Transcripts For CSPAN Democratic National Convention Democratic National Convention Day 3 20240712

Candidate for president of the United States, joe biden. We also reaffirmed our values as a party, a party of resilience and hope, empathy and inclusion. Ups is a party that fires me as a young man in the city, registered voters with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in a mississippi delta, and campaigning for the United States house of representatives. Its the party that taught me that Public Service should serve the public, even when your opponents call you names like nasty or slow. I know call this Third Session of the 40th quadrennial National Convention of the Democratic Party to order. Now lets get this show started. And now, live from wisconsin, please welcome governor tony evers. Folks. Evening, i am tony evers, and i am incredibly proud to be the 46th governor of the great state of wisconsin. We were really looking forward to having you here in americas dairyland. Unfortunately, the pandemic means we cannot do that this year. But what unites us is far greater than what divides us. Even though we cannot be with each other, i know we have a shared sense of purpose. That is to elect joe biden and Kamala Harris. This november is about returning kindness, respect, empathy, and civility back to the white house, and that is who joe and kamala are. Because they know especially during challenging times like these, the problems we face can only be solved by all of us together. Holy mackerel, folks, lets get to work. Hello, my name is Terry Williams and i have been a republican for life. A lifelong republican. Republican. A longstanding republican. I am telling you that you have got to vote for joe biden. I have voted for and campaigned for republican since the reagan years. I will not be voting for President Trump in november. I am supporting joe biden for president. We need a positive leader, someone you get to work with both sides, republicans and democrats. I do not think we can do with the person we have in the white house any longer. Vote america, that is the only way to get out of this. Joe biden is the person to ensure we get our lives back to normal. Joe biden is a decent man with a long history of Public Service to america. He will restore order and integrity to the executive branch. I will strongly encourage all of us to come together and hopefully return our countrys discourse back to some measure of normalcy and decency. I am actually absolutely sure she will help us bring this , country together once again. I pledge allegiance. To the flag. Of United States of america. And to the republic for which it stands. One nation. One nation. Under god. Indivisible. With liberty and justice for all. Hey everybody, it is me, kamala. Before i go on stage tonight, i want to talk about the importance of voting. I know many of you plan to vote this year. Amidst the excitement and enthusiasm for this election, you have also heard about obstacles and misinformation and folks making it harder for you to cast your ballot. I think we need to ask ourselves, why dont they want us to vote . Why is there so much effort to silence our voices . The answer is because, when we vote, things change. When we vote, things get better. When we vote, we address the need for all people to be treated with dignity and respect in our country, so each of us needs a plan, a voting plan. Joe and i want to make sure you are prepared. If you text vote to 30330, we will help you come up with your plan and remember deadlines and get ready to vote in your community. Send that text and encourage your family and friends to send one too. Now lets enjoy another night of , inspiration from around our country. I will see you a little later tonight. Until then, i turn it over to my dear friend and tonights moderator, kerry washington. Welcome to night three at the Democratic National committee mention. I am honored to be joining you as we continue to celebrate this unconventional convention. We will be hearing a lot more from senator harris later, i promise. But first, when i was in seventh or eighth grade, we memorize the memorized the preamble of the constitution, and i have never forgotten it. The first 15 words of our constitution are, we the people of the United States in order to form a more Perfect Union. We say more perfect because our union is not without flaws. When our constitution was written, women could not vote, black people were considered 3 5 of a human being, but therein lies the work. No one is perfect, nothing is, but it is the striving toward justice, equality, and truth that distinguishes us. We fight for a more Perfect Union because we are fighting for the soul of this country and for our lives. Right now, that fight is real. Tonight, we are going to hear from so many phenomenal women who are working to help us build that more Perfect Union, speaker nancy pelosi, secretary Hillary Clinton, senator elizabeth warren, governor Michelle Lujan grisham. We are going to see an incredible performance from Jennifer Hudson and a world premier performance from billie eilish. We will meet so many activists and organizers working to build a more equal, more just future, and we will hear from our 44th president , barack obama. That is a long way of saying this is going to be an unforgettable night filled with important voices. But, the most important voice we hope to hear from tonight is yours. If we are going to repair the damage that has been done, if we are going to finally realize the dream, we the people have to get involved, each and every one of us is the we. You are the we. It is going to beat your voice, your service, your action that helps us to create that more Perfect Union. Tonight, we will talk about where we are and where we are going on so many issues important to our future. 90 of americans support common sense gun laws, because we need to do more to address the epidemic of gun violence. Lets start there. People affected by everyday gun violence have two walk by the Street Corner where there best friend, their nephew, the brother, they themselves were shot. Life goes on as if we have not just lost a loved one. The point of what i am saying is, until one of us were all of one of us were all of us stand up and say, i cannot do this anymore. I cannot stand by and watch the news treat these shootings like an act of god. Gun violence will never stop until there is a force fighting harder. I am going to do something to prevent it. They say that tougher gun laws do not reduce gun violence. We call bs. They say a good guy with a gun stops the bad guy with a gun. We call bs. Are tools just like knives. We call bs. They say that no laws would have been able to prevent the hundreds of tragedies that have occurred. We call bs. They say us kids do not know we are talking about. That we do not understand. What we are fighting so strongly for it. We are going to make this change. Long before this pandemic, our country had been suffering from the epidemic of gun violence. Gun violence is a Public Health crisis, one that disproportionately affects the black and brown communities. First it was my beloved fiance. My son jerry in orlando. Seven years later it would be my son. I know exactly the pain, the toll of gun violence. Into high school went lockdown because a live shooter brought a gun to the school. We have had to endure live tutor Training Drills under schools. High schoolers have enough to deal with. They should not also be responsible for keeping themselves safe at school. That is the job of the government. We have to end corporate lobbying by the nra. We have to invest in mental ratherin our communities than making schools maximum security president security prisons. I want a president who will make good violence prevention a top priority, and i believe joe biden is that person. Mother and activist deandre dykis. In a split second, a stray bullet shattered by sons life. My son deandre was only 13yearold. He was recognized as a gifted and talented student. The possibilities were endless. He was dancing at a Birthday Party when he was shot in the back left side of his head, shattering his skull. One shot changed our lives forever. Today, my son does not talk. He does not walk. I know he knows me by the smile he shows when i walk in his room. I am unsure if he knows a gun shot as changed his life. Has changed his life. Since march, i have only been able to see my son three times, but i cannot touch or hug him due to covid19. People tell me that i am lucky. I tell them we are blessed. I remind them that my son is in a wheelchair and unable to feed himself. I do not think deandre feels basedwhen key has to be or get muscleoe injections. I am in a state of gratitude. I can touch deandre. I can hold his hand. But the child i birthed is not able to live his dream, and that hurts. Every day we are reminded he may never be the same. We are not alone. Every time across america there day across america there are , families who know what a bullet can do. That is what my mom, who volunteers to stop this. Trump, he does not care. He did not care about the victims after parkland, las vegas, or el paso. I want a president who cares about our pain and grief, a president who will take on the gun lobby to ban assault weapons and close loopholes to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Joe biden has taken on the nra n, and he will do it again as president. I have looked in the eyes of too many parents, and i mean scores of them who have lost their children to gun violence. I have looked in the eyes of brave young people who survived school shootings. And i made a promise myself a promise. I promised them and i promise all of you, i will make this promise today. Those families hurting across the country, i will never, never, never give up this fight. Out of pain, we choose to find meaning. A glimmer of light that lends on that lands on a promise. Former congresswoman Debbie Gifford shot in the head for less than 3 feet away. But she survived. We seek strength to keep fighting, to keep moving forward. Join us in this fight. We turn to leaders who share our pain. The most difficult times is when we stand closest together. It is out of tragedy that we grow stronger. He was there for me. He will be there for you too. We are a nation ready to end gun violence. A safer america is possible. From this point forward, we must choose courage. I have known the darkest of days, days of pain of uphill recovery. Confronted by despair, i summoned hope. Paralysis,by gritasia, i responded with and determination. I put one foot in front of the other. I found one word, and then i found another. My recovery is a daily fight, but it makes me stronger. Words once came easily to me. Today, i struggle with speech, but i have not lost my voice. America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words. We are at a crossroads. Continue or we can act. We can protect our families and future. We can vote, be on the right side of history. We must elect joe biden. He was there for me. He will be there for you too. Join us in this fight. Vote, vote, vote. Thank you very much. Tonight, we are going to hear from many changemakers who are using their power for good, who are working to confront the other epidemics we are facing, covid19, structural racism, against Police Violence against black bodies violence against members of the , trans community. We are facing so many challenges. To meet these challenges, we will need systematic solutions. We need leaders who can see us, us, represent us, all of us. To joe biden, nothing is more important than taking the time to make sure people are seen, heard, and believed in. I was in washington, d. C. And i said joe biden is walking by. She goes, put them on. Do not take the call. What are you doing. I was injured to him instantly. She talked to me for the next talked to me for the next halfhour. I see dana bash from cnn there. She said senator biden will be on in five. He sent her away. He asked me about my son. It was all about me, not about him. He said i have been talking to your grandmother. And then he starts the interview with dana bash. At the very end of his chat with me, he said could you do me a favor. I said, sure. Tell me how i can get your grandsons hair . Had good humor. He had good humor. He was sensitive. Here it is all these years later. It feels like she knows us. I know joe, because he listens. Whether he has heard your story or someone elses story, he cares about everyones story. Youe will care more about than about himself. What a beautiful story. Ok, now lets talk about another important issue, the Climate Crisis. This is an issue that is been on joe bidens mind for decades. In 1986 while working as a senator joe biden introduced one , of the first climate bills in congress and he continued to listen to at work with climate advocates and activists, putting forward a plan to address Climate Change and create a clean energy economy. There are battles we need to fight and win to secure our future. There is one issue that is an existential threat to all of us, and that is Climate Change. The Climate Crisis is here and we must act. It is the most pressing issue of our time and deserve to be treated as such. Our generation will bear the burden. We stand to benefit most from changing course now. And a couple of years, it will be too late. We need to change the paradigm, and that happens with us. We should invest massively in solar, geothermal. To highly competitive in renewables. We need to set up specific policies and we can set up we can afford nothing less. Good evening, america. I am Michelle Lujan grisham, governor of the great state of new mexico. I am proud of my home state every single day, especially how we have punched above our weight in our successful response to covid19. I am proud of new mexicans who improved themselves to the truth or consequences webb stepped up and so many incredible ways this past year, and i am proud how we embraced our multicultural identity as our greatest strength. I am proud that new mexico has shown what climate leadership looks like, while the Trump Administration has been limiting vital environmental protections, we have expended them. While they have been rolling back regulations on oil and, we have taken on polluters and held them accountable. We have committed to a Renewable Energy future with exciting and fulfilling careers for all across our beautiful state, including right here in the heart of northern new mexico. We are laying a roadmap here for what america can and should look like in the 21st century. In america where we lead again, where we build safer, cleaner, and more affordable cities and communities. Where we provide meaningful opportunities for workers and families to thrive and build better lives. As President Joe Biden will , rejoin the International Climate agreement, and the United States but once again lead on this critical issue. At home, he will it invest in he will invest in Energy Workers and deliver for working families across the u. S. , helping them build meaningful careers while accelerating our nation and world into a clean , green 21st century and well beyond. We know time is running out to save our planet. We have the chance this november d two existential crises, the Trump Presidency and the environmental annihilation represents. We have the chance this november to protect the Climate Crisis, invest in green 21st century jobs, embrace the Clean Energy Revolution our country, our young people are crying out for and a leadership the rest of the world is waiting for. The choice is clear. The choice is joe biden. Thank you, america. Hard work, rising to the challenge, the american way. Going to the moon was all three. Many astronauts returned home and reported a shift in their awareness. The view they saw of earth from space was profound. The world looked beautiful, tiny, fragile. Our atmosphere is all that separates us from oblivion. We now call with a experienced the overview affect. Here in detroit, our communities for such a long time have faced the burden of pollution. Addressing Climate Change gives us an opportunity to correct some of those wrongs and invest in our communities. Maybe you have read some of the millions of pages of Scientific Evidence on Climate Change, or maybe you have felt it it as you walk the neighborhood. The truck is sinking. Pres. Trump all at this with the global warming. A lot of it is a hoax. For most people, it is overwhelming. Trump removed and he any mention that Climate Change is caused by humans. They were handing the keys of public lands over to private interest. The Trump Administration is gone has gone all out not just to reject Climate Change and laws but to reverse them. We have about a decade before it is too late. Pissed, and i will say to all of the adults right now, why dont you get up and do something . Some of the first Climate Change legislation ever written was from a senator from delaware. When President Trump thinks about Climate Change, the only word he could muster his hoax. Is hoax. America faces a challenge, but if we face it together we will rise to the occasion. That is joes plan, create millions of good paying jobs, many of them union, like mine. Invest in critical millionscture, upgrade of buildings, invest in precision mobility micro mobility and precision agriculture, a clean Energy Future that achieves net zero emissions by 2050, because we cannot power the economies of the future without investing and investing in the technologies of the future. What is important about joe bidens plan is 40 of investment will go to local communities. We know how to do this. We will do it again, but this time bigger and faster and smarter. Joe will not ignore the crisis. We are seeing what happens when we do that. He will not surrender to the fight. Joes america will lead the world on clean energy, job creation, and america will lead the world again on climate. I was 13 when the most destructive fire in californias history broke out. My asthma flared badly. I could hardly breathe. I am alexandra, and i have been organizing young people around Climate Change since 2018. Climate change is impacting us now and it is robbing my generation of the future. Every aspect of our lives, from where we go to school, what kind of careers we would have come to whether or not we could raise a family depends on us taking Climate Change is a receipt change seriously right now. Joe biden will not solve this crisis in four years. No one can, but he will put us back on track so my generation can have a fighting chance. I am asking you to join us. Do not let our futures go up in flames. My parentswers near farm have a saying knee high up , by the fourth of july. This year they are lucky if corn is even planted. I studied at Northern Michigan university. Our farmers can see the effects of Climate Change happening in front of us. We are trying to do our part. We are adopting Sustainable Solutions on my familys farm, using new Community Models and our resources to grow food. We have been eliminating tons of Carbon Pollution every year by mimicking natural ecosystems. Farmers can be part of the climate solution instead of part of the problem. Today we can all grow our own , future, but we need leaders to be part of the solution as well. We need them to commit to the science and not ignore it. We need to put real plans on the table rather than all the back. Role them back. That is what joe biden is doing with his Clean Energy Revolution. We can lead the world again. I spent a lot of time talking about Climate Change with different communities in nevada. The one question i get asked over and over again is what are you doing here . Not a lot of climate activists look like me. I am a climate activist. I grew up in a low Income Neighborhood where pollution rates are often higher than wealthier areas and lots of kids have asthma. Renewable energy would mean cleaner air, better health, and a steadier income folks and in neighborhoods like mine. These are some of the Fastest Growing jobs in the country, and joe bidens plan is transformative. He knows that saving the planet is not just a challenge to overcome. It is an opportunity for a better way of life. What is it going to be, america . Are you ready to vote for joe biden . Are you ready to solve the Climate Crisis . Because our futures depend on because our futures depend on it. Like the folks we just heard from, next up is another activist and environmentalist, not to mention an immensely talented artist. She worked to ensure her most recent concert tour was green and sustainable, urging her fans to take similar actions in their daily lives, and even before she was old enough to vote, she held registration drives before her shows, signing up thousands of voters. She is a voice for her generation both in her music and activism. Here to perform my future publicly for the first time billie eilish. , you do not need me to tell you things are a mess. Donald trump is destroying our country and everything we care about. Leaders who see things like Climate Change, not to deny them. Leaders who will fight against racism and inequality, and that starts by voting for someone who knows how much is at stake, someone with a team who shares our values. It starts with voting against for joemp and four biden. Silence is not an option and we cannot sit this one out. We all have to vote like our lives and our world depend on it, because they do. Please register, please vote. Kerry billie eilish, thank you. Now we will talk about something close to my heart. The black community in this country is hugely diverse. On my fathers side i am descendent from an africanamerican who came from slave ships that landed in South Carolina and who were part of the great migration that have played such a defining role in who we are as a nation. On my mother side, my grandparents came here as immigrants. Part of a rich history that has also defined america. They emigrated to this country from the west indies through ellis island in the 1920s. I think of how my grandmother must have felt when she first saw the statue of liberty and her raised torch. My familys story is not unique. Unless you are native american, your family likely came from somewhere else. Whether it was five years ago or 200 years ago. Whether by choice or by bondage. Etched into the dna of who we are as a nation is the very idea that, though you may be from somewhere else, you can find your home here. But that idea is in danger. Now, more than ever before. Tell me when i start reading. Dear donald trump. I am 11 years old. My mom is my best friend. She came to america as a teenager over 20 years ago, without papers, in search of a better life. She married my dad who served our country as a marine in south america, africa and iraq. My mom worked hard and paid taxes and the Obama Administration told her she could stay. My dad thought you would protect military families, so he voted for you and 2016, mr. President. He said he wont vote for you again after what you did to our family. Instead of protecting us, you tour our world apart. My mom is a good person and is not a criminal. Now, my mom is gone and she has been taken from us for no reason at all. Every day that passes you deport more moms and dads, and take them away from kids like me. President trump we will begin moving them out, day one. He separated thousands of children from their parents and put them in cages. Some of those kids are now orphans because of you. President trump i dont want them in our country. They are animals. Mr. President , my mom is the wife of a proud american marine, and a mother of two american children. We are american family. We need a president who will bring people together, not tear them apart. Sincerely, estella. Lucy im lucy sanchez and this is my mother sylvia and my sister. We worked hard. I was born with spina bifida. That means my spinal cord did not form as it should. The doctors in my town set i would not survive. There was no hope for my future. I am a u. S. Citizen, but my mother is undocumented. I am a dreamer. [speaking spanish] my mother did what any mother would do to save her babys life. [speaking spanish] she took my sister in her arms and traveled for days to reach the border. When they got to the river, she looked at my sister. We came to america before i was one years old. She saved my life. My mother had no choice, there was no time to wait to save my sister. She came here looking for a miracle. We were afraid they would find us and detain us so she had to save her daughter. Our home is here. North carolina is all i know. I qualify for daca, but donald trump took away my ability to apply for the program. [speaking spanish] we work hard, we contribute to our community and pay our taxes. I have gone to school and built a good life for me and my two daughters. I want to help my community. But ever since donald trump was elected, all of our fears have returned. We dont know if we will be separated. Will my mom and sister be detained . Will my sister get the health care she deserves . I dont have the right id so i cannot get health insurance. I need health insurance. [speaking spanish] it breaks our heart to see children separated from their families at the border. Thats wrong. Those children need their parents. On november 3 i will vote for my mother, my sister and my daughter. I will vote for a future where our lives have dignity and respect. I am voting for joe biden and Kamala Harris. A daughter of immigrants. Who will you vote for . [speaking spanish] pres. Obama there is something unique about america. We dont simply welcome new immigrants, we are born on immigrants. That is who we are. Immigration is our origin story. After all, unless your family is native american, all of our families come from someplace else. Fmr. Pres. Obama these new americans, we see our own american stories. Life in america was not always easy. There was discrimination and hardship and poverty. Like you, they no doubt found inspiration and all those who had come before them. And they were able to muster the faith that here in america they might build a better life, to give their children something more. Tensions throughout our history between welcoming and rejecting a stranger is about more than just immigration, its about the meaning of america. What kind of country do we want to be . Immigrants are the teachers who inspire our children, the doctors who keep us healthy. They are the engineers who design our skyline, and artists and entertainers who touch our hearts. Immigrants are soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, coast guard men who protect us. We can never say it often or loudly enough. Immigrants and refugees revitalize and renew america. Its not something to take for granted. Its something to cherish and fight for. God bless you. May god bless the United States of america. [cheers and applause] [stand by me] and darling, darling stand by me, oh stand by me oh stand, darling, stand by me, stand by me and darling, darling stand by me, oh stand by me oh stand, darling stand by me and darling, darling stand by me, oh stand, darling junto a mi, junto a mi and darling, darling stand by me, oh stand, darling junto a mi, junto a mi where my latinos at come on whenever youre in trouble wont you stand by me baby, wont you stand by me oh, stand, darling junto a mi, junto a mia dont forget to vote this november. Together we can make a change. [speaking spanish] lets go. Kerry that was prince royce. In this next piece, you will hear about the vital role that women have played in moving us towards a more Perfect Union and breaking through that proverbial Glass Ceiling. After that you will hear from secretary Hillary Rodham clinton, the woman who put over 65 million cracks in it. She was called an instigator. A rule breaker. A rabblerouser. And she is called the agitator. The pushy one. The one with attitude. Now is the time for all of us to stand up and say, enough is enough. [cheers and applause] from the ballot box to the factory floor. From the living room to the er, she made trouble. The good kind. She is the mother who cries out for sensible gun laws. The daughter who believes that equal justice means justice for all. We are america. The child who knows that black lives matter. She is our warrior on the front lines. Challenging authority to make the world safe. Nobody is above the law. Refusing to be told who makes decisions about her body or anyone elses. These women and men of all ages, races and backgrounds are making a political statement dont come to make they come to get quality, Affordable Health care. And she knows that to change the world, you need to change the idea of power. Its my time and i control it. I am fighting for you each and every single day. She knows her voice is heard and amplified by the women she elects to public office. If we want families to succeed we start by empowering women. I came to washington, d. C. To fight for the issues important to our community. The things that we ran on going into november, we are doing that. Women dont just fight for women, they fight for families, they fight for fairness, inclusion, justice. To make our nation a more Perfect Union, especially for those people who are the most marginal. We have to ensure that college is affordable. Separation of families and children are bad for their health. Give people the tools they need to seek justice. Women are the most important Political Force in the United States of america. She represents our views on education. Weve got to pay educators more and weve got to hire more educators. Celebrate who teachers are and give them better pay. She represents her concerns about health care. Health care is the number one issue of election every day. She speaks out on equal pay. Its very frustrating for women everywhere to feel like they are not getting paid what they should be. And focuses on protecting our children. Lets give parents the peace of mind that their children are safe, are being set up for success. Caring for our seniors and the people who care for them. She keeps this nation going, even in challenging times. And while running for office is not easy. Nevertheless, she persists. You dont get what you dont fight for. [cheers and applause] and perseveres. This is our time. Although we werent able to shatter that highest Glass Ceiling this time, its got about 18 million cracks in it. [cheers and applause] a recordbreaking number of women ran and won. She builds coalitions and knows who her allies are. From the fight for health care and authoring the violence against women act. To building a society for film where fairness equality and , opportunity that applies to everyone. Joe biden knows a stronger america is one that works for women. So, go ahead and celebrate, you you rule breaker, you force of nature. Our country, our world needs you. Keep rising and vote. Sec. Clinton the morning after the last election i said we go we owe donald trump a chance to lead. I meant it. Every president deserves that. An trump came in with so much set up for him. A strong economy. Plans for managing a crisis, including a pandemic. Democrats would disagree with him on many things, but if he would have put his own interest and ego aside, seeing the humanity of a child ripped from her parent at the border, where a protester calling for justice, or a family wiped out by a natural disaster, that would have been a good thing for america and the world. I wish donald trump knew how to be a president , because America Needs a president right now. Throughout this time of crisis, americans keep going. Checking on neighbors, showing up two jobs as first responders, hospitals grocery stores, nursing homes. Yes it still takes a village. , we need leaders equal to this moment of sacrifice and service. Need joe biden and Kamala Harris. Everyone has a story about joes caring and empathy. I remember him calling after my mother dorothy died. We talked about being raised by strong women. The best testament to joe is how he has cared for his family, and how great is it that dr. Jill biden plans to keep teaching. And joe picked the right partner in kamala. She is relentless in the pursuit of justice and equity, and she is kind. When her press secretary was dying of cancer, she dropped everything to be with him in his final moments. I know something about what she will face. Believe me, this former District Attorney and attorney general can handle them all. So this is the key to pull our nation back from the brink. But they cannot do it without us. For four years people have told me, i did not realize how dangerous he was, i wish i could do it all over. Or worse, i should have voted. Look, this cannot be another would have, couldve, shouldve. Mail, request your ballot now and send it back right away. If you vote in person, do it early. Become a poll worker. Most of all no matter what, vote. As Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders warned us, if trump is reelected, things will get even worse. Thats why we need unity now, more than ever. Remember back in 2016 when trump asked, what do you have to lose . Now we know, our health care, our jobs, our loved ones. Our leadership in the world and even our post office. But lets set our sights higher than getting one man out of the white house. Joe biden and Kamala Harris will give us so much to vote for. Lets vote for the jobs that joes plans will create. Clean energy jobs to fight Climate Change. Caregiving jobs with living wages. Vote for emergency relief that lifts all businesses and saves Small Businesses and saves hardworking people from foreclosures and evictions. Its wrong that billionaires got richer during the pandemic while 400 billion millions got 600 a week in extra unemployment. Vote for the parents and teacher struggling to balance childrens education and safety. And for Health Care Workers fighting covid19 with little help from the white house. Vote for paid family leave and health care for everyone. For Social Security, medicare and planned parenthood. Vote for dreamers and their families. Vote for law enforcement. Purge the racial bias that keeps our streets safe. Vote for justice, for george floyd, breonna taylor, and ahmaud arbery, because black lives matter. Vote for honest elections. So we, not a foreign adversary choose our president. Vote for the diverse, hopeful america we saw in last nights roll call. And dont forget, joe and kamala can win by 3 million votes and still lose. Take it from me. We need numbers overwhelming, so trump cant sneak or steal his way to victory. Text vote to get started. 100 years ago yesterday, the 19th amendment of the constitution was ratified. It took seven decades of suffragists marching and going to jail to push is closer to a more Perfect Union. If the five years ago john lewis marched and bled in selma because that work was unfinished. Tonight i am thinking of the girls and boys who see themselves in americas future because of Kamala Harris. A black woman, the daughter of jamaican and indian immigrants and our nominee for vice , president. This is our countrys story. Breaking down barriers and expanding the circle of possibility. And to the young people watching, dont give up on america, despite our flaws and problems, we have come so far. We can still be a more just, equal country with opportunities previous generations could never have imagined. There is a lot of heartbreak in america now. The truth is, many things were broken before the pandemic. But as the saying goes, the world breaks everyone. And afterwards, many are strong at the broken places. Thats joe biden. He knows how to keep going, unify and lead. Because hes done that for his family and country. So come november, if we are strong together, we will heal together. We will redeem the soul and the promise of our country, led by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Kerry tonight is a night steeped in women who have stepped in to service and advocacy and are using their power for good. The power of women is undeniable. Whether in the office, home or in the house of representatives. It is my honor to introduce the speaker of the house, nancy pelosi. Speaker pelosi i was never raised in a way where i would run for public office. It did not interest me. I graduated from college and got married and had five children in six years. That was my life. When the children were grown, the opportunity to run for congress came along. She ran because another woman said run, and she won. Starting on a path that would make history, the first woman speaker of the house. Speaker pelosi for our daughters and our granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling. I did feel a real responsibility to other women as i stood on the shoulders of those who went before. Now it was her turn to say run, and run they did. Winning, and making her speaker once again. Speaker pelosi we do not have a speaker who would bring the issue to the floor. We do now. Thats good for every american. But not everyone was on board. Nancy pelosi. I am a mother of five. I know a temper tantrum when i see one. The power of the speaker is awesome. Awesome. If you want to go into the arena, you have to be prepared to take a punch. You also have to be prepared to throw a punch. If you want to go into the arena, you have to be prepared to take a punch. You also have to be prepared to throw a punch. Throw a punch for the children. From running the house, to speaker of the house and taking on the white house unapologetic and unafraid. Madam speaker. Madam speaker. Madam speaker. And now, please welcome speaker of the United States, representative nancy pelosi. Speaker pelosi the most diverse majority in history. More than 60 women, people of color and lgbtq. Our diversity is their strength and unity is our power. This month, as america marks the centennial of women winning the right to vote, we do so with 105 women in the house. Probably, 90 are democrats proudly, 90 are democrats. Women fought and we stand on their children. Carrying forward the work. From seneca falls, to stonewall. Years ago, when president obama and Vice President biden were in the white house, they made us proud. Their leadership made our country great. And we come together now. Butto decry the darkness, to light a way forward for our country. That is the guiding purpose of House Democrats fighting for the people. We have sent the senate bill to Lower Health Care costs and paychecks, protecting john lewis is Voting Rights and an acting George Floyd Justice act. We sent the senate bill to protect our dreamers, lgbtq a quality, prevent gun violence and to preserve our planet for future generations. And even more. All of this is possible for america. Who is standing in the way . Mitch mcconnell and donald trump. Our nation faces the worst health and economic catastrophe in our history. More than 5 million americans are affected by the coronavirus. Over 170,000 have died. The sciencebased action the hero act we enacted is essential to safeguard lives, livelihoods, and the life of our democracy. And who is standing in the way . Mitch mcconnell and donald trump. Instead of crushing the virus, they are trying to crush the Affordable Care act and its preexisting condition benefits. As speaker of the house, i have seen firsthand Donald Trumps disrespect for facts, working families and for women in particular. Disrespect written into his policies towards our health and rights, not just his conduct. But we know what he doesnt, that when women succeed, america succeeds. We are unleashing the power of women to take our rightful place, by chanting the womans right to choose and defending roe v. Wade. Securing safe and affordable childcare. Preserving Social Security and passing equal pay for equal work. Whos standing in the way . Mitch mcconnell and donald trump. Here is our answer. November andber in we will elect joe biden president. His heart is full of love for america. And with a country of trumps heartless disregard for americas goodness, joe bidens faith gives him to encourage to lead. Joe bidens love gives him the strength to persevere. Joe biden is the president we need right now. Battle tested, forwardlooking, honest and authentic. He has never forgotten who he is fighting for. As kamala Kamala Harris is the Vice President we need. Committed to our constitution. Billion in defending it and a witness to women that our voices will be heard. Fight for ais to future equal to the ideals of our founders. Andhopes for our children the sacrifices that our veterans, our brave men and women and uniform and their families. We will increase our majority in the house. We will win a democratic majority in the senate. We will elect, Kamala Harris Vice President and alec joe biden president of the United States of america. God bless you and god bless america. Kerry thank you, speaker pelosi. The house is the peoples house. Ensure it stays that way we need everyones help to elect joe biden and democrats up and down the ballot. If you are able, please go to joe biden. Com and chip in whatever you can to support this campaign. Last year under speaker pelosis leadership, the house reauthorized the violence against womens act. Joe biden wrote that landmark law nearly 30 years ago. He and others have built on it. Women are still not entirely safe. So the work must continue. Joe biden knows that and he is committed to doing that work. To making sure that women are safe, and to making sure our voices are heard. Lets listen. My name is ruth glenn. In 1992 my husband shot me and left me for dead. For 13 years my son and i have been abused by him we finally tracked us down. Back then there was limited health of them limited help available. Local shelters were full. I did not even know the name for what was happening to me then. Domestic violence. Now working to end Domestic Violence is my lifes work. Ska when i started doing research to play detective Olivia Benson on law and order sbu over 20 years ago, i was shocked to find out how many people, including children experience physical or sexual abuse. Thed sticks statistics fueled my resolve and i committed myself to the movement to end this violence. Hometown i did not feel like i could speak out with sexualerience assault. But at the university of puget sound i met an Incredible Group of people working to end the culture of Sexual Assault. I went from survivor to advocate. As the president and ceo of the National Coalition against Domestic Violence, and that leadership in passing the violence against women act, now Domestic Violence rates are rising. We need congress to reauthorize and enhance that law. We need leaders who believe that a womans life is worth fighting for. Iska joe biden is that kind of leader. I created a mission to help survivors heal, and to change the way our societies respond to sexual violence. The Vice President has worked tirelessly i our side to end the backlog of hundreds of thousands of untested rape kits. And our work will continue, because testing kits not only makes our country safer, but it sends a vital message to survivors, that what happened to them matters. The most important thing you can say to a survivor is i hear you. That is why i became a leader and a program started by Vice President biden to eliminate Sexual Assault across campuses, and support a new generation of advocates, including men and boys. If you are silent, you are complicit. And we are just getting started. I am voting for joe biden on behalf of all victims and survivors of Domestic Violence. Im voting for joe biden because its on my generation to make sure we never go back. Mariska i am voting for joe biden for my daughter, for my son, for all of our children. First episode was getting bashed in the face and he broke my eardrum. Punching, kicking, choking, threatening with a knife or gun. He had always threatened me if i had ever called the police on him that he would kill me. You didnt hear voices like bees in the halls of the u. S. Capitol. My husband stabbed me 13 times and broke my neck while the police were on the scene. I am permanently paralyzed. Senator joe biden invited them to speak. Women need to be taken seriously and Proper Police response can prevent what happened to me from happening to someone else. Thank you. Thank you. Time, the police consider Domestic Violence something that was not a crime. In a home its a private matter. So women were responsible for their own injuries. Fmr. V. P. Biden i was about to say, i know. I dont know. I can only guess how painful that is. Father saidp, our that the greatest of all sins was the abuse of power. When someone bigger or stronger takes advantage of you, that is a really great sin. Fourxpectation was for all of us to be a person of character. You see something wrong, we were then expected to stand up and do something about it. When joe introduced the legislation, he believed the past. Fmr. V. P. Biden our bill is the first attempt to address Violent Crimes against women. It was hard to get the votes because we had some traditionalists and there should be laws about this. But joe does not give up. He is tenacious. Joe persevered and hes very good at persuasion. Fmr. V. P. Biden we are doing nothing to help them. Together law enforcement, prosecutors, advocates and survivors. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to come and speak. In 1994, the violence against women act became law and protected millions of american women. A lot of the attitudes we have about Domestic Violence were shaped by his leadership on this. , weou see something wrong were then expected to stand up and do something about it. Kerry if you are just joining us, welcome. Coming up we will your from president barack obama and senator Kamala Harris, who will talk about the biden harris vision for the future. In order to get to the more Perfect Union, we have to acknowledge where we are. Today in america we are struggling. Unemployment has skyrocketed and families are fighting to keep their jobs. As joe biden says, we need to build back better. To find out how you can join that effort, please text join to 30330 to get plugged into the campaign and get more information on how to vote and volunteer. Plan to help a working families and Small Businesses. Our next beaker worked our next speaker worked alongside him as secretary of labor to make sure there were Good American jobs and that americans were safe on the job. The biden harris economic plan please welcome hello, im hilda. The day Vice President biden flybmi in as secretary of labor was one of the proudest moments of my life. My parents realize they had achieved their American Dream because the daughter of two bluecollar immigrants would make history and give voice to people just like them. Biden noworkers need more than ever. That person. Is he has done it before and i have seen it firsthand. He and president obama made it easier for home care workers to organize. They extended overtime pay to more than 4 million workers. Automobilethe industry and a lot Good Union Jobs with it. And when millions of families friend fromome, my california, senator Kamala Harris, took on the big banks and won. Because of Donald Trumps failures, we must once again rescue a sinking economy. Millions of americans are out of work and communities of color are the hardest hit. Millions of essential workers are putting their lives at risk. And millions more are just plain tired. That is why joe biden and Kamala Harris actually have a plan. Not only to recover what we lost , but to build back better. Creating 5 million Good Union Jobs by bringing back supply chains for america. Thats Building Back better. Creating millions of jobs by investing in clean energy. Thats Building Back better. And making sure that working families can afford childcare. Thats how we build back better. So let me borrow and slightly edit something joe biden said at my swearingin. When it comes to expanding the economy for all people, no one, no one is going to be a stronger voice in our next president , joe biden. The conversation you are about to see proves it. Business theres a story. Small businesses around the country are bearing the economic rent of the coronavirus pandemic. Behind every business is a family. A lot of people are in pain. Theresd work hard work. Theres heartbreak. We will lose 20 to 30 of our Small Businesses. Kevins is the story of and molly johnsons family owned business in lake county, ohio. Kevin we have 10 to 12 employees on a given day. When covid19 hit, it was a lot of confusion. Molly i remember being scared and uncertain. Kevin we shut down last week because we ran out of work. And if we did not get additional orders and we would have to look at another shutdown. You cant make a big purchase, you cant plan for the future. We dont even know if we can cover payroll. Its scary. You are kind of forgotten. The president is always bragging about the stock market and leaves a lot of small Manufacturing Companies behind. Molly it seems like we get one step forward and two steps back. Who is the story of just started a clothing store, then covid hit. Fashion was a love of mine since i was a kid. I worked really hard to save money to open the store. 9, andbooming december then boom. It was scary. My employees are gone. I reached out to my bank, but they stated that they had no its gone to the bigger businesses, the milliondollar businesses who get the bailout. Small businesses like myself are left to struggle. Being an africanamerican female Business Owner under president sayp, i feel how can i im alone. Im alone. This is the story of her to restaurants. One closed and one still open. Its always really hard for restaurants to begin. And crowded with families crowds outside waiting to get in. It was pretty exciting. On the day of the shutdown we were reviewed in the los angeles times. On that day the virus was announced as a global pandemic. We will turn this around soon. The first decision that i had to make because people are looking at you. Unfortunately the call was to furlough everybody. At this point i dont see myself in business [speaking spanish] we dont ask for much from the government to catch us when were falling. Restaurants are among the hardest hit businesses. No one is going to do it in a a successfule career for not only myself, but 100 employees. Dan. Is is the story of he is a fifthgeneration farmer struggling to keep his business alive. Im not so sure that the president understand that when he thinks about business, i dont think he thinks about farmers as a business. He has no clue. Tell me about the farm. We have been here since 1864. Trade tariffs with china have been horrible. Part of the language in the trade deal said that china does not have to buy unless the price is to their advantage. What kind of trade deal is that . Then when covid hit, everything plummeted. Getting through now is the problem. Thats the daytoday battle. I believe that joe biden will be a clear voice for us. Joe biden has an understanding of what the average american is experiencing. I think hes listening. Fmr. V. P. Biden its time to help Small Businesses. I have a lot of confidence in joe biden. Hes a fighter and the real deal. We have taken a lot of kno ck downs. We will rise again. If i get knocked down, i will get up and keep going. He going keep going. Warren tonight we heard from the people who put their lives on the line to keep our country going. Since covid19 hit, they taken one gut punch after another. What has the covid fallout done to our babies . The Early Childhood Education Center in springfield, massachusetts has been closed for months. Childcare was already hard to find before the pandemic. Now, parents are stuck. No idea when school can safely reopen and even fewer childcare options. The devastation is enormous. And the way i see it, big problems demand big solutions. Now, i love a good plan, and joe good has some really plans. Plans to bring back union jobs in manufacturing and create new union jobs and clean energy. Plans to increase Social Security benefits, cancel billions in student loan debts, and make our bankruptcy laws work for families instead of the creditors who cheat them. These plans reflect a central truth. Our Economic System has been rigged to give bailouts to billionaires and kick dirt in the face of everyone else. So we can build a thriving economy by investing in families and fix whats broken. Build back better includes making the wealthy pay their fair share. Holding corporations accountable. Repairing racial and equities. And fighting corruption in washington. Let me tell you about one of joes plans thats especially close to my heart. Childcare. As a little girl growing up in oklahoma, what i wanted most in the world was to be a teacher. I loved teaching. When i had babies and was juggling my first teaching job down in texas, it was hard. But i can do hard. The thing that almost think me, childcare sank me, childcare. One night my called to check on me. I thought i was fine. Then i broke down and started to cry. I tried holding it all together, but without reliable childcare, working was nearly impossible. When i told her i was going to quit my job, i thought my heart would break. Then she said the words that changed my life. I cant get there tomorrow, but ill come on thursday. She arrived with seven suitcases and stayed for 16 years. I get to be here tonight because of my aunt. I learned a fundamental truth, nobody makes it on their own. Here we are, two generations of working parents later. If you have a baby and dont have an aunt, you are on your own. Heres why that is wrong. We build infrastructure like roads, bridges and Communication Systems so that people can work. That infrastructure helps us all because it keeps our economy going. Thattime to recognize childcare is a part of the basic infrastructure of this nation. Its infrastructure for families. Will makemala highquality child care affordable for every family. Make preschool universal and ways raise the wages of every childcare worker. Thats just one plan. But he gives you an idea of how we get this country working for everyone. Donald trumps ignorance and incompetence have always been a danger to our country. Covid19 was trumps biggest test. He failed miserably. America has the most covid deaths in the world, and an economic collapse. And both crises are falling hardest on black and brown families. Millions out of work, millions more trapped in cycles of poverty. Millions on the brink of losing their homes. Millions of restaurants and stores hanging by a thread. This crisis is bad. It did not have to be this way. This crisis is on donald trump and the republicans who enable him. On november 3 we will hold them all accountable. So, whether you are planning to vote wearing a mask or vote by mail, please take out your phone right now and text vote to 30330. We all need to be in the fight to get joe and kamala elected. After november, we all need to stay in the fight to get these things done. We stay in this fight so that when our children and our grandchildren ask what we did during this dark chapter in our nations history, we will be able to look them squarely in organized, say we we persisted, and we changed america. Kerry former president barack obama has said that choosing joe biden to be his Vice President was one of the best decisions he ever made. This is a man who has made a lot of good decisions. Making health care more affordable and accessible. Rescuing our economy. Protecting american jobs. Marrying Michelle Obama. And through it all, joe biden was by his side, except for maybe marrying michelle. You can witness their Mutual Respect and affection in this clip. Take a look. Joe, for. Obama so, your faith in your fellow americans, for your love of country, and for your lifetime of service that will endure through the generations, i would like to ask the military aid to join us on stage. For the final time as president i am pleased to award our nations highest civilian honor, the president ial medal of freedom. [applause] for forobama and the first and only time in my presidency i will bestow this metal with an honor my three reserved forave three others. Ronald reagan and general colin powell. Im proud to award the president ial medal of freedom with distinction to my brother, joseph biden junior. Will be a please read the citation. Vice president joseph r. Biden junior. In a career of Public Service spanning nearly half a century, Vice President joseph r. Biden junior has left his mark on our nation. Fighting for a stronger middle class, a fair judicial system and a smarter foreign policy. Providing support for our troops. Combating crime against women. Meeting our quest to cure cancer and safeguarding the landmark american recovery and reinvestment act. With his unabashed optimism and deep and abiding patriotism, joe biden has garnered the respect and esteem of colleagues of both parties. And the friendship of people across the nation and around the world. While summoning the strength and grace to overcome great personal tragedy, the son of scranton, claymont and wilmington has become one of the most consequential Vice President s in american history. Behindlade that rests his legacy as husband, father and grandfather. A grateful nation thinks Vice President joseph r. Biden junior for his lifetime of service on behalf of the United States of america. [applause] fmr. Pres. Obama good evening, everybody. As you have seen by now this is not a normal convention. Its not a normal time. Tonight, i want to talk as plainly as i can about the stakes in the selection. Because what we do these next 76 days will echo through generations to come. Im in philadelphia, where our constitution was drafted. It was not a perfect document. It allowed for the inhumanity of slavery. And failed to guarantee women and even men who did not own property the right to participate in the political process. But embedded in this document was the north star that would guide future generations. A system of representative government. A democracy to which we could better realize our highest ideals. Through civil war and better struggles, we improve this constitution to include the voices of those who had once been left out. Gradually we made this country more just and more equal and more free. One Constitutional Office elected by all the people is the presidency. At the minimum we should expect a president to feel the sense of responsibility for the safety and welfare of all 330 million of us, regardless of what we look like, how we worship, who we love, how much money we have, or who we voted for. We should also expect a president to be the custodian of this democracy. We should expect that regardless of ego, ambition, or political beliefs, the president will preserve, protect and defend the freedoms and ideals that so Many Americans marched for. Went to jail for. Fought for and died for. Office withthe oval men running for president. I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision, or continue my policies. I did hope, for the sake of our country, that donald trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously. That he might come to feel a ofk of the office weight the office and discover some reference of democracy that was placed in his care. But he never did. Now, hee to four years has shown no interest in putting in the work. No interest in finding common ground. No interest in using the office awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends. No interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves. Donald trump has not grown into the job because he cant. And the consequences of that failure are severe. Ead. 000 americans d millions of jobs, gone. Those at the top have taken more than ever. Our worst impulses unleashed. Our proud reputation around the world badly diminished. Threatened like never before. Now, i know in times as polarized as is, most of you have already made up your mind, but maybe you are still not sure which candidate you will vote for or whether you will vote at all. Maybe youre tired of the direction we are headed, but you cannot see a better path yet, or you just do not know enough tout the person who wants lead us there. So let me tell you about my friend, joe biden. 12 years ago, when i began my search for my Vice President , i did not know i would end up finding a brother. Joe and i come from different places, different generations, but what i quickly came to admire about joe biden is his resilience, born of too much struggle, his empathy, born of too much grief. Joe is a man who learned early on to treat every person he meets with respect and dignity, living by the words his parents taught him. No one is better than you, joe, but you are better than nobody. Decency, the that belief that everybody counts, that is who joe is. When he talks with someone who has lost his job, joe remembers the night his father sat him down to say that he had lost his. When joe listens to a parent who is trying to hold it all together right now, he does it as a single dad who took the train back to wilmington each and every night so he could talk his kids into bed. Into bed. S kids when he talks with military families who have lost their hero, he doesnt with a kindred spirit, the parent of a military soldier, someone whose heart has endured the greatest loss there is. Theeight years, joe was last one in the room whenever i faced a big decision. He made me a better president , and he has got the character and the experience to make us a better country, and in my friend, Kamala Harris, he has chosen an ideal partner, who is more than prepared for the job, someone who knows what it is like to overcome barriers and who has made a career fighting to help others live out their American Dream. Neededith the experience to get things done, joe and kamala have concrete policies that will turn their vision into a better, fairer, stronger country into a reality. They will get this pandemic under control, like joe did when he helped me manage h1n1 and prevent an Ebola Outbreak from reaching our shores. He will expand health care to more americans, like joe and i did 10 years ago, when he helped craft the Affordable Care act and nail down the votes to make it the law. Economy,escue the which joe helped me do after the great recession. I asked him to manage the recovery act, which jumpstarted the longest stretch of job growth in our history, and he sees this moment now not as a chance to get back to where we were but to make new changes so that our economy actually makes life a little easier for everybody, whether it is the waitress trying to raise a kid on her own or the shift worker always on the edge of getting laid off or the student, figuring out how to pay for next semesters classes. Restore ourla will standing in the world, and as we have learned from this pandemic, that matters. Joe knows the world, and the world knows him. He knows that our truth strength comes from setting an example follow, world wants to a nation that stands with democracy, not dictators, a nation that can inspire and mobilize others to overcome threats like Climate Change and. Error and poverty and disease but more than anything, what i know about joe, what i know is that they actually care about every american and that they care. Eeply about this democracy they believe that in a democracy , the right to vote is sacred, and we should be making it easier for people to cast their ballots, not harder. They believe that no one, including the president , is no publiclaw and that official, including the president , should use their office to enrich themselves or. Heir supporters they understand that in this democracy, the commanderinchief does not use the men and women of our military, who are willing to risk everything to protect our toion, as political props deploy against Peaceful Protesters on our own soil. They understand that political opponents are not unamerican just because they disagree with you. The free press is not the enemy, but the way we hold officials our ability tot Work Together to solve big problems like a pandemic depend on a fidelity to facts and science and logic and not just making stuff up. None of this should be controversial. These should not be republican principles or democratic principles. They are american principles. But at this moment, this president , and those who enable him, have shown they do not believe in these things. Tonight, i am asking you to believe in joe and kamalas ability to lead this country out of dark times and build it back better. But here is the thing. Thisngle american can fix country alone, not even a president. Beocracy was never meant to transactional. If you give me your vote, i make everything better. Active and an informed citizenry. So i am also asking you to believe in your own ability to embrace your own responsibility as citizens, to make sure that the basic tenants of our democracy endure, because that is what is at stake right now. Our democracy. Look. I understand why a lot of americans are down on government, the way the rules have been set up and abused in Congress Make it easier for special interests to stop progress than to make progress. Believe me, i know it. A factorynd why worker who has seen his wages cut or his job shipped overseas might feel like the government no longer looks out for him, and why a black woman may feel like it never looked out for her. I understand why a new immigrant might look around the country and wonder whether there is still a place for him here. Why a young person might look at politics right now, the circus of it all, the meanness and the lies and the conspiracy theories and things. What is the point . The point. Is this president and those in power, those who benefit from keeping things the way they are, they knowting they cannot win you over with their policies, so they are hoping to make it as hard as possible for you to vote and to convince you that your vote does not matter. That is how they win. That is how they get to keep making decisions that affect your life and the lives of the people you love. The economy will keep getting skewed to the wealthy and wellconnected, how our Health Systems will let more people fall through the cra cks. That is how i democracy withers until it is no democracy at all, and we cannot let that happen. Do not let them take away your power. Do not let them take away your democracy. Right now for how you are going to get involved and vote. Do it as early as you can, and tell your family and friends how they can vote, too. Done formericans have over two centuries when faced with even tougher times than this, all of those quiet heroes who found the courage to keep marching, keep pushing in the. Ace of hardship and injustice last month, we lost a giant of american democracy in john lewis , and some years ago, i sat down with john and a few remaining leaders of the early Civil Rights Movement. One of them told me he had never imagined he would walk into the white house and see a president who looked like his grandson. And then, he told me that he looked it up, and it turned out that on the very day that i was born, he was marching into a trying to end jim crow segregation in the south. What we do echoes through generations. Whatever our backgrounds, we are all the children of americans who fought the good fight, great grandparents working in sweatshops without rights or farmers losing their dreams to dust, irish and italians and asians and latinos told, go back to where you come from. Jews and catholics and muslims for the way they worshiped. Black americans chained and on for and hanged, spit trying to sit at lunch counters,. Eaten for trying to vote had a right to believe that this democracy did not work and could not work, it was those americans, our ancestors. They were on the receiving end of a democracy that had fallen short all of their lives. They knew how far the daily reality of america strayed from the myth. And yet, instead of giving up, they joined together, and they said, somehow, some way, we are going to make this work. We are going to bring those words in our founding documents to life. Have seen that same spirit rising these past few years. Folks of every age and background who packed city centers and airports and rural roads so that families would not be separated, so that another classroom would not get shot up, so that our kids will not grow ,p on an uninhabitable planet americans of all races joining together to declare, in the face of injustice and brutality, at the hands of the state, that black lives matter. No more, but no less. So that no child in this country feels the continuous sting of racism. To the young people who lead us this summer, telling us we need ways,better, in so many you are this countrys dreams fulfilled. Earlier generations had to be persuaded that everyone had equal worth. For you, it is a given, a conviction. And what i want you to know is that for all its messiness and frustrations, your system of selfgovernment can be harnessed to help you realize those us. Ictions for all of you can give our Democracy New meaning. You can take it to a better place. ,ou are the missing ingredient the ones who will decide whether or not america becomes the country that fully lives up to its creed. That work will continue long , but anys election chance of success depends entirely on the outcome of this. Lection this administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that is what it takes for them to win, so we have to get busy building it up, by pouring all our efforts into these 76 days and by voting like never before for joe and kamala and candidates up and down the ticket so that we leave no doubt about what this country that we today and forr all our days to come. Stay safe. God bless. Kerry thank you, president obama, for your thank you for your brilliant leadership. Joe biden has chosen an extraordinary woman to be his running mate, Kamala Harris is a fighter and a trailblazer, using her groundbreaking ideas to protect families and keep them together by reducing recidivism. For her toilled become the Vice President of the United States. Now, please welcome our convention chair. That the president ial candidate who attains the majority of all pledged and automatic delegates will nominate the democratic candidate for Vice President. Rules,rdance with our Vice President biden has harrised senator kamala as his Vice President ial candidate. Our rules further provide that if only one candidate is nominated for Vice President , the chair is authorized to declare the nominee the democratic president. As such, with only one nomination received and pursuant to our rules, i hereby declare harris is elected as the democratic candidate for Vice President. [gavel] that viceed to report president ial candidate Kamala Harris has been invited to deliver an acceptance space. Kamala harris is my mom. And there are some things we would like to share with you. To my brother and me, you will worldse momala, the greatest stepmom. You are my role model who told me i could be whatever i wanted. Inmy friend, my confidant mischief and justice. For three generations of our big, blended family, you showed me the benefits of Public Service and made sure i grew up around straw are, smart, ambitious grew up around strong, smart, ambitious women every day. Me, mynyone picked on big sister would be there. Moreere is no Union Perfect than the one that brings us all to her Kitchen Table every sunday night for stirfry, feta chicken, or spaghetti and meatball dinners. Mom, youw that i am a are showing so many who look like them what is possible and what it is like to move through the world as years, formidable, phenomenal women in their own, unique way. I love you. I admire you. I am so proud of you. And even though mommy is not here to see her first daughter step into history, the entire nation will see in your strength, your integrity, your intelligence, and your optimism the values that she raised us with. We love you, kamala. We are so proud of you. Kamala you mean the world to us. As the next Vice President. Vice president of the United States. Joe biden has selected Kamala Harris as his running mate. The first south asian woman to be named on the democratic ticket. Someone who looks like us. For the president ial ticket. That is crazy. Kamala harris was born in oakland. A daughter of immigrants. A big sister and protector. U grad. Is an hcb she is a woman of many firsts. Language]gn she is smart and has a big future. Kamala harris. It is with every ounce of who she is. She is for us. She fights for womens rights. She fights to and mass incarceration. She is a fearless advocate. How we treat people. People, brown people, undocumented people, lgbtq people, disabled people, all people, all of america. It is about all of us knowing our power to lift people up, right . And to remind them that we can see them and hear them. And that they matter. [cheering] you are going to be Vice President of the United States . Sen. Harris greetings, america. It is truly an honor to be speaking with you tonight. That i am here tonight is a testament to generations before me, women and men who believed so fiercely in the promise of equality, liberty, and justice for all. The 100thmarks anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment as we celebrate the women who fought for that right. Yet, so many black women who helped secure that victory were still prohibited from voting long after its ratification. But they were undeterred. Recognition,re or they organized and testified and rallied and marched and fought, not just for their vote but for a seat at the table. These women and the generations that followed worked to make realracy and opportunity in the lives of all of us who followed. The paved the way for trailblazing leadership of barack obama and Hillary Clinton , and these Women Inspired us to pick up the torch and fight on. Women like mary church terrel, sandy lou hamer, and diane nash, and the great shirley chisholm. We are not often taught their stories. We all standans, on their shoulders. And there is another woman whose name is not known, whose story is not shared, another woman whose shoulders i stand on. And that is my mother. Shyamala gopalan harris. She came at the age of 19 to pursue her dream of curing cancer. She met my father who came from jamaica to study economics. They fell in love in that most american way, while marching together for justice in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s in the streets of oakland and berkeley. Ew of a strollers eye vi what the great john lewis called good trouble. When i was five, my parents split, and my mother raised us on her own. Like so many mothers, she worked aroundtheclock to make it work, packing lunches before we woke up and paying bills after we went to bed, helping us with homework at the Kitchen Table and shuttling us to church for choir practice. She made it look easy, though it never was. My mother instilled in my sister maya and me the values that would chart the course of our lives. She raised us to be proud, strong black women, and she raised us to know and be proud of our indian heritage. She taught us to put family first, the family you are born into and the family you choose. Family is my husband doug, whom i met on a blind date set up by my best friend. Family is our beautiful children, cole and ella, who call me momala. Family is my best friend and my nieces and my godchildren. Family is my uncles and my aunts. Family is mrs. Shelton, my second mother who lived two doors down and helped raise me. And helped raise me. Family is my beloved alpha cap alpha, our divine nine, and my hbc you brothers and sisters bcu brothers and sisters. Mother, the most important person in my life, passed away from cancer. And even as she taught our family, she also pushed us to see a world beyond ourselves. She taught us to be conscious and compassionate about the struggles of all people, to believe Public Service is a the fight fornd justice is a shared responsibility. That led me to become a lawyer. A District Attorney, attorney general, and a United States senator. And at every step of the way, i have been guided by the words that i spoke from the first time i stood in a courtroom. Kamala harris, for the people. Andve fought for children survivors of Sexual Assault. I fought against transnational criminal organizations. I took on the biggest banks and help take down one of the biggest forprofit colleges. Helped take down one of the biggest forprofit colleges. I know a predator when i see one. My mother taught me that service to others gives life purpose and meaning, and, oh, how i wish she were here tonight, but i know she is looking down on me from above. I keep thinking about that 25yearold indian mother, all of five feet tall, who gave birth to me at Kaiser Hospital in oakland, california. On that day, she probably could never have imagined that i would be standing before you now and speaking these words. Nomination for Vice President of United States of america. I do so committed to the values she taught me, to the word that teaches me to walk by faith and not by sight, and to a vision passed on through generations of americans, one that joe biden shares, a vision of our nation as a beloved community, where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, no matter where we , ae from or who we love country where we may not agree on every detail, but we are united by the fundamental belief that every human being is an infinite worth, deserving of compassion, dignity, and respect outcountry where we look for one another, where we rise and fall as one, where we face our challenges and celebrate our triumphs together. Today, that country feels distant. Failure ofps leadership has caused lives and livelihoods. If you are a parent struggling with your childs remote learning, or you are a teacher, struggling on the other site of that screen, you know what we are doing right now is not working. A nation that is grieving. Lossoflife, the loss of jobs, the loss of opportunities, the loss of normalcy, and, yes, the loss of certainty. And while this virus touches us all, we have got to be honest. It is not an equal opportunity offender. Black, latino, and Indigenous People are suffering and dying disproportionately. And this is not a coincidence. It is the effect of structural inism, of inequities education and technology, health care and housing, job security and transportation, the injustice in reproductive and Maternal Health care, and the excessive use of force by police , and in our broader criminal justice system. Virus, it has no eyes, and yet, it knows exactly how we see each other and how we treat each other. And lets be clear. Racism. No vaccine for orge floyd, for breonnar taylor, for the lives of too many others to name, for our children, and for all of. We have got to do the work to fulfill that promise of equal justice under law, because heres the thing. None of us are free until all of us are free. So we are at an inflection point. Leaves usnt chaos adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid. The callousness makes us feel alone. It is a lot. And here is the thing. And deserve sor much more. We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work, a president who will bring all of together, black, white, latino, asian, to achieve the future we collectively want. We must elect joe biden. And i will tell you, i knew joe as Vice President. On the campaign trail, and i first got to know joe as the father of my friend. U and i servedea as attorneys general of our states, delaware and california. During the great recession, he and i spoke on the phone nearly every day, working together to win back millions of dollars for homeowners from the big banks that foreclosed on peoples i, we wouldeau and talk about his family, how as a single father, joe would spend four hours every day riding the train back and forth from wilmington to washington. Got to haveter breakfast everyone with their dad. They went to sleep every night with the sound of his voice reading bedtime stories. And while they endured an unspeakable loss, those two little boys always knew that they were deeply, unconditionally loved. And what also moved me about joe is the work that he did as he was going back and forth. This is the leader who wrote the violence against women act and enacted the assault weapons ban. As vicese who president , implemented the recovery act, which brought our country back from the great recession. He championed the Affordable Care act, protecting millions of americans with preexisting conditions, who spent decades promoting American Values and interests around the world. Stand withieves we our allies and stand up to our adversaries. President we have a who turns our tragedies into political weapons. Joe will be a president who turns our challenges into purpose. Joe will bring us together to build an economy that does not leave anyone behind, where a goodpaying job is the floor, not the ceiling. Joe will bring us together to end this pandemic and make sure that we are prepared for the next one. Joe will bring us together to squarely face and dismantle racial injustice, furthering the work of generations. Joe and i believe that we can build that beloved community,ne that is strong and decent just and kind, one in which we can all see ourselves. That is the vision that our parents and grandparents fought that made my own life possible, the vision that makes the american promise for all its complexities and imperfections a promise worth fighting for. So make no mistake. The road ahead is not easy. We may stumble. We may fall short. But i pledge to you that we will act boldly and deal with our challenges honestly. Wewill speak truths, and will act with the same faith in you that we ask you to place in us. We believe that our country, all of a sky will stand together all of us, will stand together for a better future, and we already are. We see it in the doctors, the nurses, the home Health Care Workers, and frontline workers, who are risking their lives to save people they have never met. We see it in the teachers and truck drivers, the factory workers and farmers, the postal workers and poll workers, all putting their own safety on the line to help us get through this pandemic. And we see it in so many of you who are working, not just to get us through our Current Crisis but to somewhere better. Alle is something happening across our country. It is not about joe or me. It is about you. And it is about us. People of all ages and colors and creeds who are, yes, taking to the streets and also persuading our family members, rallying our friends, organizing our neighbors, and getting out the vote. And we have shown that when we vote, we expand access to health care and expand access to the ballot box and ensure that more working families can make a decent living. And i am so inspired by a new generation. You, you are pushing us to realize the ideals of our nation , pushing us to live the values we share. Decency and fairness, justice and love. Us are patriots who remind that to love our country is to fight for the ideals of our country. In this election, we have a chance to change the course of history. We are all in this fight. You, me, and joe. Together. Responsibility. What an awesome privilege. So lets fight with conviction. Lets fight with hope. Lets fight with confidence in ourselves and a commitment to to the america we know is possible. The america we love. And years from now, this moment will have passed, and our children and our grandchildren will look in our eyes, and they are going to ask us, where were you when the stakes were so high . They will ask us, what was it like . And we will tell them. We will tell them not just how we felt. We will tell them what we did. Thank you. God bless you. And god bless the United States of america. The beautiful paying that you can be becoming often criticized [applause] [applause] kerry thank you, senator harris. So powerful. To close out the night, we have music from Jennifer Hudson as well as highlights from tonight, and that tomorrow, we will hear from more americans fighting for a more Perfect Union, and finally, we will hear from mr. Biden. Thank you for tuning in and for letting me to be a part of your night. Born either tent oh, just like the river, i have been running ever since its been a long, a Long Time Coming but i know a change is gonna come livingen too hard dieim afraid to because i dont know what is up there beyond the sky timebeen a long, long coming but i know that change is gonna come oh, when i go to my brother, and i say, brother, brother, help me, please but when i go to my dear brother up knocking me back down on my knees have been times when i thought longld not last now, i think i think im able to carry on , a long timeong coming know a change, a change is gonna come willes, it ohhh sen. Harris we must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work, a president who will bring all of together, black, white, latino, asian, indigenous, to achieve the future we collectively want. We must elect joe biden. Was there for me. He will be there for you, too. Clinton do you remember back in 2016, when trump asked, what do you have to lose . Well, now we know, even our post office. To let a wayi forward for our country. The way i see it, big problems demand big solutions. Now, i love a big plan, and joe biden has some really big plans. Theident obama here is thing. No single american can fix this country alone, not even a president. Democracy was never meant to be transactional. You give me your vote, i make everything better. It requires an informed citizenry. So i am also asking you to believe in your own ability, your own responsibility as citizens, to make sure that the basic tenets of our democracy endure. Archbishop good evening. I am in archbishop with the Greek Orthodox archdiocese. Let us pray. Most merciful and loving god, as we gather in soberness of mind and of heart, for the sake of our nation and its future, we pray that you would shine the light of your countenance upon the delegates of this convention and on vice President Joe Biden for the highest office in the land. As we face the future as one american nature, nation, bring us to our best selves and inspire our better angels in peas and fairness and in androsity in peace fairness and in generosity that inequality, and the greater good, in the name of the holy trinity, we pray, amen