During a Zoom press conference previewing tonight’s first night of the Democratic National Convention, it was very clear that the tagline “We the People,” was more than just a nice bumper sticker. It was abundantly clear that this going to be the most diverse, inclusive, and open convention in this nation’s history.
The first ever-virtual national convention will be condensed into two hours of primetime on CBS, NBC, and ABC. But on MSNBC, CBSN, CNN, ABC LIVE a cable and streaming, there is plenty of action that will start at 8 p.m. live.
There will be plenty of star power on opening night of the convention. Sen. Bernie Sanders will get the spotlight and he will be introduced by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The keynote will be given by former first lady Michelle Obama and other speakers on the list will include a wide ideological spectrum and include former Republican presidential candidate and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C.
Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond who is the co-chair of Joe Biden’s national campaign will also speak but he did address the media via Zoom about the importance of the “We the People,” theme.
He made it clear that inclusion is the key to the 2020 Democratic Convention. “We the People, are the people who have suffered through the mismanagement of this COVID 19 pandemic, we are the people who have seen the robust economy that the Trump Admiration inherited be turned into depression like joblessness, we the people suffered through a summer of racial injustice and we are the people who know that suffering was shared by Democrats, Republicans, Independents of all ages, economic groups and religions.”
Congressman Richmond who will be a speaker tonight also defended having some members of the GOP speak at the DNC. “ You can’t say we the people without including all the people who have seen the suffering this country has gone through over the past nearly four years.
Some other things to keep a lookout for will be plenty of first responders who have been on the frontline of battling this COVID19 pandemic. Also, a number of members from the entertainment community will be on hand as well.
Here is tonight’s line-up
Introduction
Eva Longoria
American actress
“We the People” Gavel In
Everyday Americans will read the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution,
before Convention Chair
and The Honorable Bennie Thompson officially gavels in the
2020 Democratic National Convention.
Call to Order
The Honorable Bennie
Thompson
Permanent Chair of the 2020 Democratic National Convention
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mississippi
Pledge of Allegiance
National Anthem
A multicultural choir performing virtually with singers representing all 50
states, the District of Columbia, the Cheyenne Nation and five territories,
including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the
Northern Mariana Islands.
Invocation
Reverend Gabriel Salguero
President of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition
Co-lead pastor of The Lamb’s Church in New York, New York
Remarks
The Honorable Gwen Moore
Sergeant-at-Arms of the 2020 Democratic National Convention
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Wisconsin
WE THE PEOPLE DEMANDING RACIAL JUSTICE
Remarks
The Honorable Muriel Bowser
Mayor of Washington, D.C.
Performance
Leon Bridges
American singer
“The Path Forward”: A
Conversation with Vice President Biden on Racial Justice
Vice President Biden engages with, and listens to, social justice activist Jamira Burley,
Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, NAACP
President Derrick Johnson, and author Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, about
how America can move forward towards equality, fairness, and justice for all.
Remarks
The Honorable James Clyburn
House Democratic Whip
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, South Carolina
WE THE PEOPLE HELPING
EACH OTHER THROUGH COVID-19
Remarks
The Honorable Andrew Cuomo
Governor of the State of New York
Remarks
Kristin Urquiza
A woman whose father lost his life to COVID-19.
A Conversation with
Healthcare Workers on the Front Lines
A conversation with a doctor, paramedic, and two nurses on the front lines of
this pandemic about what they’ve endured, and what’s at stake in this election
for America’s essential medical workers.
Introduction of Performer
The Honorable Sara Gideon
Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives
Performance
Maggie Rogers
American singer-songwriter
Remarks
The Honorable Gretchen
Whitmer
Governor of the State of Michigan
WE THE PEOPLE PUTTING
COUNTRY OVER PARTY
Remarks
The Honorable Christine
Whitman
Former Governor of New Jersey
Meg Whitman
Former CEO of Hewlett Packard
The Honorable Susan Molinari
Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, New York
Remarks
The Honorable John Kasich
Former Governor of the State of Ohio
Remarks
The Honorable Doug Jones
United States Senator, Alabama
Remarks
The Honorable Catherine
Cortez Masto
United States Senator, Nevada
Remarks
The Honorable Amy Klobuchar
United States Senator, Minnesota
“United We Stand”
Former 2020 Democratic candidates for president of the United States will come
together once again to talk about why they ran, what they’re fighting for, and
why they believe Joe Biden will bring the nation together, move the nation out
of crisis and chaos, and move us forward —featuring Vice Presidential Nominee and Senator
Kamala Harris, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Governor Jay
Inslee, Senator Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Representative Seth Moulton, Former U.S.
Representative Beto O’Rourke, Tom Steyer, and Andrew Yang.
WE THE PEOPLE RECOVERING
Remarks
The Honorable Cedric
Richmond
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Louisiana
Remarks
The Honorable Bernie Sanders
United States Senator, Vermont
WE THE PEOPLE RISE
Keynote Remarks
Michelle Obama
Former First Lady of the United States
Performance
Billy Porter and Steven
Stills
American singer-songwriters
Benediction
Reverend Dr. Jerry Young
18th President of the National Baptist Convention, USA
