Co. Dems Day 4: Aug 22-HERstory
Thursday
Aug 22, 2024
Colorado Delegates arrived for breakfast, most wearing white for the daytime activities, and some waited until the evening to wear more formal attire. The day finally arrived: Herstory would be made tonight with the formal acceptance speech by VP Kamala Harris, the second woman to accept the nomination for the office of President and the first Black and Asian American woman to do so.
The glass ceiling not just shattered — it exploded.
The Women’s Caucus requested that all delegates wear white to remember Women’s Suffrage. To refresh: On Aug 18, 1920, women received the right to vote. Colorado was one of the first states to give women the right to vote in 1893 by referendum. One hundred four years later, Kamala Harris will make her acceptance speech at the United Center.
The excitement was palpable, especially at the Women’s Caucus. Participants, mostly in white, listened to the story about Shirley Chisholm.
Shirley Chisholm was the first black female elected to the House of Representatives in 1969. In 1972, she became the first black candidate for a major-party nomination for POTUS and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination.
Per Wiki, “In her presidential announcement, Chisholm described herself as representative of the people and offered a new articulation of American identity: “I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud. I am not the candidate of the women’s movement of this country, although I am a woman and equally proud of that. I am the candidate of the people and my presence before you symbolizes a new era in American political history.”[58]”
The Women’s Caucus welcomed Nancy Pelosi.
And Jasmine Crockett, who fired up the crowd! She, along with other speakers, caucus members, and an elementary school student named Lily, who DJed for the event, called for all the “girl bosses” to keep supporting each other, to stick up for our pioneers, and to keep our legacy going.”
Click the link below to watch the Women’s Caucus.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?537917-1/democratic-national-committee-womens-caucus-meeting
It was an exciting and motivating meeting for all the delegates who attended. Delegates were provided special seating. By showing their credentials, they could sit closer to the speakers. The large auditorium was packed, including the delegate seating. No one wanted to miss out on this HERstoric day!
The future is FEMALE!
The list dropped — it was time to head to the bus.
5:30 PMCall to Order
Minyon Moore
Chair of the 2024 Democratic National Convention Committee
Gavel In
The Honorable Veronica Escobar
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas
Invocation
Everett Kelly
National President of the American Federation of Government Employees
Imam Muhammad Abdul-Aleem
Masjidullah Mosque, West Oak Lane, PA
Presentation of Colors
Illinois State Police Honor Guard
Pledge of Allegiance
Luna Maring
6th Grader from Oakland, California
Welcome Remarks
The Honorable Veronica Escobar
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, TexasJoint
Remarks
Becky Pringle
President of the National Education Association
Randi Weingarten
President of the American Federation of Teachers
Remarks
The Honorable Alex Padilla
United States Senator, California6:00 PM
Remarks
The Honorable Marcia L. Fudge
Former United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Remarks
The Honorable Ted W. Lieu
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, California
Remarks
The Honorable Tammy Baldwin
United States Senator, Wisconsin
Remarks
The Honorable Katherine Clark
U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Whip
Remarks
The Honorable Joe Neguse
U.S. House of Representatives Assistant Democratic Leader
Remarks
The Honorable Leonardo Williams
Mayor of Durham, North Carolina
Remarks
The Honorable Raja Krishnamoorthi
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois
Remarks
The Honorable Bob Casey
United States Senator, Pennsylvania
Remarks
The Honorable Elizabeth Warren
United States Senator, Massachusetts
Remarks: “Project 2025 — Chapter Four: Making America Weaker and Less Secure”
The Honorable Jason Crow
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Colorado
Remarks
The Honorable Elissa Slotkin
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Michigan
Remarks
The Honorable Pat Ryan
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, New York
Remarks
Reverend Al Sharpton
Civil rights leaderJoint
Remarks from representatives of “the Central Park Five”
The Honorable Dr. Yusef Salaam
Member of the New York City Council
Korey Wise
Activist
Raymond Santana
Activist
Kevin Richardson
Activist
7:00 PM
Joint Remarks
Amy Resner
Former prosecutor and friend of Vice President Harris
Karrie Delaney
Director of Federal Affairs at the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
Lisa Madigan
Former Attorney General of Illinois
Marc H. Morial
President of the National Urban League
Nathan Hornes
Former student at Corinthian Colleges
Tristan Snell
Former New York State Assistant Attorney GeneralRemarks
The Honorable Maura Healey
Governor of MassachusettsRemarks
Courtney Baldwin
Youth organizer and human trafficking survivor
Remarks
The Honorable Deb Haaland
Remarks
John Russell
Content creator
Remarks
The Honorable Maxwell Alejandro Frost
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Florida
Remarks
The Honorable Colin Allred
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, TexasJoint
Remarks on “A New American Chapter”
Anya Cook, Florida
Craig Sicknick, New Jersey
Gail DeVore, Colorado
Juanny Romero, Nevada
Eric, Christian, and Carter Fitts, North Carolina
8:00 PMNational Anthem
The ChicksHost
Introduction
Kerry Washington
Joint Remarks
Meena Harris
Ella Emhoff
Helena Hudlin
Remarks
D.L. Hughley
Remarks
The Honorable Chris Swanson
Sheriff of Genesee County, MichiganA Conversation on Gun Violence
The Honorable Lucy McBath
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Georgia
Joined by Abbey Clements of Newton, Connecticut, Kim Rubio of Uvalde, Texas, Melody McFadden of Charleston, South Carolina, and Edgar Vilchez of Chicago, Illinois.
Remarks
The Honorable Gabrielle Giffords
Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Arizona
Performance
P!NK
Remarks
The Honorable Mark Kelly
United States Senator, Arizona
Remarks
The Honorable Leon E. Panetta
Former United States Secretary of Defense
Remarks
The Honorable Ruben Gallego
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Arizona
Remarks
The Honorable Gretchen Whitmer
Governor of Michigan9:00 PM
Remarks
Eva Longoria
American actress and film producer
Remarks
The Honorable Adam Kinzinger
Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Illinois
Remarks
Maya Harris
Remarks
The Honorable Roy Cooper
Governor of North Carolina
Remarks
The Honorable Kamala Harris
Vice President of the United States
According to the Harris Campaign's feedback, the Colorado Delegation was the most energetic delegate group, as evidenced by its dancing to Kool and the Gang.
That’s Oregon sitting down, just sayin.
Colorado delegates provided a rowdy welcome to Jason Crow, who spoke about Project 2025 and mentioned that he knows a “couch commando” when he sees one.
Elizabeth Warren received a much-deserved extended standing ovation when she took the stage. Fighting back tears, she finally got the crowd to settle down enough and attributed Harris to Shirley Chisholm — “unbought and unbossed.”
The speakers who followed represented all of America and the collective desires of the people. Al Sharpton and the Central Park Five discussed racial justice. Kathy Giffords, Mark Kelly, and other survivors of gun violence spoke about the need for common-sense gun laws. A panel talked about how abortion bans hurt women who are miscarrying, remembering a capitol police officer who died as a result of the insurrection, how lowered insulin costs were a game-changer, a small business success story, and a father wanting integrity represented by POTUS.
Delegates enjoyed a performance by the Chicago Bulls Drumline (upside-down drumming!) and Pink. The speakers shifted their tone to discuss Trump's disconnect from the voters.
Gretchen Whitmer spoke about how Kamala Harris understands the people because she IS the people, not coming from a background of wealth and privilege.
Adam Kinzinger spoke about decency, principles, fidelity to the nation, and choosing the country over the party.
“Democracy knows no party,” he said. The delegates rose to their feet, waved their American flags, and yelled in approval.
Delegates heard from Harris’ co-workers, sister, Kamala’s stepchildren, and her nieces, who provided an adorable class on pronouncing her name.
Finally, the moment the delegates were waiting for.
From Heather Cox Richardson: (
[A] harm against any one of us is a harm against all of us,” Harris said. And she reminded people of her career as a prosecutor, in which “[e]very day in the courtroom, I stood proudly before a judge and said five words: ‘Kamala Harris, for the People.’ My entire career, I have only had one client. The People.”
“And so, on behalf of The People. On behalf of every American. Regardless of party. Race. Gender. Or the language your grandmother speaks.
On behalf of my mother and everyone who has ever set out on their own unlikely journey.
On behalf of Americans like the people I grew up with. People who work hard. Chase their dreams. And look out for one another.
On behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth. I accept your nomination for President of the United States of America.”
The United Center erupted.
VP Harris discussed her platform, her work, and the work she intends to do: fighting for America’s future.
Ten thousand biodegradable balloons fell from the ceiling while Beyonce’s “Freedom” played. The delegates cheered. Harris was surrounded by her family, Gov. Walz, friends, and supporters.
It was perfect.
In the end, Stevie Wonder’s song “Higher Ground” closed out the night—the same song he played for President Obama at his inauguration.
From Ida B. Wells to Shirley Chisholm.
From Geraldine to Hilary.
From Vice-President to our next President.
Kamala Harris
For the people.