Biden will address the national meeting later in the evening local time, while sitting vice-president and the party’s presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, is not expected to give her speech until Thursday.
– Joe, we thank you for your historic leadership, your lifetime of service to the nation and for all that you continue to do. We are eternally grateful to you,” Harris said.
– Fighting for the ideals
In the unexpected speech, Harris vowed to beat Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the November election.
– Let us fight for the ideals that we hold dear, and let us always remember that when we fight, we win, she said – to great cheers from the audience.
It has only been a little over a month since Joe Biden, who was under great pressure from a number of party colleagues, announced that he would not run for re-election, despite winning an overwhelming victory in the nomination elections.
Earlier on Monday, Biden was on a tour of the facility where the national meeting is held. He was asked if it was a bittersweet moment.
– It is a memorable moment, said the outgoing president.
Demonstrations
Thousands of delegates from all 50 states, as well as the capital Washington DC and US territories in the Caribbean and the Pacific were in Chicago on Monday.
There were also thousands of demonstrators who are planning protests outside the national assembly in support of Gaza, but also demonstrations for abortion, about climate change and against racism.
Earlier on Monday, some of the pro-Palestinian demonstrators tore down a security fence at the area where the national meeting is being held.
More than 50,000 visitors were expected in Chicago. Of these, 5,000 are delegates, 12,000 volunteers and 15,000 representatives of the media.
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2024-08-20 13:12:30
