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 photo of North Carolina native Keith Siegel, one of 8 American hostages being held by Hamas, was shown on stage. The parents of 23-year-old Hamas hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin delivered a powerful speech that moved many in the crowd to tears. pic.twitter.com/tufRc4Jemc
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) August 22, 2024
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
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.
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)
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