What he said at the DNC and who’s speaking on day two

With simply three months to go earlier than the 2024 election, hundreds of individuals have gathered in Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention.

This yr’s occasion is on the United Center Arena and began Monday 19 August, persevering with by way of Thursday.

The conference, which occurs each 4 years earlier than a presidential election, seems to be barely completely different from these up to now. The get together already has formally nominated Vice-President Kamala Harris in a digital roll name after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.

But most of the different DNC traditions – together with appearances from celebrities and memorable speeches from get together leaders – will stay the identical. US conventons date again to the 1830s, when a gaggle of Democratic delegates supporting President Andrew Jackson gathered in Baltimore to appoint him for a second time period.

Here’s what to know.

On Tuesday, former President Barack Obama is anticipated to ship a prime-time speech at round 21:00 native time (03:00 BST). Former First Lady Michelle Obama may also converse.

The night may also function a number of distinguished senators on the conference stage: Majority Leader Chuck Schumer; Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth.

Other key audio system embody Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Mesa, Arizona Mayor John Giles and Ms Harris’s husband, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.

After the conference skilled a variety of delays on Monday, DNC organisers stated that the programme would start earlier, at roughly 17:30 native time.

Wednesday’s line-up reportedly options former President Bill Clinton and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, amongst others.

Ms Harris’s working mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, will give the prime-time speech that evening after his nomination.

The most vital evening of the conference is Thursday, when Vice-President Harris will take the stage. She will formally settle for the presidential nomination and provides her speech on the ultimate evening of the conference devoted “For the Future”.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries may also take the stage in some unspecified time in the future through the week.

Several distinguished Democrats and celebrities took the stage on the primary evening in Chicago.

The conference heard from President Joe Biden, who was the headline speaker on Monday. He was launched by his spouse Jill and daughter Ashley. During an emotional defence of his presidency, he stated: “America, I gave my finest to you.”

2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton supplied her personal tribute to Mr Biden the identical night, and voiced her hope that Kamala Harris might lastly break the “highest, hardest glass ceiling” within the US by changing into the primary feminine president.

Others who spoke on Monday included progressive lawmaker Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Americans affected by abortion bans in Republican-controlled states, and voices from the labour motion, together with United Auto Workers head Shawn Fain.

Because Ms Harris and Mr Walz have already been nominated, this yr’s conference will concentrate on speeches from distinguished Democrats and the adoption of the get together’s platform.

Delegates work through the day to finalise the platform, a draft of which has already been launched.

It focuses on a broad vary of points, together with plans to decrease inflation, mitigate local weather change and deal with gun violence.

In the draft, Democrats distinction every of the get together positions with Project 2025, an ultra-conservative blueprint for what a second Trump administration might appear like, authored by the Heritage Foundation. Trump has sought to distance himself from the mission, although a number of of his allies have been concerned in writing it.

Members of the general public can solely attend the conference in particular person by changing into volunteers. But as with the Republican conference, there will probably be loads of nationwide media protection, and the conference itself will supply live-streams on social media platforms.

You’ll be capable to observe BBC News protection – that includes on-site reporting and evaluation – throughout the web site and app, and on our live-stream.

The BBC News Channel will carry particular protection from 20:00 ET (01:00 BST) every evening. You can discover particular episodes of The Global Story and Americast podcasts on BBC Sounds and different podcast platforms.

Sign up to North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher’s election publication US Election Unspun for his tackle the week’s occasions direct to your inbox.

Around 50,000 individuals are anticipated at this yr’s conference in Chicago. This contains hundreds of delegates chosen by state Democratic events in addition to tremendous delegates, who’re main elected officers, notable members of the Democratic Party and a few members of the Democratic National Committee.

Thousands of members of the media may also be in attendance.

It will probably be a star-studded conference with appearances from a number of celebrities. In 2020, actors Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Eva Longoria attended the conference, whereas Elizabeth Banks and America Ferrera appeared in 2016.

Rumours have swirled about whether or not mega-stars Beyoncé and Taylor Swift will attend this yr, however neither has confirmed.

Demonstrations outdoors the DNC venue centre round opposition to US help of Israel’s warfare in Gaza.

Thousands of marchers took to the streets for a largely peaceable protest on Monday, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an finish to US help for Israel. Several have been arrested when dozens of them broke by way of a safety fence.

The turnout gave the impression to be effectively under the tens of hundreds that organisers had hoped for and wanting the 15,000 they claimed have been there.

In that evening’s tackle, Mr Biden acknowledged that the activists “have a degree”, happening to say that “a whole lot of harmless individuals are being killed, on either side”.