Harris set her agenda in a rousing speech at the DNC.
The moment that millions around the country have been waiting for took place Thursday at the Democratic National Convention as Vice President Kamala Harris accepted the nomination for the presidency.
Harris took the stage to a roaring standing ovation and soon set her agenda in a rousing speech.
Whether it was immigration, reproductive rights or foreign security, the vice president showcased a sharp contrast in policies to former President Donald Trump.
Harris's speech was preceded by a who's who of leaders from both sides of the aisle who all made the case that she is the best person to be the nation's leader.
Some 100,000 red, white and blue balloons are falling in the arena while Beyonce's "Freedom" plays as the final night of the DNC wraps up.
In preparation, volunteers and convention staff began inflating them on Wednesday, a convention official said.
This speech was the first time Harris has spoken at such length to address the Israel-Hamas war and crisis in Gaza. She has to walk a fine line to balance American foreign policy interests in supporting Israel with the serious concerns many of her party's voters have about the conflict's impacts on individuals in Gaza. Protests have continued throughout the DNC to include the voice of Palestinians on stage, and "Uncommitted" movement voters have been pushing the Democrats to take a harder line on Israel.
— 538's Monica Potts
Harris wrapped her historic speech by again citing her late mother's words.
"My mother had another lesson she used to teach. Never let anyone tell you who you are. You show them who you are," she said.
"America, let us show each other, and the world who we are, and what we stand for: Freedom, opportunity, compassion, dignity, fairness and endless possibilities," she added
Harris pushed Americans to remember "the privilege and pride of being an American."
"Let’s get out there and let’s fight for it. Let’s get out there, and let’s vote for it," she said.
In a litany of attacks against Trump, Harris cited the former president’s “explicit intent to deploy our active duty military against our own citizens.’
In 2023, Trump told voters at a campaign rally in Iowa that he wouldn’t wait for governors or mayors to “get crime out of our cities" by calling in the military.
Calling New York City and Chicago “crime dens,” Trump said, “And one of the other things I’ll do — because you’re supposed to not be involved in that, you just have to be asked by the governor or the mayor to come in — the next time, I’m not waiting. One of the things I did was let them run it, and we’re going to show how bad a job they do ... We don’t have to wait any longer.”
—PolitiFact’s Aaron Sharockman
