Kamala Harris’s DNC speech claimed a new moment for progressive Democrats

Harris spoke about structural racism, injustice in healthcare and being a ‘proud black woman’ – fresh words for the presidential stage

The first note that Kamala Harris sounded in her first speech as the Democrats’ official vice-presidential nominee was not about Donald Trump, or Joe Biden, or the crossroads to which the country has arrived.

Instead Harris began her acceptance speech at the party’s national convention Wednesday by looking backwards, to the black women activists who fought historically for the right to vote and then for “a seat at the table”.

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Kamala Harris makes history, Barack Obama slams Trump: day three at the DNC – video highlights

Kamala Harris officially accepted her vice-presidential nomination on the third day of the Democratic national convention. Her husband, Douglas Emhoff, joined her on stage alongside Joe Biden and his wife, Jill. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Gabrielle Giffords were among the many figures who condemned Donald Trump's presidency and pledged their support for the Biden-Harris ticket

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Shooting survivor Gabby Giffords delivers moving speech at DNC – video

Former US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords provided the most emotional moment of the third night of the Democratic national convention. 

Giffords, who sustained brain damage after she was shot at an event with constituents in 2011, spoke during a segment on gun control. She said: 'Today, I struggle with speech but I have not lost my voice. America needs all of us to speak out, even when you have to fight to find the words.'

A spokesperson for Giffords said she spent 'countless hours' practising the speech, the longest she has delivered since the shooting

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Kamala Harris reflects on vice-presidential nomination at DNC – video

Kamala Harris made US history as she became the first black woman and first Asian American to join a major party’s presidential ticket. On the third night of the Democratic national convention, she urged voters to reject the divisive and destructive leadership of Donald Trump, calling him a president who 'turns our tragedies into political weapons'

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Clinton urges Americans to vote so ‘Trump can’t steal’ the election – video

Hillary Clinton returned to the Democratic national convention and issued a stark warning about the 2020 election. The 2016 Democratic nominee said she had met many Americans who have told her they wish they could go back to 2016 and vote differently, or just vote. 'This can’t be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election,' Clinton said.

The former secretary of state, who lost the electoral college but won the popular vote in 2016, also reminded voters: 'Joe and Kamala can win 3 million more votes and still lose. Take it from me. We need numbers so overwhelming Trump can’t sneak or steal his way to victory'

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Barack Obama’s fiery DNC speech in full – video

Barack Obama delivered a powerful message calling for voters to protect American democracy during the third night of the Democratic national convention.  The former president argued that Donald Trump’s potential re-election posed an existential threat to the country’s democratic values and institutions, and he implored voters to 'embrace your own responsibility as citizens'

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Kamala Harris accepts vice-presidential nomination on historic night

Democratic nominee urges voters to reject Donald Trump and says: ‘We can do better and deserve so much more’

Kamala Harris, a California senator and daughter of immigrants who has broken racial barriers at every step of her political career, made US history on Wednesday night as she became the first Black woman and first Asian American to formally accept a major party’s vice-presidential nomination.

In the most consequential speech of her career to date, Harris urged voters to reject the divisive and destructive leadership of Donald Trump, calling him a president who “turns our tragedies into political weapons”.

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Democratic national convention day three: Barack Obama & Kamala Harris lead speeches – watch in full

Democrats stage the third night of their online convention after formally nominating Joe Biden as the presidential candidate for November’s election. The main speakers on Wednesday include Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi

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Emotional stories and a virtual roll call backing Biden: day two at the DNC – video highlights

Democrats formally nominated Joe Biden for president during an emotional second night of their party’s virtual convention, warning that Donald Trump was an 'existential threat' to America who had failed to get a grip on the coronavirus pandemic. Here are the key moments from the evening

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Virtual roll call and emotional stories: key takeaways from the DNC’s second night

Democrats nominated Biden with a vibrant roll call that showed every US region as Ady Barkan called for better healthcare

Democrats formally nominated former vice-president Joe Biden for the presidency on Tuesday, the second night of their virtual convention.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the night:

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Democrats formally nominate Joe Biden for president

Second night of Democratic convention saw 17 rising stars in party deliver the keynote and an elevator operator nominate Biden

Democrats formally nominated Joe Biden for president during an emotional second night of their party’s virtual convention, warning that Donald Trump was an “existential threat” to America who had failed to get a grip on the coronavirus pandemic.

The official nomination elevates a historic ticket that includes his vice-presidential running mate Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to be nominated for national office by a major party.

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Activist Ady Barkan delivers powerful speech on protecting US healthcare – video

Prominent activist Ady Barkan called on voters to act in the forthcoming presidential election to safeguard the future of the US healthcare system.

'Even during this terrible crisis, Donald Trump and Republican politicians are trying to take away millions of people's health insurance,' Barkan said on the second night of the Democratic national convention

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Democratic national convention day two: Ocasio-Cortez & Jill Biden among speakers – watch in full

Democrats attending an online convention are expected to formally pick Joe Biden as their party's nominee to face President Donald Trump in the Nov 3 election. The main speakers on the second night of the convention include Joe Biden's wife, Jill, former President Bill Clinton, liberal firebrand Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the party's 2004 presidential nominee John Kerry

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‘In over his head’: Michelle Obama delivers rebuke of Trump in DNC speech – video

The former first lady Michelle Obama has delivered a searing rebuke of Donald Trump, arguing the president is incapable of leading the country during this moment of crisis. “If we have any hope of ending this chaos, we have got to vote for Joe Biden like our lives depend on it,” Obama said. The pre-taped speech attracted widespread praise, with many Democrats saying Obama offered an eloquent and urgent call to action.

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Bernie Sanders slams Trump at DNC: ‘Nero fiddled while Rome burned. The president golfs’ – video

In his convention remarks, the Vermont senator Bernie Sanders strongly urged his supporters to vote for Joe Biden in the November election, warning that Trump represents a severe threat to US democracy. “Our great nation is now living in an unprecedented moment,” Sanders said, describing this election as the “most important in the modern history of this country”

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Kristin Urquiza blames Trump for her father’s coronavirus death in DNC speech – video

Urquiza, whose father died from coronavirus, addressed the Democratic convention to condemn Trump’s efforts to downplay the threat posed by the virus.

Urquiza said her father, Mark Anthony Urquiza, voted for Trump in 2016, and he listened to the president when it came to coronavirus

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Democratic national convention: Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders among speakers – watch in full

Democrats kick off a four-day virtual convention with a display of party unity for Joe Biden and the broad coalition aiming to defeat Republican Donald Trump in November.

Biden's top primary rival, Bernie Sanders, and the former first lady Michelle Obama will headline a parade of speakers appearing from around the US to make a virtual case for a Biden presidency, organizers said

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