It’s the fourth and final day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where Vice President Kamala Harris will ceremonially accept her party’s nomination.
Her vice presidential pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, spoke to his largest national audience yet on Wednesday night, peppering his relatively brief address with sports references and framing the party’s definition of freedom.
“Freedom. When Republicans use the word freedom, they mean that the government should be free to invade your doctor’s office. Corporations free to pollute your air and water. And banks free to take advantage of customers,” Walz said. “But when we Democrats talk about freedom, we mean the freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people that you love. Freedom to make your own health care decisions. And, yeah, your kids’ freedom to go to school without worrying about being shot dead in the hall.”
The Tribune’s Dan Petrella has the dispatch from inside the United Center.
And former President Bill Clinton, who departed frequently from his prepared remarks in an address relatively early in the evening, highlighted Trump’s selfishness, joking that he sounded like a tenor during a warm up, “Me, me, me, me.”
The Tribune’s Rick Pearson, Olivia Stevens, and Molly Morrow have the rundown.
Thursday’s theme is “For Our Future” and will also feature Republican former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who previously lived in Channahon south of Chicago. DNC officials have repeatedly invited Republicans to publicly repudiate former President Donald Trump.
If you haven’t been keeping up with the Tribune’s photo team, here’s a look at demonstrations from day three and from the floor of the United Center.
Here’s what happened yesterday
The star power continued on day three: singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder sang, Saturday Night Live star Kenan Thompson joked, and actress and director Mindy Kaling hosted. The biggest, perhaps, was Oprah Winfrey, a self-described “registered independent” who made a surprise address Wednesday night to endorse Harris, a choice that represented “common sense over nonsense,” and (she said in her trademark singsong) “jo-o-o-y.”
“Who says you can’t go home again?” she asked at the United Center, not far from the studio where she used to tape her long-running daytime talk show, to loud cheers. She earned another round of applause as she ticked off all the states where she’d lived, including an extra loud cheer when she said, “sweet home Chicago.” Here’s a recap from the Tribune’s Jake Sheridan.
Oprah Winfrey surprises delegates taking the stage, Aug. 21, 2024, during the Democratic National Convention at the United Center. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, one of highest-profile Democrats to signal publicly that Biden should step aside, also took the stage to blast Trump’s “gleeful” embrace of political violence on Jan. 6. Earlier in the day, the Tribune’s Ray Long caught her at a University Club event, where she promoted her new book and “rebuffed efforts to explain more about her interactions with Biden that precipitated the president’s decision to withdraw.”
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, one of the party’s most prominent LGBTQ+ officials, used a brief primetime address to knock Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance and mark the nation’s progress on marriage equality in his lifetime.
People react as Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg speaks at the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on Aug. 21, 2024. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Buttigieg also joined more than 300 attendees — including former Mayor Lori Lightfoot — at a rooftop event Tuesday to celebrate record numbers of LGBTQ+ representatives in public office. The Tribune’s Lizzie Kane reported on outstanding issues for a growing segment of the party’s top officials.
Amid the celebrity sightings (and themed music) for each state on Tuesday, a lone Illinois delegate voted “present” during the convention roll call to ceremonially nominate Harris. Their identity wasn’t clear until the next day: The Tribune’s Olivia Olander reported it came from a Crete-Monee Unit School District 201 board member and critic of Biden’s approach to the war in Gaza.
The third day of protests was a marked departure from Tuesday. At its peak, 1,000 marchers approached Park 578 near the United Center in support of a ceasefire in Gaza Wednesday evening. The mood was largely upbeat and positive, our protest team reported — a contrast from the previous night, when some 60 protestors were arrested in what Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling described as a “clash.”
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“We attempted to avoid the clash, to no avail. But CPD is not going to run away. We will not stand by and allow our officers to be attacked, because an officer who cannot protect himself cannot protect this city,” Snelling said. He reported two minor injuries.
Members of “The Squad” and about 40 others separately called for a Palestinian American to be given a speaking slot at the convention Wednesday, Trib’s Sylvan Lebrun and Sarah Freishtat reported.
If you were out at one of Tuesday night’s parties (Pritzker hosted John Legend at the Salt Shed into the wee hours) or at the latest Late Show taping, here’s a fact-check you might’ve missed from Tuesday’s speeches. If you got enough sleep to head out for the final day’s events, expect more frequent service on the Green and Blue lines, Kane and Freishtat reported.
Other must-reads from the convention
Trib’s Tess Kenny spoke with some of the high school journalists from across Illinois who were picked to report as fully credentialed media this week. It’s the biggest youth reporter contingent in convention history, per the host committee.
Three Chicago Sky players attended the convention Tuesday. For Elizabeth Williams, Brianna Turner and Michaela Onyenwere, the highlight of the night “was the Democratic party’s movement to confirm a Black woman as their presidential nominee,” Julia Poe reports.
The TV cameras are tuned in to the United Center at night. The non-sexy randomness – and the funniest buttons, perhaps – are at McCormick Place. Christopher Borrelli has this dispatch.
Here’s what else is happening today
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly will address the DNC Women’s Caucus with Rep. Barbara Lee this morning. The session starts at 9:30 AM. These meetings are open to the public both in person and on the DNC’s Youtube page.
Trump campaign counterprogramming at the Trump Hotel begins at 10 a.m. and focuses on Harris’ border policy, which Trump’s campaign says “unleashed violent criminals and deadly fentanyl across the country.” The event will feature Ambassador Carlos Trujillo and Vivek Ramaswamy, who ran in the Republican primary against Trump.
Following an interview with Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi at 1:30 p.m., U.S. Rep Nikki Budzinski will be interviewed at the CNN Politico grill at 2:15 (United Center Lot C). Sec. Buttigieg joins at 3:20 p.m. Members of the public can RSVP here.
Watch parties: City Club of Chicago and ChiWomenVote are hosting one at The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant. Tickets for nonmembers are $120, members are $75 (two drinks and light bites included).
Doors open for the free viewing party at Soldier Field at 6:00 p.m., though only wait list tickets were left Wednesday night. Rapper Common will appear there, days after performing on the DNC stage.
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