Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz did what seemed almost unthinkable just a month ago during the Democratic Party Convention in Chicago: They accepted the party’s nomination for president and vice president.
The nomination not only upended the Democratic slate, but also reinvigorated a party in desperate need of energy and excitement. That energy was on full display during the convention’s final two nights, when themes of joy, freedom and future prospects took center stage, alongside the many celebrities and rising political stars who appeared as speakers.
And despite the absence of the supposed “surprise guest” on the final night of the convention, appearances by P!nk, Kerry Washington, Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro, Oprah Winfrey, Pete Buttigieg and John Legend kept the crowd entertained and entertained.
On the third day of the convention, Walz delivered a raucous speech in which he, as always, called Republicans “weird” and talked about his accomplishments as governor of Minnesota, including his work protecting reproductive rights, an issue that is personally dear to him and his wife, who is undergoing fertility treatment.
“When we Democrats talk about freedom, we mean the freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people you love,” Walz said to applause from the crowd as she waved signs celebrating “Coach Walz,” as the former high school teacher and football coach was known to his supporters. “The freedom to make your own decisions about your own health. And yes, the freedom for children to go to school without fear of being shot in the hallway.
Events during and around the convention were aimed at young voters, the demographic primarily responsible for generating enthusiasm for Harris’ campaign on social media.
“The young people are full of energy like I have never seen before. I have clearly experienced this myself because so many young people want to get involved, go to the swing states and knock on doors there,” Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) told The Daily on Thursday evening:
At the United Center, special creative spaces were available to the various influencers, primarily TikTok influencers, who were invited to create content at the convention. At McCormick Place, the convention center that hosted organizing sessions and the DemPalooza vendor fair, organizers drew heavily on memes that have been circulating about Harris’ candidacy since calls for President Joe Biden to drop out of the race grew louder in late June.
The memes were everywhere, from an area called “The Coconut Club” to the youth voting table decorated like the cover of Charli XCX’s album “Brat.”
Balloons fall at the United Center following Vice President Kamala Harris’ keynote speech at the Democratic Party Convention on Thursday evening.
Eliza Marcus, a sophomore at SESP who helped plan and execute DemPalooza as a fellow with the consulting firm APS & Associates, said it was “inspiring” to see how active the student body was.
“It’s definitely like a dream come true to be so close to the action. It feels very historic,” Marcus said. “It’s really nice to see so many Democrats in one place and everyone is so passionate about voting.”
Illinois, largely because of Chicago, is part of the “blue wall,” a series of states that are crucial for the Democratic Party to win the presidency every four years. Schakowsky said Illinois residents also play a big role in mobilizing voters in key Midwestern swing states like Michigan and Wisconsin.
“I think we’re a model for what can happen in other states across the country,” she said. “I think we’re the most progressive state in the country right now.”
But despite the celebratory mood that accompanied the historic nomination and convention, some outside the stadium were singing a different tune. Pro-Palestinian protesters outside held signs calling the Democratic candidates “baby killers” and blocked cars from moving on.
According to Palestinian authorities, more than 40,000 people have already died in the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip since the militant Hamas killed about 1,200 Israelis on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli authorities. The protesters called for a ceasefire and an arms embargo against Israel. Harris rejected the latter demand in her acceptance speech.
“I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself, and I will always ensure that Israel has the ability to defend itself, because the people of Israel must never again be subjected to the horror that a terrorist organization called Hamas caused on October 7,” she said. “At the same time, the events in Gaza over the last ten months are devastating.”
Harris added that she would work to ensure that “the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination.”
To win the necessary swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan, Harris will need to woo some of the pro-Palestinian voters who were undecided in the primaries. Many of those voters were the same protesters outside the convention who were unimpressed with Harris’s past stance on the war.
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