DNC Night 3: Parents of American hostage held by Hamas call for Oct. 7 hostages to return home

CHICAGO — Parents of an American hostage held by Hamas spoke Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

There are 109 people who are being held hostage by Hamas and eight of them are Americans, including North Carolina’s Keith Siegel.

In what was one of the most powerful and emotional moments of the week, the parents of another American held hostage, 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin, pleaded for them to be released.

On Oct. 7, 2023, Goldberg-Polin was at the Nova Music Festival to celebrate his birthday. His mom said as rockets began to fall, Hersh and his best friend hid in a 5x8-foot bomb shelter.

The crowd was brought to tears as she described terrorists throwing grenades into the shelter. She said Hersh’s best friend was able to repel seven of them away. The eighth killed him.

Hersh’s dominant arm was blown off before he was loaded onto a pickup truck and kidnapped.

His parents said on stage that there is a surplus of agony in the Israel-Gaza conflict and in a competition of pain, there are no winners.

They asked for lawmakers in both parties to work together to bring the hostages home and put in place a ceasefire.

“This is a political convention but needing our only son and our hostages home, is not a political issue,” said Jon Polin, parent.

“Hersh, Hersh, if you can hear us, we love you, stay strong, survive,” said Rachel Goldberg, parent. “Bring them home.”

They said the parents of the hostages meet every few weeks and are grateful for the support.

Walz introduces himself to nation

DNC Night 3: Tim Walz, Bill Clinton and Nancy Pelosi to take the stage

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former President Bill Clinton, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg were speakers at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday. But all eyes in primetime will be on Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. It’s an important address as the public still learns and forms opinions about the teacher turned politician turned Vice Presidential pick.

Walz accepted his party’s nomination for vice president.

He used his Democratic National Convention address to thank the packed arena for “bringing the joy” to an election transformed by the elevation of his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris.

For the most part, Democrats are universal in their praise of Walz. He’s described as a Midwest dad who can talk to all voters. Fifty GOP veterans, including two from South Carolina, are condemning Walz for misstating his military record.

VP pick Walz to take stage at DNC

Charlotte-based Democratic strategist Douglas Wilson says he is a strong pick.

“It really balances out the ticket. It shows that these two individuals came from humble beginnings and worked their way up to where they are now, which is the story of America, right? The story of America is about being able to live the American dream, and these two are doing it,” Wilson said. “Like [former President Barack] Obama said last night, Walz is someone who should be in politics. He was a school teacher, he was a coach, he came from a modest background like many other Americans in our country and that makes him a perfect choice for her.”

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper will address the Democratic National Convention on Thursday.

Mecklenburg County Democrats eye gains

If two more Democrats voted in each precinct in Mecklenburg County in 2020, Cheri Beasley would be Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court. Mecklenburg County is a blue county, but party leadership says improvements in Meck mean Democrat wins statewide.

Charles DeLoach of the Mecklenburg Democratic Party understands why some are hesitant to vote.

“I get it, man, it’s hard to feel at the end of the day that people are delivering for you when the problems aren’t being resolved and you have to pay the bill today,” he said.

He says it is on the party to convince those voters that they are working for them and that their vote matters.

“I understand it’s tough to actually make that connection between the policies happening in Raleigh or in Washington and the kitchen table, but that can make a huge difference in your life,” he said.

In the 2022 election, the average turnout statewide was 51%. In Wake County, 56% of registered voters cast a ballot. In Mecklenburg that number was 45%.

Mecklenburg County Democratic Party Chair Drew Kromer says increasing that turnout even a little will make a big difference.

“Mecklenburg County is the county that has all the additional voters that are needed to make sure the Democrats win statewide,” Kromer said.

The party now has full-time staff, which is helping coordinate volunteers who are knocking on doors, hosting events, and making calls. Kromer says with Harris at the top of the ticket, more people are ready to help.

“People are fired up. They’re excited,” he said. “They see new energy and I think at the end of the day, when voters get excited, when people show up, that’s when things start to change.”

Tonight’s program schedule is listed below. All times shown as local – CST.

5:30 p.m.

Call to Order

Alex Hornbrook

Executive Director of the 2024 Democratic National Convention Committee

Gavel In

The Honorable Cory Booker

United States Senator, New Jersey

Invocation

Sri Rakesh Bhatt

Sri Siva Vishnu Temple

Bishop Leah D. Daughtry

The House of the Lord Churches

Pledge of Allegiance

Students from Moreland Arts & Health Sciences Magnet School from St. Paul, MN

National Anthem

Jess Davis

Presentation of Honorary Resolutions

The Honorable Jaime Harrison

Chairman of the Democratic National Committee

Joined by Vice Chairs The Honorable Keisha Lance Bottoms, Ken Martin, Henry R. Muñoz III, Treasurer Virginia McGregor, and Finance Chair Chris Korge.

Remarks

Mini Timmaraju

President and CEO of Reproductive Freedom for All

Remarks

Alexis McGill Johnson

President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund

Remarks

Cecile Richards

Reproductive Rights Champion

Remarks

Kelley Robinson

President of the Human Rights Campaign

Remarks

Jessica Mackler

President of EMILYs List

Remarks

María Teresa Kumar

Founding President and CEO of Voto Latino

Remarks

The Honorable Tom Suozzi

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, New York

6 p.m

Welcome Remarks

The Honorable Cory Booker

United States Senator, New Jersey

Joint Remarks

The Honorable Aftab Pureval

Mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio

The Honorable Cavalier Johnson

Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Joint Remarks

Rashawn Spivey and Deanna Branch

Lead pipe removal advocates

Remarks

The Honorable Lisa Blunt Rochester

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Delaware

Remarks

The Honorable Grace Meng

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, New York

Remarks: “Project 2025—Chapter Three: Freedoms”

The Honorable Jared Polis

Governor of Colorado

Remarks

The Honorable Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Florida

Remarks

The Honorable Suzan DelBene

Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Remarks

The Honorable Keith Ellison

Attorney General of Minnesota

Remarks

The Honorable Dana Nessel

Attorney General of Michigan

Joint Remarks

Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg

Parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin

Performance

Maren Morris

American singer-songwriter

7 p.m.

Remarks

The Honorable Veronica Escobar

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Texas

Remarks

The Honorable Chris Murphy

United States Senator, Connecticut

Remarks

The Honorable Javier Salazar

Sheriff of Bexar County, Texas

Remarks

The Honorable Pete Aguilar

Chair of the House Democratic Caucus

Influencer Remarks

Carlos Eduardo Espina

Content creator

Remarks

Olivia Troye

Former Trump administration national security official

Remarks

The Honorable Geoff Duncan

Former Lieutenant Governor of Georgia

Remarks

The Honorable Bennie G. Thompson

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mississippi

Remarks

Sergeant Aquilino Gonell

Retired United States Capitol Police Officer

Remarks

The Honorable Andy Kim

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, New Jersey

Influencer Remarks

Olivia Julianna

Content creator

Performance

Stevie Wonder

American singer-songwriter and musician

Remarks

Kenan Thompson and Guests on Project 2025

American comedian and actor

8 p.m.

Host Introduction

Mindy Kaling

Remarks

The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries

U.S. House of Representatives Democratic Leader

Remarks

The Honorable Bill Clinton

42nd President of the United States

Remarks

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Speaker Emerita of the U.S. House of Representatives

Remarks

The Honorable Josh Shapiro

Governor of Pennsylvania

Remarks

Alexander Hudlin

Jasper Emhoff

Arden Emhoff

Remarks

The Honorable Catherine Cortez Masto

United States Senator, Nevada

9 p.m.

Performance

Amanda Gorman

National Youth Poet Laureate

Remarks

The Honorable Wes Moore

Governor of Maryland

Remarks

The Honorable Pete Buttigieg

Performance

John Legend

American singer-songwriter

Sheila E.

American singer and drummer

Remarks

The Honorable Amy Klobuchar

United States Senator, Minnesota

Remarks

Benjamin C. Ingman

Former student of Governor Walz

Remarks

The Honorable Tim Walz

Governor of Minnesota

Benediction

William Emmanuel Hall

Lead Pastor of St. James Church in Chicago

(VIDEO: Democrats turn toward Harris at DNC)

Democrats turn toward Harris at DNC

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