On the third day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, pro-Palestinian protesters kept up the pressure on Wednesday, even as police blocked their way outside the United Center venue.
Inside, there was an intoxicating mix of celebrity fanfare as Tim Walz accepted his vice presidential nomination in front of his enthusiastic fans and Bill Clinton took the stage to criticize Trump.
Here are some key takeaways from the third night of the DNC.
Unaffiliated delegates hold sit-in
The Uncommitted National Movement is a group that has secured 30 delegates to the convention and is using the political process to put pressure on the Democratic Party to do more to support a ceasefire in Gaza.
On Wednesday, delegates staged a sit-in outside the DNC after the movement was informed that its Palestinian-American spokesperson had been denied permission to speak on the convention’s main stage.
The sit-in was not planned, one of the group’s leaders, Abbas Alawieh, told the British newspaper Guardian. “We did not come here to hold a sit-in. We are just sitting here waiting for a call,” he said.
Police block pro-Palestinian demonstrators
To keep pro-Palestinian protesters at bay on Wednesday, a wall of dozens of police officers blocked the road to the security perimeter around the venue.
Al Jazeera witnessed the violent arrest of two women wearing hijabs, who were apparently singled out by police before being wrestled to the ground and handcuffed. Despite repeated questions from Al Jazeera about why they were arresting the women, police at the scene did not respond.
Chicago is home to one of the largest Palestinian communities in the United States. Lizette Garza, a social justice activist who was among the protesters outside the DNC, told Al Jazeera that people of different backgrounds in the city are “mourning” alongside Palestinians over the atrocities in Gaza.
The group Muslim Women for Harris-Walz announced it was withdrawing its support for the Democrats after police prevented protesters from marching outside the venue.
After the family of an Israeli prisoner held in Gaza appeared on stage at the event, the group said in a statement: “The family of the Israeli hostage who was on stage tonight has shown more empathy toward Palestinian Americans and Palestinians than our candidate or the DNC.”
The group “Muslim Women for Harris-Walz” disbands because the DNC refused to allow a Palestinian-American to speak.
They write: “The family of the Israeli hostage who was on stage tonight showed more empathy toward Palestinian Americans and Palestinians than our candidate… pic.twitter.com/Gc2VcHNPxn
– Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) 22 August 2024
Walz basks in adoration
Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota and vice presidential candidate for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, accepted his nomination for vice president to thunderous applause. He moved some in the audience to tears when he mentioned during his speech the struggle with infertility that he and his wife endured.
“This is a personal matter for Gwen and me,” he explained. “If you’ve never experienced the hell of infertility, I guarantee you know someone who has.”
A video of his 17-year-old son Gus went viral in which he pointed at Walz and shouted, “That’s my dad!” The family was widely praised on social media for their “authenticity.”
A sea of ”Coach Walz” signs waved wildly as Walz walked off the stage to his farewell song – Rockin’ in the Free World – by Neil Young. In 2020, then-President Donald Trump was sued by Young for using the song without permission at his campaign rallies.
Clinton criticizes Trump’s age and “vanity”
“The only personal vanity I would like to point out is that I am still younger than Donald Trump,” said former President Bill Clinton as he took the stage.
Clinton also attacked Trump’s self-interest, saying, “Next time you hear him, don’t count the lies – count the ‘I’s.'”
Age became a major issue for Democrats when President Joe Biden, who is 81 years old to Trump’s 78, was the Democratic nominee for this year’s presidential election. Biden withdrew from the race after a poor performance in a debate against Trump in June this year, and many commentators believe his decision was due to his age.
In June, a CBS News/YouGov poll found that 72 percent of registered voters believed Biden was not mentally and cognitively healthy enough to serve as president. About 49 percent said they felt similarly about Trump.
Celebrity power on stage
Oprah Winfrey made a striking surprise appearance at the DNC with her famous “Good evening, everyone!” and announced her support for Harris.
She called for tolerance and inclusion. “Despite what some people would have us believe, we are not so different from our neighbors,” Winfrey said. “When a house burns, we don’t ask the homeowner what his race or religion is, we don’t ask who his partner is or how he voted. No. We just try to do our best to save him.”
Winfrey took the opportunity to take a swipe at Trump’s running mate JD Vance, whose previous comments about “cat ladies” included: “And if the apartment happens to belong to a childless cat lady, well, we’ll try to get that cat out, too.”
In a 2021 interview, Vance described Democratic politicians as “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are unhappy with their own lives and the choices they’ve made and therefore want to make the rest of the country unhappy too.”
Grammy-winning singer Maren Morris sang her 2020 single “Better Than We Found It,” a song inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.
Stevie Wonder, the R&B and soul icon, played his rendition of his 1972 classic – Higher Ground.
Wonder said, “As we stand between the pain of history and the promise of tomorrow, we must choose courage over complacency. We must keep going until we are truly one united people of these United States. And then we will reach our highest position.”
Backed by Sheila E on drums, John Legend electrified the crowd with a rendition of Prince’s 1984 rock anthem – Let’s Go Crazy – featuring a guitar solo by Ari O’Neal.
Project 2025 and January 6 appear
Democrats raised the issue of Project 2025, developed by the conservative organization The Heritage Foundation and seen as a potential roadmap for a second term for Trump, although he insists it has nothing to do with his campaign.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis held the book “Project 2025” in his hands and said: “On page 562, it says that Donald Trump could use an obscure 19th-century law to single-handedly ban abortion in all 50 states and even put doctors in jail.”
Florida House Representative Debbie Wasserman Shult said, “For the people of my state, Project 2025 is not just a threat, it is a reality we struggle with every day.”
Kenan Thomas, comedian and cast member of the popular sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, has made several humorous jabs at Project 2025. Holding the 900-page book in his hand, Kenan said, “This is Project 2025, the Republican blueprint for a second Trump term. (Have) you ever seen a document that could kill a small animal and democracy at the same time?”
California Senator Nancy Pelosi said: “The parable of January 6 reminds us that our democracy is only as strong as the courage and commitment of those entrusted with it. The choice could not be clearer. Those leaders are Vice President Harris and Governor Walz.”
