Caucus meeting earlier today — that he’s performing tonight. I’ll let you know if any other stars grace the stage.
DemPalooza, 3 p.m.
I just spent some time wandering around what they’re calling DemPalooza, which features dozens of vendors and an interactive space where visitors can make friendship bracelets and get a “Kamala Harris manicure.” I’m not sure if that means your nails look like Harris’ nails or they decorate your nails with her face. I didn’t hang around long enough to find out.
Vendors included everything from candle and jewelry makers to booths selling Harris-themed merchandise. All around DemPalooza, there were Harris cutouts that people were taking photos with every time I walked by.
There were a few sections of the DemPalooza space dedicated to people hosting live interviews and podcast recordings. I stumbled across one, just as they were introducing Tarana Burke, who started the MeToo movement.
I’ll likely head over to the United Center in an hour or so, making sure to give myself enough time to get in the building and set up my Wi-Fi hotspot. I’m hoping so hard that it’s more reliable today, considering it worked perfectly on Monday.
I’ll update you when I’m there on the evening’s speakers. Wish me luck!
Illinois House’s Assistant Majority Leader at the DNC, 1 p.m.
I’ve got one last little Illinois delegate update for you, for now. This time, it’s about Kambium Elijah “Kam” Buckner.
Buckner is a house representative for the 26th District, which covers Chicago’s South Side, and the assistant majority leader of the Illinois House of Representatives since 2022. He’s also chairman of the Illinois House Black Caucus and a former aide to U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin.
During the DNC, Buckner reposted an image of him on the United Center floor on the convention’s first day.
Yesterday, he posted on X that he took the train home from the United Center. This photo made me smile, considering how many big black cars and loitering private drivers I’ve seen hanging around the United Center this week.
Buckner also posted yesterday a video of him speaking in support of gun legislation, as well as photos of him thanking Chicago Police Department officers for their work during the DNC.
After the convention is over, Buckner, like other Illinois delegates, will continue his daily responsibilities. These include participation in committees on adoption and child welfare, financial institutions and licensing, criminal administration and enforcement, and the juvenile justice system.
Updates from Chris Welch, 12 p.m.
House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch has been one of the most active of the Illinois delegates that we’re following on social media. He’s also a state representative from the 7th District, which covers parts of Maywood and Melrose Park.
This morning, he posted a few photos on X from the Illinois delegates’ section at the United Center during last night’s ceremonial roll call.
Earlier this week, he shared about Harris’ link to Illinois.
And on day one of the DNC, he posted a roundup of photos.
Tonight, Welch will be at the Black Excellence in Bleu DNC bash. I couldn’t get on the list (not for a lack of trying). The event is celebrating the first seven Black speakers of the House, including Welch, who is Illinois’ first.
Welch has been chief sponsor on pieces of legislation including the law bringing cursive writing back to our schools and the law making Illinois a welcome state for immigrants, plus the Illinois Trust Act and the Homeless Bill of Rights.
Welch has also focused on improving classrooms, especially after serving on the Proviso Township High School District 209 Board of Education for 12 years, 10 of which were as Board Chair. He also led the creation of the Proviso Math and Science Academy.
Black Caucus, 11:30 a.m.
Cheers to my first caucus meeting of the DNC!
Out of 2,000-some seats, over 100 delegates and attendees sat in on the Black Caucus. But the delegate section was blocked off from the rest, so I was still probably 50 feet from the stage with hundreds of empty seats in my line of sight. Until someone decided that was pointless and allowed everyone to move up.
Part of the “under-attendance” (given that a larger audience was expected, considering that every chair was covered with an issue of Essence magazine with Harris on the cover) can be chalked up to that afternoon caucus and council meetings are live streamed on YouTube. The other could be that the morning breakfasts at delegate hotels go until 9:30 a.m., when caucuses start.
The Black Caucus started after 10 a.m., and at 11 a.m. when I had moved on, Johnson hadn’t spoken yet. I’m guessing he won’t speak, as Politico reported.
This morning, Johnson was at the Illinois delegation breakfast. There, he spoke and thanked Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, who gave him his first job in politics.
Harmon is an Oak Park native and a state senator representing Illinois’ 39th District, which covers Oak Park and part of Austin, Galewood and River Forest. He’s had the position since 2003 and became Illinois Senate president in 2020.
At the Black Caucus, speakers praised Harris as the potential first Black woman president and Biden for serving former President Barack Obama, plus choosing Harris as his vice president.
There were standing ovations and lots of clapping as maybe another hundred people filled into the room by the time I exited.
And though Johnson didn’t show up, John Legend did, fresh off a late-night concert at the Salt Shed. Check out this video for some of his words.
“Our nation is at its best when we realize that, when we all do better, we all do better,” Legend said to applause. It’s why he’s voting for Harris.
“Don’t you just love watching her campaign? Don’t you see her exuding joy and hope and fighting for freedom, knowing that when we fight, we win?”
Legend said he’s performing at the United Center tonight.
Updated Aug. 21, 2024, 9:30 a.m. CDT
Today’s theme is A Fight for Our Freedoms, though I’m finding a lot of overlap in messaging day-to-day, as one might expect.
But with A Fight for Our Freedoms, attendees can expect programming to center around how Harris has done just that throughout her career. And she called on Walz as someone who defends those freedoms, as Trump strips them away.
Tonight, Walz will make a speech accepting his vice presidential nomination. I’ll clue you in on the United Center’s evening programming later. This morning, I’m listening to the daily press briefing and stopping at the Hispanic Caucus meeting and the Black Caucus, where Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is scheduled to speak.
Either people are tired or were just excited earlier this week and wanted to be early. I walked right up to and through security, compared to the 45 minutes it took me on Monday.
Stay tuned and reach out to me at jessica@Austinweeklynews.com if you have any feedback or intel for me.
Day two
Welcome home, Obamas, 11:30 p.m.
It both pains and embarrasses me to say I was nodding off in my seat, unable to connect to Wi-Fi, when thunderous applause brought me back to full consciousness.
The support for Former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama was raucous.
“Something magical is in the air,” she said. “It’s the contagious power of hope.”
The cheers for her husband, former President Barack Obama, were also roaring.
“It’s good to be home,” he started. He too spoke of hope and was full of energy, or “fired up,” as he said.
After praising Biden as his vice president, and for dropping out of the race, Barack Obama moved to highlighting Harris’ legislative successes and goals. But not without maintaining the message that this election is far from over.
“For all the energy we’ve been able to generate over the last few weeks, for all the rallies and the memes, this will still be a tight race in a closely divided country,” Obama said.
At a time when voters are asking who’s fighting for them, the answer, he added, is Harris.
So Obama called for people to continue rallying for the Harris-Walz ticket over the next 77 days by canvassing, calling voters, plus talking and listening to their friends and neighbors.
“Our job is to convince people that democracy can actually deliver,” Obama said.
His speech wrapped just after 10:30 p.m., unlike Biden’s last night, as programming intended. Dare I say that, despite my internet troubles, it was a more successful day two of the DNC? Those who were invited to watch John Legend perform at the Pritzkers’ private party at the Salt Shed tonight probably think so.
I would wish you a good night, but I hope it’s morning by the time you read this. I’ll be back with you soon.
Signing off, but wait! 9:30 p.m.
Erika here. Folks, I am signing off for the night. Jess still has tech issues, but she’ll be back on as soon as she can and wrap up for the night.
Check back later and be back tomorrow, when we’ll have more from Day 3 of the DNC.
Good night!
Sen. Tammy Duckworth on IVF, 9:24 p.m.
Senator Tammy Duckworth shared her experience with IVF. Trump’s abortion ban would threaten the ability to access IVF across the nation.
Both of Duckworth’s daughters were born through IVF.
“Let me say to every would-be parent: I see you. I’m with you. And together in November, we’ll send a message to Trump: Stay out of our doctors’ offices—and out of the Oval Office, too,” Duckworth said.
“How dare a convicted felon like Donald Trump treat women seeking health care like they’re the ones breaking the law,” Duckworth said. “It’s simple: Every American deserves the right to be called ‘mommy’ or ‘daddy’ without being treated like a criminal. Kamala Harris believes that. So, let’s make some history and elect her in November.”
— Jess
River Forest trustee Erika Bachner represents, 9:13 p.m
I chatted a bit with Bachner today. She was heading to Celebramos: Nuestra Voz y Nuestro Voto reception hosted by the Ilinois Latino Agenda and Hispanic Federation as part of the DNC events in Chicago. I sent a reporter out, but she checked in from the car! Here’s her message: “So here are a few photos from the reception this evening put on by the ILA and the Hispanic Federation. One photo is with me and Sylvia Puente, who leads the Latino Policy Forum and another is of me and resident Marty Castro [of Castro Synergies], who was at the reception as well. I didn’t realize he was going to be there … I really wanted to see Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in Milwaukee at a rally at Fiserv Stadium … I had to drive up 90 minutes to Milwaukee to be able to get to the stadium before the doors closed!”
That’s dedication!
Stay tuned for more. Thanks, Trustee Bachner!
–Erika
Pritzker cuts Trump no slack, 8:50 p.m.
Pritzker spent his speech highlighting Illinois’ successes: Illinois passed a bill to fix roads and bridges. It eliminated its grocery tax and invested in green energy. It supported small businesses during COVID-19. And, he claimed some of Harris’ successes too.
“Considering Harris spent some of her early life right here, I speak for the entire Illinois delegation when I say, ‘we claim her too.’”
He juxtaposed her with former President Donald Trump:
“Trump chooses cruelty every time,” he said. While “Kamala Harris and Tim walk want a country where we can all have a little serenity.” — Jess
Tense protests tonight, 8:46 p.m.
Tensions are high in a few areas tonight, media are reporting.
Police clashed with them on Madison Street near Accenture Tower on Tuesday night, the Sun-Times reported. They’re also at Adams and Canal outside of Union Station.
Here’s some video from WBBM.
Bernie Sanders, 8:42 p.m.
Bernie Sanders is on stage and he’s hitting a lot of points.
In addition to speaking out against Project 2025, Sanders spoke about wanting to raise teacher salaries, making access to higher education equitable and taking on big pharma and other money-hungry companies, including big tech and those who wrongly influence elections.
“Billionaires in both parties should not be able to buy elections,” Sanders said. “We need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage.”
He also called for a ceasefire:
“We must end this horrific war in Gaza, bring home the hostages and demand an immediate ceasefire.” The crowd erupted.
— Jess
Harris makes surprise visit, 8:30 p.m.
Harris gave a speech from Milwaukee, Wisconsin after the roll call wrapped. She received a standing ovation when she popped up on the Jumbotron, though she wasn’t in the room.
She got an even louder cheer when she said “hi” to Chicago.
“Together, we can chart a way forward,” she said.
— Jess
Wondering whether James Taylor was upset after he was bumped Monday?
You’ve got a friend.
Lil John is in the house!
If you missed it, don’t worry. We got you. The excitement of the Illinois delegation is incredible. Don’t take our word for it. Check out Jess’ video.
Jess’ view
She’s able to text me, so here goes. A photo she shot earlier tonight.
1 Present and 176 votes from Illinois for Harris
What did you think about Pritzker’s roll call?
Gov. JB Pritzker will reportedly call the votes for Illinois tonight.
Tech difficulties, 6:51 p.m.
Folks, Jess is having some tech problems so posting may be slow. I’m not there, but I’ll be filling in while I watch the main program and monitor channels. Stay tuned!
–Erika
Jess is back in the United Center, 6:30 p.m.
Doors opened at 4 p.m., like yesterday, but today I got here over an hour earlier than I did on Monday. And it only took me 20 minutes to get into the building, instead of the hour-plus yesterday.
There was a smattering of protesters at the entrance that I used, but most of this week’s demonstrations were unfolding at Union Park, three blocks away from the United Center.
Today, I decided to pop a squat in a different section. The three credentials around my neck get me most anywhere on the second and third tier of the United Center. But I don’t have a dedicated space to write like the news outlets who paid hundreds for a seat at a table near an outlet, or the big-wig media companies that paid thousands. It’s been discouraging, not only to pick up my backpack, laptop and batteries every time someone leaves my row, but also to not be surrounded by any other members of the media. I don’t see anyone else on a laptop, and it makes me feel like I’m in the wrong place.
Read more about the experience that smaller newsrooms like ours are having at the DNC in this WBEZ article. They quoted my editor, Erika, and me in it.
I got into the United Center well before programming began, but had trouble getting my hotspot working until just now.
Patti LaBelle started off the night and Common wasn’t far behind. Jason Carter, grandson of President Jimmy Carter, and Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy, have already spoken.
Other speakers tonight include:
- Stephanie Grisham, a former press secretary in the Trump White House
- Chuck Schumer,U.S. Senate majority leader
- Bernie Sanders,U.S. Senator of Vermont
- JB Pritzker, Illinois governor
- Tammy Duckworth,U.S. Senator of Illinois
- Douglas Emhoff,second gentleman of the U.S.
- Michelle Obama, former first lady of the U.S.
- Former President Barack Obama
A roll call will take place around 7 p.m., a ceremonial version of the actual roll call that took place Aug. 6 to nominate Kamala Harris as the Democrat’s presidential candidate. All 57 delegations will cast ceremonial votes and deliver remarks.
Meet me back here throughout the night for updates. That is, if my Wi-Fi works.
State Senate President Don Harmon on labor, 5:33 p.m.
Our friends over at Capitol News Illinois shared this tidbit. After the delegation breakfast this morning, Harmon mentioned that one key to Democrats’ success was union support.
From the story: “Democrats don’t win without organized labor, and organized labor puts everything at risk when Democrats don’t win,” Harmon, of Oak Park, told the delegation. “So we are in this fight together, and we got to stick together.”
According to CNI, in 2022, Democrats in the General Assembly backed a constitutional ballot measure that gives ” workers ‘the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively’ on issues including wages, hours, working conditions, economic welfare and workplace safety.”
The reporters also pointed out that measure is now complicated. Staffers have tried to unionize, particularly those of Democratic House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, of Hillside.
Complicated is the key word.
— Erika
Rep. Ford fundraiser, 4 p.m.
This afternoon, I (Jess) attended a fundraiser for Rep. La Shawn Ford this afternoon. Congressman Danny Davis was there, along with Ald. Jason Ervin of the 28th Ward, Maywood Mayor Nathaniel George Booker and other West Side officials.
When I asked Ford what he thinks his constituents should know about the DNC, he said to try and get involved. He said that those without credentials to attend the DNC can still attend local events, like his fundraiser, or attend or host watch parties with friends.
“This is bigger than the moment,” Ford said, “It may feel inconvenient, but we should be engaged. It’s right here,” he added about the proximity of the convention to Chicago’s West Side.
Ford, like many other delegates, plans to be at the United Center Thursday when Vice President Kamala Harris gives her presidential nominee acceptance speech.
“That’s going to be the best,” Ford said. “She’s going to bring it down.”
Read the full story here.
At the fundraiser, Davis also introduced officials with the Hiplet Ballerinas. The group started on the West Side and have gained international traction, performing in Europe and Asia, as a dance troupe that fuses ballet with hip-hop, Latin, modern and jazz dancing.
Hiplet will be performing at McCormick Place at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Only those with DNC credentials will be able to attend.
Homer Bryant founded Hiplet as an outlet for Black dancers to receive equitable dance training, said Robin Edwards, executive director at the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center and the Hiplet Ballerinas.
“Black women were not accepted in the field of ballet,” Edwards said. “We want to make sure that our Black dancers have equitable funding, equitable education, equitable platforms.”
“A lot of the disparities that I’m hearing, a lot of the people behind me are fighting for, those are the same things that we’re fighting for, for ages three through adults,” Edwards added.
The Hiplet Ballerinas’ Thursday performance is top of my list for the my last DNC afternoon. I’ll make sure to grab some videos for you guys!
You can also catch the dancers on Friday on Windy City Live.
Bomb threat investigation, 3:13 p.m.
The Sun-Times is reporting it may be a “bogus” threat. The news outlet reported it and other news organizations (we didn’t) received information about possible pipe bombs placed at hotels in Streeterville and the Loop. The threats were in connection with protests over the war in Gaza. Authorities are investigating. No injuries are reported.
— Erika
Remember Phil Rock? 2:42 p.m.
Hi! It’s Erika, fresh off deadline. Remember Rock? Or when Don Harmon was a “protégé ?”
I pulled this out of our archives. It’s a 2008 story by Bill Dwyer that has Rock reminiscing over the 1968 convention.
Oak Park’s Phil Rock has been a close-up witness to historic events on several occasions, the most famous of which occurred 40 years ago this week. The fourth week of August 1968, the deep, festering divisions in America’s social and political fabric erupted violently at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago for all the world to see.
It’s an experience Rock, as he rose to power within the Illinois senate, would spend the next quarter century working diligently to assure was not repeated.
Last week on his way to a Cubs game, Rock stopped by to reminisce about his career and some the events he witnessed.
Read the full story, ‘A Witness to History.’ No irony intended. Maybe.
Updated Aug. 20, 2024, 2 p.m. CDT
I just attended a fundraiser event for Rep. La Shawn Ford of the 8th District. As I write up what I learned, take a second to read about another Oak Park DNC volunteer.
Libbey Paul, a 23-year resident of Oak Park, was inspired to volunteer for the DNC after writing postcards to send out for the Biden campaign.
“I was energized, like so many, by Biden’s wise decision to step back and make way for the next generation. Harris is smart and accomplished and has made many good choices in this first month, and I wanted to contribute to the positive momentum,” Paul said. “Plus, I love Chicago and want to showcase our city.”
Paul’s volunteer assignment is for the motor pool, which means she’s a back-up driver for delegates and speakers. Most of these people don’t have full-time drivers, so volunteers chauffeur them around. Because Paul didn’t have much schedule flexibility, she’s the back-up in case one of those volunteers can’t make it.
Over the last several weeks, Paul has participated in two online training sessions, plus one in-person session last week. On Friday, she said she did a ride-along to get familiar with her potential driving routes.
During the DNC, Paul is worried about “sabotage from outside forces and whether our diverse coalition can hold together in the face of war and disinformation.”
She has been most energized by the attendees, specifically other volunteers.
“I’m so excited by how they represent a beautiful cross section of the region — multi-racial, suburban and urban. I overhear earnest conversations about healthcare. I see old and young connecting and laughing together. I see women leading, I witness everyone being treated with respect and care. I’m excited about the DNC because of this diversity, energy and humanity.”
River Forest reps 12:17 p.m.
Erika here. River Forest Village Trustee Erika Bachner plans to attend Tuesday’s Celebramos: Nuestra Voz y Nuestro Voto reception hosted by the Ilinois Latino Agenda and Hispanic Federation. We’re not sure we can be there yet. But if you have photos or are there, let us know!
Updated Aug. 20, 2024, 10:30 a.m. CDT
This morning’s press briefing acknowledged the delay in last night’s programming at the United Center.
President Joe Biden wrapped up just before 11:30 last night, nearly an hour-and-a-half past when programming was meant to end.
As officials made real-time adjustments, some programming, like a performance by James Taylor, was pulled.
“Because of the raucous applause interrupting speaker after speaker, we ultimately skipped elements of our program to ensure we could get to President Biden as quickly as possible so that he could speak directly to the American people,” convention officials said. “We are proud of the electric atmosphere in our convention hall and proud that our convention is showcasing the broad and diverse coalition behind the Harris-Walz ticket throughout the week on and off the stage.”
This evening’s programming at the United Center will begin at 5:30, instead of 6 p.m., to help officials to stay on track. The theme of the evening is “A bold vision for America’s future,” which will include a juxtaposition between the beliefs of Donald Trump and those of the Harris-Walz ticket.
Tonight’s speaker docket includes former President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama and Sen. Tammy Duckworth.There will also be a celebratory roll call, which will be more of a high-energy rally since Harris and Walz were nominated in an Aug. 6 virtual vote, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Each state’s delegation will be recognized during the celebratory roll call, and I’m hoping that an official who’s relevant to Chicago’s West Side and western suburbs will say a few words.
Updated Aug. 20, 2024, 9:30 a.m. CDT
Good morning! No DNC nightmares for me, but I did oversleep and wake up sweating, which is always a good way to start the day.
The energy at the United Center last night was something else, which makes me excited for when Vice President Kamala Harris gives her nomination acceptance speech on Thursday.
“The United Center was a sight to behold,” said Rory Hoskins, an Illinois delegate and mayor of Forest Park. “It looked like America. Every age, shape, religious tradition, race and gender was represented.”
“Biden’s speech resonated with his deep love for our country,” Rep. La Shawn Ford of the 8th District told Growing Community Media. “His words reflected a lifetime of dedication to public service, emphasizing the importance of upholding democracy and protecting our freedoms from threats like Donald Trump. With unwavering faith in Vice President Harris, Biden conveyed a strong belief in her ability to lead the charge against Trump and safeguard our nation’s future.”
He added, “This election marks a significant shift from traditional party lines, as it is no longer Democrats versus Republicans, but a collective effort, with the support of some Republicans, to stand against Donald Trump and preserve our democracy.”
Though Hoskins attended the 2020 DNC virtually, this is his first time being physically present. He said he enjoyed meeting elected officials and community leaders from around the country and catching up with those he’d met before.
Hoskins said that yesterday he was unexpectedly invited to the Clinton Reunion, where he saw Former President Bill Clinton speak on his birthday, pictured in a below post. There, he met several people who have served the Clintons and also have ties to Forest Park, River Forest or Oak Park.
“This reminded me of how special our tri-village community is,” Hoskins said.
Day one
Updated Aug. 20, 2024, 12:45 a.m. CDT
As promised, it’s Jess. I just got home after fighting the crowds, taking a train and a bus, which was stalled for a solid 20 minutes because of a motorcade. I was going to post a photo from President Joe Biden’s speech and write about how loud the cheering was that I couldn’t hear much of what he was saying. But my phone’s dead, so I’ll upload it later today, along with any other info I have after a morning press briefing. Time to charge my devices and put them to bed, just like myself.
I’m going to get a few hours of shut eye before doing it all again tomorrow. I better not have any dreams (nightmares) about waiting in lines, but I’ll let you know if I do. See you on the other side of sleep.
Farewell and the torch
After gratitude from the night’s speakers and poignant tributes by Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, First Lady Jill Biden and First Daughter Ashley Biden, President Joe Biden, wiping tears from his eyes after his daughter’s speech, took the stage — the final speaker in his final term in his past- Prime-Time-television remarks at a consequential DNC — and said his father had an expression.
“Joey, family is the beginning, the middle, and the end. And I love you all. And America, I love you.”
Despite Democrats urging him out as the presidential nominee, they positioned him as a patriot and cheered him on.
He said he remembered his swearing-in just less than four years ago, seeing the National Guard on one side and the Capitol, the site of Jan.6 attack that resulted in arrests and convictions.
“You cannot say you love your country only when you win,” he said, referring to former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the election.
“I wasn’t looking in the past,” Biden said. “I was looking to the future.”
He said he had no desire to run after the death of his son, Beau, in 2015, but recognized that he needed to fight, this time for democracy.
In his speech, he touted his accomplishments — crediting Harris, too, — navigating the pandemic, inflation and wealth gaps and lauding his infrastructure “decade.” Later, he added to the list that he nominated the first Black justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson, to the Supreme Court.
“We’re building a better America,” he said.
He acknowledged efforts to remove him from his candidacy and recognized his time in office was limited.
“Folks, I’ve got five months left in my presidency. I’ve got a lot to do, he said. “I love my job. But I love my country more.”
We need to preserve our democracy, he added, “so we need you to vote.” “We need you to beat Donald Trump,” he said.
And with that, he urged voters to back Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz , a call met with resounding support.
Votes cast for them “will determine whether democracy will prevail… America’s future is in your hands,” he said.
“I promise I’ll be the best volunteer Kamala and Tim has ever seen,” he added.
Then, quoting from the song “American Anthem,” he said, “America, I gave my best to you.”
***
Why do we cover this? Because grocery prices, jobs, health care, roads, charging stations, migrants, marriage, choice, voting — all of it — is local. And the delegates who back the candidates are local. We’ll show you what this means.
Good night. It’s past my bedtime.
Jess will wrap up the night and fill you in on tomorrow’s plans.
More news, more local news, tomorrow.
Ranked-choice voting in Oak Park.
Ok, this is slightly off-topic. But the movement looks like it may be on the ballot in November.
Last year, village officials delayed the decision. Now, they may have no choice. Ranked choice, by the way, is a system that allows voters to rank multiple candidates from most preferable to least.
Monday morning and afternoon
Updated Aug. 19, 2024, 8:30 p.m. CDT
During this afternoon’s caucus and council meetings, I interviewed Anan Abu-Taleb and Richard Goldwasser. The two started a morning running group to advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza during the DNC. Read my story here.
I also got some updates from Rory Hoskins, an Illinois delegate and mayor of Forest Park. He sent me a few photos from his day.
As my editor, Erika, previously posted, it took me a long long while to get into the United Center — over an hour of while. People around me were complaining something terrible about the crowd and wasted time.
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Kamala Harris is in the house
To roaring applause. And she’s ready to fight.
She introduced … her introduction… to President Joe Biden, who is scheduled to speak later tonight.
“We are grateful to you,” she said.
Then she turned her brief remarks to the future she said was represented by the crowd and its enthusiasm.
“We will declare with one voice,” she said, “we are moving forward.”
Her word were drowned by applause. But this phrase was clear:
“When we fight we win.”
Oak Park preparations for the DNC
Officials acknowledged the proximity of the DNC to Oak Park and put together a safety plan. Check out the village’s FAQ.
Party via X
Stuck
By now, you may have heard of the long lines of members of the press outside of the convention, a result of faulty screening equipment. Guess what? Jess is stuck in it.
She’s also hearing that shuttles have been bottlenecked.
“People are not happy,” she said.
Understatement.
No worries, though! We’ll catch you up.
Missed our DNC coverage? Some highlights for you
Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins on being chosen as a delegate. In January, he said it would be a boon to the village. Will it?
An interview with DNC chair Minyon Moore.
What exactly is a delegate anyway?
Welch and Black political power
While Jess is listening to opening remarks (it’s just before 6:30 p.m. Monday), I’m sharing tidbits from earlier in the day. Capital News Illinois reported that at the delegates’ breakfast today, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch of Hillside highlighted the power of Black politicians in Illinois. He pointed out that it stretched “back to the founding of the NAACP in Springfield following the 1908 race riots in the city,” reporter Hannah Meisel wrote.
“Welch traced the trajectories of major Black activists and elected officials with ties to Illinois through time, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who he said inspired generations of young Black Americans to get involved in politics with his oft-recited speech adapted from an earlier poem that featured the phrase ‘I am somebody.’
‘I believed I was somebody, and I stand before you today as the first Black speaker of the Illinois House,’ he said.”
Downtown or headed there?
Expect rolling street closures, Chicago officials said. Download the OEMC app for updates.
Art and laughs
The Daily Show is taping live in Chicago this week. Key Democrats are slated to be interviewed on the show, but so is Chance the Rapper. Expect to see him Wednesday night.
Heart + Craft on Lake aims to connect DNC visitors to the West Side with its free, daylong, nonpartian festival hosted by SkyART. It’s project designed to help delegates visit the West Side. There will live entertainment, an unveiling of a mural by artist Jake Troyi and SkyART youth, a free community meal, creative workshops and more at 3450 W. Lake St. It runs today from 12 to 7 p.m.
Anan Abu Taleb calls for a ceasefire
Anan Abu Taleb, former mayor of Oak Park and owner of Maya del Sol in Oak Park is running along the Chicago lakefront each morning with Chicago attorney Richard Goldwasser. Taleb was born in Gaza. Goldwasser is a Jewish American from Highland Park. They’ll be with other Palestinian and Jewish runners in a show of solidarity and to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Jess speaks with Taleb later today.
Stepping into McCormick Place and the volunteer experience
Updated Aug. 19, 2024, 11 AM CDT
And Jessica Mordacq is in the building, McCormick Place that is. The entrance process was a little messy, in all honesty. It wasn’t clear where to enter McCormick Place outside of following the 10-foot-high fence that corralled me along the right path.
Yesterday, when I picked up my credentials, the streets just south of the loop were closed off. Snow plow trucks parked perpendicularly to the roadways and people in neon vests directed the few cars trying to pass through the closed-off areas.
There aren’t many more people out today than there were yesterday. Those walking around are clearly headed toward McCormick Place’s only entrance for the DNC, and so I followed them.
Together, we stood in line to wait for TSA personnel to thoroughly check our backpacks (they confiscated my refillable water bottle, and I should’ve guessed that airport security rules apply here) and then in another line to get into the building.
Those waiting in the lines asked lots of questions about if they were in the right place. All in all, it took about 45 minutes to get into the building and two volunteers apologized to me for the disorganization. I wonder how much of this will be ironed out today and less of an issue later this week.
As I sit in a quiet corner of McCormick Place, a group of five volunteers come sit by me, complaining about how they have nowhere to be until the caucus that they’re helping with begins in an hour and don’t know where to go.
As I navigate the first day of the DNC, I’m not the only person who’s shifting my daily routine from the western suburbs to downtown Chicago for the week. A handful of volunteers from Oak Park are joining in on the hubbub.
Victor and Iris Yipp live in Oak Park and are assisting visitors in getting from Chicago Midway International Airport to their hotels. They have emailed me a few paragraphs about their experience, which they say has been filled with both excitement and disappointment.
“Most likely, we’ll never step into the United Center, much less mingle with the delegates and big-wigs attending the Democratic National Convention next week,” Victor Yipp wrote in an email.
Last week, the Yipps were trained at Midway Airport to help get attendees with disabilities from the airport to their hotels.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Yipps were supposed to be at Midway from 3 to 8 p.m. But their day quickly became discouraging.
“Saturday was a bit frustrating, but perhaps understandable for such a large and complex undertaking such as the DNC,” Victor Yipp said. “Due to overbooking of volunteers and some miscommunication, when we arrived at Midway, we were told there was no work for us.”
So the couple were sent to O’Hare International Airport instead, where they received a quick training and were assigned to take an attendee to their Chicago hotel. But after roaming through baggage claim with a name sign, the couple couldn’t find the attendee.
“Turns out the airline employee who took them from the plane to the baggage claim was told by the guest to take them to the taxi stand,” Yipp said. “So we missed them altogether.”
Lisa Cherivtch of Oak Park is volunteering at the DNC as a food rescue coordinator on Tuesday from noon to 5 p.m. and an eco-educator on Thursday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., both at McCormick Place. She will be volunteering for hotel hospitality on Friday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“I’m excited to be part of history,” Cherivtch said in an email. “I’m a registered Republican who switched parties because I’m disappointed with my party’s choice of candidate, and I’m committed to getting Kamala elected.”
Good morning, DNC
Updated Aug. 19, 2024, 8 AM CDT
It’s DNC day! And boy, am I a ball of nerves. I packed two sandwiches and several granola bars for the day, not knowing what food offerings will be like, and planning to potentially be out and about until at least 10 p.m. In my backpack, I’m also hauling around three extra batteries, charging cables and a hotspot in case my internet connection is spotty amongst the thousands accessing the same network at McCormick Place and the United Center.
I live in Chicago, so I hopped on a bus to get to the Illinois delegates’ hotel just north of the Loop. I was there at 7 a.m. for the breakfast’s start, but I couldn’t enter the press room because I didn’t have a ticket and didn’t know I needed one. I guess that’s just the downfall of being a young journalist covering a national, high-security event for the first time. You live and you learn.
I’ll just have to find another way to get some of the interviews that I was hoping to start my day with. And any information from speakers at the breakfast, since I’d like to leave before breakfast wraps around 9:30 a.m. so that I can get to McCormick Place for a morning press briefing at that time.
People were steadily flooding into the lobby when I first got here. But now as I sit in the lobby after my morning dose of rejection, the handful of cars that were curbed in front of the hotel have filed out. They’ve been replaced with a CTA bus that has been converted into a shuttle to take credentialed attendees to McCormick Place to start the day’s events. I’ve been told that similar shuttles will be waiting at McCormick Place and the United Center to continue service all day, but we’ll see about that in a few hours. Until then!
My DNC schedule
Updated Aug. 19, 2024, 6 AM CDT
An estimated 50,000 people are heading to Chicago this weekend to gear up for the Democratic National Convention on Monday. I will be one of them.
I plan to go to speeches, caucuses and fundraising events that involve your local officials and help explain what the celebrations and activities mean for readers of Growing Community Media’s papers: The Wednesday Journal, the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark, the Forest Park Review and Austin Weekly News.
I’ll be on the ground and behind the scenes to bring you stories about it all — whether it’s what your local official is saying or what a local volunteer is doing. Did you know some are stationed at the airports? Neither did I!
Take a look at my schedule for the week so far. I also dropped tips on how you can participate, too.
Oak Park-area delegates
- Danny Davis, representative for the Illinois House of Representatives’ 7th District
- La Shawn Ford, representative for the Illinois House of Representatives’ 8th District
- Jesús “Chuy” García, representative for the Illinois House of Representatives’ 4th District
- Don Harmon, state senator representing Illinois’ 39th District and president of the Illinois Senate
- Rory Hoskins, mayor of Forest Park
- Kim Lightford, state senator of 4th District and the Illinois Senate’s majority leader
- Camile Lily, representative for the Illinois House of Representatives’ 78th District
- Emma Mitts, alderman of the 37th Ward
- Toni Preckwinkle, president of the Cook County Board of Commissioners
- Emanuel “Chris” Welch, representative for the Illinois House of Representatives’ 7th District and speaker of the house
- Anna Valencia, City Clerk of Chicago
Monday, Aug. 19
Every morning from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., about 4,600 delegates who are attending the DNC will head to state delegation breakfasts. I plan to get face time and interviews during these breakfasts.
Caucus and council meetings will unfold throughout the afternoon. On Monday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., the Black Caucus, Hispanic Caucus, AAPI Caucus, Native American Caucus, and Ethnic Council will meet.
From noon to 1:30 p.m., the LGBTQ+ Caucus, Labor Council, and Small Business Council will meet. The Environmental and Climate Crisis Council will convene from 1:45 to 3:15 p.m.
Doors open at the United Center every evening at 4 p.m. for main programming, which starts at 6 p.m. Monday’s speakers will include Hillary Clinton and President Joe Biden.
After that, I’ll be heading to a welcome reception for Illinois delegates at their hotel. The reception attendees will include Congressman Davis, Rep. Ford, Minority Leader of the U.S House of Representatives Hakeem Jeffries, the Chicago City Council Black Caucus, and the Democratic Party of Illinois.
An evening reception with Illinois Democrats will start at 10 p.m. at an area brewery. I hope to get delegates’ reactions and thoughts about their experiences to wrap my first day at the DNC.
Tuesday, Aug. 20
I will be off to a luncheon fundraiser for Rep. Ford with special guest Congressman Davis. The event is only open to those who donate, with the cheapest ticket costing $150, and the most expensive at $5,000. I hope to speak with Ford about his fundraising efforts and what he expects to accomplish if re-elected in November. To RSVP, contact Corryn Bradley at corryn@danshomon.com.
Tuesday’s caucus and council meetings include the Women’s Caucus from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., plus the Disability Caucus, Youth Council, and Rural Council from noon to 1:30 p.m. The Veterans and Military Families Council, Poverty Council, and Interfaith Council will take place from 1:45 to 3:15 p.m.
On Tuesday evening, there will be a reception in collaboration with Congressman Davis and Democratic Caucus Vice-Chair Ted Leiu. Barack Obama and Gov. JB Pritzker are expected to speak at the United Center.
Wednesday, Aug. 21
At noon, Congressman Davis is hosting a Salute to African Americans on Chicago’s South Side. Attendees will include Rep. Ford and Mayor Rory Hoskins of Forest Park.
Wednesday’s caucus and council meeting is the same as Monday’s, but adds the Seniors Council from 1:45 to 3:15 p.m.
At 5 p.m., Congressman Davis is hosting a Salute to Asian Americans reception with Leiu and Ald. Nicole Lee of the 11th Ward.
At the United Center that evening, Tim Walz, the Vice President nominee, will give his acceptance speech. Bill Clinton is also expected to speak.
Thursday, Aug. 22
The final day brings what all participants are waiting for: Vice President Kamala Harris will give her nominee acceptance speech as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate. Congressman Davis is holding a watch party at the same time.
Other confirmed speakers on Thursday night include Mayor Brandon Johnson, Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood.
To close out the DNC, there will be a Democratic National Committee meeting on Friday, Aug. 23 at McCormick Place.
How you can participate
- Watch caucuses on the DNC’s YouTube page
- Watch speeches at DemConvention.com
- Attend a watch party during Harris’ speech that will be held at Soldier Field at 7 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are free if you register online
- Message me at jessica@forestparkreview.com for any news tips you might have for me or to share your personal experience with the DNC
This is a developing story. Check back for more information.