Democrats pushed a message of "joy" as they continued to rally behind Kamala Harris' presidential run during the third night of the party's convention in Chicago.
On Wednesday (August 21), speakers described Harris as a leader who could move the nation forward. During their speeches, Former President Bill Clinton said the Democratic nominee brings "sheer joy" to the presidential race while Oprah Winfrey urged voters to "choose joy."
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a former high school teacher and football coach, introduced himself as the party's vice presidential nominee.
“Thank you for bringing the joy to this fight,” Walz told the crowd.
Keep scrolling to find out more about the memorable moments from Day 3 of the Democratic National Convention.
Oprah Winfrey Urges Voters To "Choose Joy"
During her speech, Winfrey described Harris' story as "the best of America."
“Soon and very soon, we’re going to be teaching our daughters and sons about how this child of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, two idealistic and energetic immigrants — immigrants — how this child grew up to become the 47th president of the United States,” Winfrey said.
“That is the best of America,” she said before the crowd erupted into a “U-S-A” chant.
The talk show host also urged Americans to "choose joy" at the ballot box in November.
Gov. Tim Walz Introduces Himself — Accepts Democratic VP nomination
Walz took the DNC stage on Wednesday having never delivered a high-stakes speech in front of a national audience or even used a teleprompter. During his speech, Walz, a two-term governor and former congressman, leaned into his previous roles as a high school teacher and football coach.
The vice presidential nominee touched on policy issues including health care, abortion rights, and homeownership, emphasizing freedom.
“When we Democrats talk about freedom, we mean the freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people you love. Freedom to make your own health care decisions. And yeah, your kids’ freedom to go to school without worrying about being shot dead in the hall,” Walz said.
“That’s what this is all about: The responsibility that we have to our kids, to each other and to the future we’re building together in which everyone is free to build the kind of life that they want.”
Capitol Police Officer Says Trump “Betrayed Us”
During his speech on Wednesday, former US Capitol Police sergeant Aquilino Gonell said former President Donald Trump "summoned our attackers" at the capitol on January 6, 2021.
Trump "betrayed us," Gonell added.
“We officers risked everything to protect innocent people. We were beaten and blinded. I was assaulted with a pole attached to an American flag,” he told the DNC crowd.
Bill Clinton: "We The People" Vs. "Me, Myself, and I"
Clinton delivered a poignant speech at the convention on Wednesday, saying the election is a choice between Harris' "for the people" mindset and Trump's "me, myself, and I."
“I know which one I like better for our country,” Clinton said.
The former president went on to highlight how Trump “mostly talks about himself.”
“So the next time you hear him, don’t count the lies. Count the I’s,” Clinton said. “His vendettas, his vengeance, his complaints, his conspiracies.”
Amanda Gorman Delivers New Poem
Amanda Gorman, the first U.S. national youth poet laureate, debuted a new poem titled "This Sacred Scene" at the DNC on Wednesday.
“Divided we cannot endure, but united we can endeavor to humanize our democracy and endear democracy to humanity,” Gorman said.
“It falls to us, to ensure that we do not fall. For a people that cannot stand together, cannot stand at all.”
Stevie Wonder Performs & Delivers Poignant Message
Stevie Wonder graced the convention stage on Wednesday with a speech and performance in support of Harris.
“I love you. Every song that I’ve sing, every song that I’ve written is because of my love for you right here," Wonder said. “But this year, I prayed very hard for peace to come to our world’s nations, but also to each one of our hearts, even though our hearts have been beaten and broken beyond prayer.”
“Now is the time to understand where we are and what it will take to win. Win the broken hearts, win the disenchanted, win the angry spirits — now is the time.”
The music icon urged Americans to “choose courage over complacency” and to “keep on keeping on until we truly are a united people of these United States."
“Are y’all ready to reach a higher ground?” Wonder asked before performing his 1973 hit “Higher Ground.”
Wes Moore Takes Jab at Trump Draft Deferment
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, leaned into his military background to attack Trump and bolster Harris during his speech at the DNC.
“Guess what? We’ve got 75 days and a wakeup left.” Moore said, referring to a custom where troops count down the number of days until a mission is complete. “Seventy-five days and a wakeup to elect a leader who is willing to believe in the best of us — and that leader is Kamala Harris: the next President of the United States!”
Moore then took aim at Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, who have falsely claimed that Walz retired early from his decades of service in the National Guard to evade a deployment to Iraq. The Maryland governor shot back at Trump's way of evading service.
“I joined the Army when I was 17, in fact, I was too young to sign the paperwork. I had to ask my mother to sign the paperwork for me, because…” Moore said, pausing as he threw his hands up. “I don’t have bone spurs.”
Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson Speaks
President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Alexis McGill Johnson gave a powerful speech on reproductive rights during the convention's third night.
McGill Johnson spoke about a Georgia woman who had to travel to multiple states to seek an abortion.
"We cannot call ourselves a free nation when women are not free," she said.
The Planned Parenthood CEO emphasized that it's important to choose a candidate who supports reproductive freedom, and she condemned Trump for his record on reproductive rights.
Olivia Troye: Being Part Of Trump's White House "Was Terrifying"
During her speech, Olivia Troye, who previously served in the Trump administration as a counterterrorism advisor to former Vice President Mike Pence, recalled her experience in the White House
“Being inside Trump’s White House was terrifying. But what keeps me up at night is what’ll happen if he gets back there," Troye said.
Troye resigned from the Trump administration in 2020.
“I saw how Donald Trump undermined our intelligence community, military leaders, and, ultimately, our democratic process,” she said Wednesday. “Now, he’s doing it again, lying and laying the groundwork to undermine this election.”
Hakeem Jeffries Compares Trump To A Toxic Ex
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) took the convention stage on Wednesday and likened Trump to "an old boyfriend" who "just won't go away."
“He has spent the last four years spinning the block, trying to get back into a relationship with the American people. Bro, we broke up with you for a reason,” Jeffries said.
Jeffries later evoked Taylor Swift's hit “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” saying of Trump “There is no reason for us to ever get back together.”
“Been there, done that, we’re not going back!” he said.
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