Kamala Harris brought thousands of Americans to watch her motivational speech on Thursday, charting a “new way forward” by rejecting political division. She accepted the Democrats’ historic nomination, while blending her biography, warnings about electing Donald Trump as president and messages about issues important to her and the American people.
On Aug. 22, the final day of the Democratic National Convention at Chicago’s United Center, supporters, politicians, content creators and media waited in anticipation, filling every seat of every row of the United Center end-to-end. The support they’d rallied throughout the night had all led up to one final moment: Vice President Kamala Harris making history.
Following an inspirational video of her story, a bright spotlight followed Ms. Harris across the stage waving to every member of her audience. A deafening standing ovation, lasting for at least three minutes, kept Ms. Harris smiling and waving. When she stepped to the podium to start her speech, the crowd boomed even louder, forcing Ms. Harris to continue embracing her overwhelming support.
As the crowd finally quieted down, still displaying their solidarity by waving vertical “K-A-M-A-L-A” signs and American flags, Ms. Harris was able to start her speech, saying, “Let’s get to business.”
Ms. Harris told moving stories about her childhood and her parents’ journey as immigrants. Ms. Harris’s mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who died 15 years ago, had a substantial impact on her daughter’s life.
“My mother was a brilliant, five-foot-tall brown woman with an accent …,” Ms. Harris said, “She taught us to never complain about injustice, but do something about it. Do something about it.”
This touching reference to her identity, mixed with the lessons she learned from her unique experiences, gripped the audience’s attention. Cheers erupted after every break in her speech, while the smile on Ms. Harris’s face reflected those of the thousands in front of her.
Explaining why she became a prosecutor, Ms. Harris said that in high school, she found out that her best friend Wanda was being sexually abused by her stepfather, and Ms. Harris was compelled to initiate change.
“This is one of the reasons I became a prosecutor: to protect people like Wanda,” Ms. Harris said, “because I believe everyone has a right to safety, to dignity and to justice.”
Ms. Harris emphasized who she always supports: the people.
Ms. Harris soaked in the thunderous applause as she accepted the nomination, becoming the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket.
Listing all her previous accomplishments and displaying her expertise, Ms. Harris explained the kind of leader she would be.
“I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations,” Ms. Harris said. “A president who leads and listens; who is realistic, practical and has common sense.”
Ms. Harris warned of the dangers that would arise if Donald Trump were elected president.
“Consider not only the chaos and calamity when he was in office, but also the gravity of what has happened since he lost the last election,” Ms. Harris said. “Donald Trump tried to throw away your votes.”
After she finished speaking on the backwards progress that America would make if Mr. Trump returns to the White House, she said, “We are not going back.” In waves throughout the stadium, supporters began powerfully chanting the phrase with her — a phrase repeated by many speakers throughout the night.
Lastly, Ms. Harris touched on many issues important to herself and other Americans. From personal experience, she emphasized the importance of fighting for the middle class and economy. She delivered lines about womens’ reproductive rights, gun violence, LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, voting rights, national security and the Israel-Gaza war.
“We are the heirs to the greatest democracy in the history of the world,” Ms. Harris said. “And on behalf of our children and our grandchildren and all those who sacrificed so dearly for our freedom and liberty, we must be worthy of this moment.”
The crowd roared with deafening standing applause. Ms. Harris’ husband, Doug Emhoff; her running mate, Tim Walz, and his wife, Gwen; and their extended families came to the stage as blue and red confetti began falling from the ceiling of the United Center. Shortly after, thousands of blue, red and white balloons slowly dropped onto the supportive audience — still cheering loudly after a long, but exciting, four days of the DNC.
Other highlights from the night:
- Rev. Al Sharpton, also an opinion host on MSNBC, introduced four of the famous Central Park Five, which he called the “Exonerated Five”: Dr. Yusef Salaam, who this year became a member of the New York City Council, and activists Korey Wise, Raymond Santana and Kevin Richardson. Recalling their experience, Mr. Wise said, “Our youth was stolen from us. … Every day when we walked into the courtroom, people screamed at us, threatened us, because of Donald Trump.” He ended with a powerful statement: “We were innocent kids, but we served a total of 41 years in prison.” Dr. Salaam referenced Mr. Trump in his speech, saying, “He has never changed, and he never will. … One day, America will say goodbye to that hateful man.”
- Erupting cheers met former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona. After surviving a gunshot to the head, Ms. Gliffords shared her inspiring story. “I learned to talk again, one word at a time,” she said. “Thank you Joe Biden, thank you for everything. Joe is a great President, my friend Kamala will be a great President. She has grit.” As she left the stage, chants of “Gabby” followed her.
- Among the many colorful outfits, many women at the convention wore white outfits to reference the suffrage movement. Looking down at the stadium, a sea of white started to glow as the lights dimmed.
- Between speeches, the musician Pink performed. She, her 15-year-old daughter Willow and others sang “What About Us” to a stadium glowing in the color pink.
- Former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois emphasized Mr. Trump’s negative impact on the Republican party itself. He paused his speech while the crowd loudly chanted “U-S-A.” Mr. Kinzinger said, “Donald Trump is a weak man, pretending he is strong. He is a small man pretending to be big. He is a faithless man pretending to be righteous. He’s a perpetrator who can’t stop playing the victim.” Ending the list, he powerfully said, “Donald Trump has suffocated the soul of the Republican Party.”
- Maya Harris’s speech was followed by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, longtime friend of Kamala Harris, since they each served as attorney general of their state. Referencing Ms. Harris, he said, “I know her, and tonight I want the American people to know — even if you don’t agree with her, Kamala Harris will fight for you to the very end.”
- Between speakers, the Bulls Drumline performed. The energetic crowd raised handheld American flags above their heads, chanting “U-S-A” until the very end of the performance.
- When U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts walked onto the stage, she received a standing ovation for at least two minutes that moved her to tears. Near the end of her speech, she joked, saying, “Trust Donald Trump and JD Vance to look over your family? … I wouldn’t trust them to move my couch.”
- Six elected officials and everyday people gave joint remarks, including Lisa Madigan, former Attorney General of Illinois — and a Lab parent. Speaking about Ms. Harris, Ms. Madigan said, “For as long as I have known her, Kamala Harris has always taken principled positions and never wavered.”
- Kamala Harris’s nieces, Amara and Leela taught the crowd how to pronounce Ms. Harris’s name by making the crowd chant, “Comma-La.”
