Maxine Waters’ speech at the Democratic National Convention: Watch
Watch: Rep. Maxine Waters’ full speeches at the DNC
Democrat Maxine Waters of California took the stage on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention to show her support for Kamala Harris.
Representative Maxine Waters opened the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday evening as a surprise speaker when Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan brought the longtime representative onto the stage to cheers and applause.
Waters immediately pointed to the party’s history, which dates back to the 1960s, when a battle against racism raged within the Democratic Party.
Waters told the story of Fannie Lou Hamer, who was vying for a seat at the 1964 convention, and came full circle with the impending nomination of Kamala Harris.
Live updates from the Democratic National Convention: When is Joe Biden speaking tonight? How can I watch?
What you should know about Maxine Waters
- Who is she: Maxine Waters is a U.S. representative from California. Her district includes part of Los Angeles.
- What role it plays: She is serving her seventeenth term and is an important member of the Democratic leadership in Congress as well as the progressive and black caucuses.
- Key quote: “And when the dust settles in November and Americans of all stripes have elected her as their president… in that moment, all of us, from New York to Pennsylvania, from Arizona to California, can ask ourselves: Is this America? And we will be able to say loudly and proudly: And you’re damn right it is!”
When and where will the DNC take place
The Democratic National Convention will take place from August 19 to 22 in Chicago, Illinois.
The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, will be the main venue for the DNC.
Chicago has hosted the Democratic National Convention eleven times, most recently in 1996, when President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second term at the United Center.
How to watch and stream the DNC 2024
The convention will be broadcast live on the organization’s website from the United Center in Chicago on Monday from 6:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time (5:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time) and on the other days from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time (6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time).
USA TODAY will provide live stream coverage of the DNC every night Monday through Thursday on YouTube.
What are the themes for each night of the DNC?
The DNC announced the evening’s themes for the convention. The title of the convention is “For the People, For Our Future.”
Here are the topics for each evening:
- Monday: “For the people”
- Tuesday: “A bold vision for America’s future”
- Wednesday: “A fight for our freedoms”
- Thursday: “For our future”
