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DNC 2024 Day 1 live updates: Protesters begin marching ahead of DNC

About 15,000 people were present at a rally ahead of the march.

Last Updated: August 19, 2024, 2:31 PM EDT

In a presidential campaign like no other -- and just four weeks after President Joe Biden bowed out of the race -- Democrats are gathering in Chicago this week to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris as their candidate to take on former President Donald Trump.

9 hours and 53 minutes ago

Biden en route to Chicago

President Joe Biden s welcomed by Air Force Colonel Angela Ochoa as he arrives to board Air Force One as they depart Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on August 19, 2024.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden boarded Air Force One just after 2 p.m. ET to depart for Chicago.

They were followed by Peter Neal, the husband of Biden's granddaughter Naomi Biden.

Traveling with the president are key members of his staff, including chief of staff Jeff Zients and senior advisers Mike Donilon and Steve Ricchetti. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre will gaggle with reporters during the flight.

10 hours and 22 minutes ago

Ashley Biden to introduce her father at DNC tonight

Ashley Biden will introduce her father, President Joe Biden, tonight ahead of his remarks to the DNC, according to the schedule.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

1:07 PM EDT

More Monday DNC convention speakers confirmed

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fein, Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas and everyday Americans -- such as women who have been "subjected to cruel and dangerous abortion bans" -- will speak at the DNC Monday night, said Harris Deputy Campaign Manager Quentin Fulks at the committee's daily press briefing.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York also announced in a post on X that she will be speaking at 9 p.m. ET.

A full rundown of the Monday's DNC convention speakers is still imminent, but several other names have been confirmed including President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

11:37 AM EDT

2024 Democratic platform to be voted on Monday at convention

Democratic National Committee delegates will vote on the party's 2024 platform at its convention on Monday evening, according to officials.

A full, 92-page draft platform was unveiled by the party late on Sunday night. The document, which was written before President Joe Biden left the 2024 race, was voted upon by the DNC's Rules Committee in July. It was not updated significantly since Harris replaced him at the top of the ticket.

Biden is mentioned 287 times in the platform, while Harris is mentioned 32 times.

"It makes a strong statement about the historic work that President Biden and Vice President Harris have accomplished hand-in-hand," according to a release from the DNC, "and offers a vision for a progressive agenda that we can build on as a nation and as a Party as we head into the next four years."

The draft platform emphasizes Biden's support for brokering an "immediate and lasting ceasefire" between Israel and Hamas. The document also says that Biden has "made real progress on a way forward that will free the hostages" and "establish a durable ceasefire" as well as "meaningful progress and a political horizon for the Palestinian people."

It does not, however, say that the party supports an arms embargo on Israel -- something that progressives have been pushing for. It highlights Biden's support for combating antisemitism.

Several delegates who have spoken with ABC News expect the draft to pass without significant objection.

-ABC News' Isabella Murray

Preparations for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center continue on Aug. 18, 2024 in Chicago.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images