“But America, we are not going back,” Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris promised to thousands of delegates and millions of Americans last week at the Democratic National Convention. With musical guest stars and lively audiences, Democrats tried to emphasize unity between parties through guest speakers with diverse beliefs. This got voters hyped to support Harris this November.
Harris supporters took the United Center stage on August 19-22 to endorse Harris as the party’s pick. Political power couples– the Obamas, Bidens, and Clintons– voiced their support for Harris and expressed their distaste for Republican nominee Donald Trump. Democratic stars Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, JB Pritzker, and Bernie Sanders also spoke.
But it wasn’t just Democrats speaking; unity took on a new meaning at the DNC, with Republicans and even ex-Trump advisors simultaneously voicing their disdain for Trump and unwavering support for Harris. Trump’s former press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, shared fiery words on the DNC stage.
“Behind closed doors, Trump mocks his supporters. He calls them basement dwellers,” Grisha said. “On a hospital visit one time when people were dying in the ICU, he was mad that the cameras were not watching him. He has no empathy, no morals, and no fidelity to the truth.”
Sophomore Alejandro Halter tuned in to the DNC and was surprised by Republicans supporting Harris.
“Oprah made sure to say that she was an independent, and some Republicans that worked in Trump’s cabinet spoke out against [him],” Halter said. “It really changed my mind about [how] not everybody is Democrat endorsing Kamala.”
The “Lawyer vs criminal” trope was a large theme at the DNC, as speakers banked on Harris’ career history as a state prosecutor and how Trump was found guilty on 34 counts back in May.
“[Harris] became a career prosecutor, while he became a career criminal, with 34 felonies, two impeachments, and one porn star to prove it,” US Representative Jasmine Crockett said.
Harris made sure to emphasize her background during her keynote speech on the final night of the convention.
“My entire career, I’ve only had one client: the people,” Harris said. “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 to be president of the United States of America.”
Even non-politicians took the stage. Pro-choice activists shared their personal experiences with abortion, supporting Harris’ stance on the issue. Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg, parents of Hersh, an American hostage in Gaza, called for the release of hostages and the end of the war.
The convention featured an exuberant roll call, exciting musical guests, and celebrity speeches.
“It was a lot more hype than the Republican [convention] for sure,” senior Mercy Bosibori said. “Right off the bat, it felt more patriotic, especially with past leaders and other important people coming out and speaking at the convention.”
Though thousands showed up to support the Harris-Walz campaign, hundreds of Pro-Palestinian protesters met outside of the convention center, hoping to sway Harris to end all US aid to Israel if elected president. The DNC denied requests for a Palestinian speaker to give a speech.
With star-studded and impactful speakers, encouraging messages, and an exciting atmosphere, the DNC succeeded in creating a space for unity in an era of polarization.
