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CNN Live Event/Special
First Night of 2020 Democratic National Convention Kicks Off; Rep. Jim Clyburn's Remarks at the 2020 Democratic National Convention; Gov. Cuomo: "Joe Biden Can Restore the Soul of America". Aired 9-10p ET
Aired August 17, 2020 - 21:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[21:00:00]
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And can they tap into some of that energy that you're seeing all across the Democratic base where they're really fired up against President Trump on this issue.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST, THE SITUATION ROOM WITH WOLF BLITZER: All right, this Democratic Convention is about to begin. In fact, we're told it's beginning right now, the American actress, Eva Longoria, the M.C., to start - to start this program tonight. It's starting right now.
(MUSIC)
TEXT: D20 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.
EVA LONGORIA BASTON, ACTRESS & CONVENTION MODERATOR: Good evening. I am Eva Longoria Baston. And welcome to the 2020 Democratic National Convention, uniting America.
Every four years, we come together to reaffirm our democracy. This year, we've come to save it. It's going to take all of us. So, tonight, we stand together, united by the values we cherish, decency, respect, justice and the opportunity to rise up.
We always hear that line about this being the most important election of our lifetimes. But this year, it really is. The past few months have tested us all. We've lost more than 170,000 family members and friends to COVID. This tragedy is compounded by the loss of jobs and income.
But it's not just the past few months. The past four years have left us, as a nation, diminished and divided. And yet, in the middle of the fear, and sorrow, and the uncertainty people have come together because they know we are better than this. America is better than this.
And so, we choose to act, inspired by the three sacred words that breathed life into our nation, "We the people."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC) TEXT: THE PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, I'm ready.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, let's go.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Come on, now.
DANIEL DAE KIM, ACTOR: OK, are we ready?
MEGAN RAPINOE, AMERICAN SOCCER PLAYER: I think I learned this in middle school.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Or fifth grade.
DOLORES HUERTA, LABOR LEADER AND POLITICAL ORGANIZER: Can I say this in Spanish?
JUDGE LINA HIDALGO, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS: So, should I read just this line or the whole thing?
TEXT: UNION JUSTICE TRANQUILITY DEFENSE WELFARE LIBERTY.
(MUSIC)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Justice.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tranquility.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tranquilidad.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Liberty.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Liberty.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Liberty.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Liberty.
REP. MARCIA FUDGE (D-OH): Let's do this.
TEXT: WE THE PEOPLE.
KHIZR KHAN, GOLD STAR PARENT: We the people.
DONNA HYLTON, CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM ADVOCATE: We the people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We the people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nosotros.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We the people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We the people.
REP. BENNIE THOMPSON (D-MS): We the people of the United States. HUERTA: De los Estados Unidos.
REP. FILEMON VELA (D-TX): In order to form.
ADY BARKAN, HEALTHCARE ACTIVIST: A more perfect union.
HIDALGO: Establish justice.
DEL. DANICA ROEM, VIRGINIA HOUSE OF DELEGATES: Ensure domestic tranquility.
FRANK VAVALA, MAJOR GENERAL, U.S. ARMY (RETIRED): Provide for the common defense.
HYLTON: Promote the general welfare.
KHAN: And secure the blessings of liberty.
FUDGE: To ourselves.
AGNES MOORE, WWII: "ROSIE THE RIVETER": And our posterity.
JOE BIDEN (D) PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We the people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We the people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We the people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We the people.
RAPINOE: We the people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We the people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We the people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We the people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We the people.
KIM: We the people.
BIDEN: We the people of the United States.
BENNIE THOMPSON: We the people call the 48th quadrennial Democratic National Convention to order.
(BIDEN'S GRANDCHILDREN LEAD PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE)
BIDEN'S GRANDCHILDREN: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
(MUSIC)
CHOIR SINGING: O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain.
(CHOIR SINGS "THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER" AT 2020 DNC)
CHOIR SINGING: Oh, say can you see By the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed At the twilight's last gleaming Whose bright stripes and bright stars Through the perilous fight 'Ore the ramparts we watched
[21:05:00]
Were so gallantly streaming And the rocket's red glare The bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night That our flag was still there Oh, say does that star spangled banner yet wave 'Ore the land of the free And the home of the brave And the home of the brave.
TEXT: D20 DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
REV. GABRIEL SALGUERO, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL LATINO EVANGELICAL COALITION: Hello. My name is Reverend Gabriel Salguero. Let us pray.
Almighty God, we confess that our nation needs you and has always needed you. We pray for your blessing upon all of us, Republicans, Independents and Democrats. As we strive to form a more perfect union, we pray for your strength, guidance and wisdom.
Lord, we recognize that we are living in challenging times that call us to live up to the highest angels of our national character. As we confront the turbulent winds of a global pandemic, economic uncertainty, and civil discourse, may your gracious hand lead us to the peaceful shores of love, justice and civility.
Help us, oh, Lord, to be ever mindful of the most vulnerable among us, from our golden generation to our youngest children, (FOREIGN LANGUAGE) to our veterans, from our healthcare workers to our schoolteachers, give us a heart of compassion and grace.
This nation, from Miami to Minneapolis, and from Portland to El Paso, ask you to shepherd us to a hope-filled vision that does justice (FOREIGN LANGUAGE) and walks humbly before you. I pray this in the matchless name of Jesus, amen.
BASTON: Welcome to our Convention across America. We had hoped to gather in one place. But instead, we figured out a
safe and responsible way to come together to share our ideas and talk about the future of our country. And that's the kind of leadership we need right now. That's the kind of leadership that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will bring to the White House.
So, during the next four nights, we will gather safely from our homes, to listen, to learn, to be inspired, to act, to vote, and to build that more perfect union.
I am honored to be with you this evening. I'm here tonight as a ninth- generation Texan, as a daughter of a veteran and a teacher, as a mother, as a voter and as a patriot.
I share Joe Biden's belief that the story of America is one of ordinary people coming together to do extraordinary things and, at our best, our country rewards hard work. We celebrate diversity. We look out for each other, and we lift one another up.
So tonight, we're going to begin with the simple kindness we've been extending to each other a lot lately. We're going to check in with folks around the country and ask, "How are you doing?"
As many of you know, small businesses employ half of all U.S. workers. Tonight, we have Scott.
Scott, you are a small business owner from Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. Small businesses have been hit so hard in this crisis, so many small businesses. How are you doing? How are you managing?
SCOTT RICHARDSON: Well it's been rough. Rough is a nice word to say it.
My wife and I, 31 years ago, began our business. And, quite honestly, over all these years, we face some adversity and challenges, but, to be honest, nothing, nothing like we are today. We've literally had to reinvent our business several times, since the beginning of the year, just to - just to stay afloat.
[21:10:00]
And we - our revenue, for example, is off about 40 percent. We have half of the employees that we had pre-COVID. And our customers are a little scared. Our employees are sometimes afraid to come to work because of the COVID. And, to be honest with you, I'm just frustrated.
I don't understand how we got here. We are the greatest nation in the world. And it just seems to me that maybe if we just came together, on this one issue alone, maybe as Americans, and being united, we can overcome.
BASTON: Yes. Thank you, Scott, for sharing your story. I'm sure many small business owners feel the same way that you're feeling now. We wish you the best for your business and, of course, for your family.
Now I'd like to turn to Marley Dias, who is 15-years-old, from West Orange, New Jersey. She's a Literary Activist, and Author, and she is the Founder of 1000 Black Girl Books.
Marley, so many young people are struggling with the changes due to COVID. How are you doing?
MARLEY DIAS: I'm doing all right. I feel better every day, feel more hopeful.
I thought this was going to be a few weeks, at first, where I wouldn't see my friends, and I have to stick it out. But, obviously, as it's grown longer, I really want to focus on activism, and still spreading important messages, given the fact that I can't go out.
So, instead I'm doing virtual read-alouds online, which has been so fun getting to interact and meet new kids and encourage and promote the joy that we can find in reading and in learning.
It's also super-fun to see teenagers, like me, going on social media, and talking about social issues and injustices that they care about, because sometimes you don't have that space in school.
So, I hope that, a year from now, when we get to go back, and be safe, and be protected, we will still have these conversations, and still have a new possibility, in a new world.
BASTON: Yes, thank you so much, Marley. You're such an inspiration. I don't think I was doing half of what you're doing at 15. And I love seeing how brave and creative your generation is to creating change. So, thank you. Thank you so much for your work.
Let's check in with Rick.
Rick, you are a farmer from Volant, Pennsylvania. Your farm has been in your family for generations. What have the trade wars and the pandemic done to your family's life work?
RICK TELESZ, FARMER: Well, first of all, I'd like to offer the Trump family our condolences for his loss.
Getting back to the business side of it, the trade war was - it was a real stressful and truly a devastating effect on the farm. Most probably what people can relate to mostly in agriculture is soybean tariffs. And then, whenever you compound the effects of the COVID-19 virus, nobody could have prevented that.
It's a shame our leadership misinformed the people, like myself, in the country, on what was coming down the road. My biggest - my biggest concern is that if these trends continue, with this type of leadership, I will be the last generation farming this farm.
BASTON: Yes, it's a scary thought. And I'm sure a lot of farmers--
TELESZ: I mean I don't--
BASTON: --feel the same way.
TELESZ: I don't have the answers. But past experiences, if something doesn't work for you, it's time for a change. And that's why I'm supporting Joe Biden all the way.
BASTON: Well, thank you so much. Rick, I couldn't agree with you more. We need meaningful change and leadership that will support family farms like yours, so we wish you the best. Thank you for sharing your story.
Finally, let's hear from Michelle, from my home state of Texas. Michelle, you are a school nurse, and a mother in El Paso. How are you preparing for the new school year?
MICHELLE BEEBE, SCHOOL NURSE: Hi, Eva.
Well we've already started school, but it is a little challenging, because every day, something seems to change. We start one way, one day, and we have to change it the next day.
And I know that, right now, it's kind of sad not to see the kiddos when we're back, but I know that that will change. We're going to have to adapt and persevere. But honestly, right now, all I can think about is keeping my kiddos safe.
I know, back in March, we had them at home, and we were doing OK. But now, they're wanting us to take them back to school. And it's a little scary with all the up-rise in COVID cases.
And so, I just want to say that I am committed to taking care of my family, my students and all my staff at my school. I will do whatever it takes to ensure that we are all ready to go back to school safe and healthy.
And I know that I am optimistic to move forward with our life, and Joe Biden will be the one to take us there. I just want to say for everyone to please remember to wash their hands and wear their mask because we're all in this together.
BASTON: Thank you, Michelle. I think there's nothing more difficult for us, as moms, than to see our children suffer. And so, I think you're doing a great job of guiding them through this very difficult time. And thank you for the work you do as a nurse. It's truly heroic.
BEEBE: Thank you.
[21:15:00]
BASTON: I really enjoyed talking to all of you. I think I have one last question. Do you believe that change is coming? Do you believe that better days are ahead?
TELESZ: Yes.
DIAS: Yes.
BEEBE: Yes.
RICHARDSON: Yes. BASTON: Well thank you for taking the time to speak with us, and sharing your thoughts. You are the "We" in "We the people," and you are who this Convention is about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: In 1776, the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self- evident." These words, these words are the basis for the American creed, equality, equity, fairness, decency. America didn't live up to that promise for most of the people at the time, the people of color, for women.
But we were born of an idea that every single solitary person, given half a chance, no matter where they're from, given half a chance, there is not a single thing they cannot do, if they work at it. Nothing is beyond their capacity.
(CROWD APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASTON: We had hoped to have our Convention in the City of Festivals, Milwaukee, Wisconsin this year. Of course, we're not able to do that. But we'll be hearing from several of Wisconsin's leaders throughout this Convention, starting with Congresswoman Gwen Moore.
SEN. GWEN MOORE (D-WI): Hi, I'm Gwen Moore, and it's my honor to represent Milwaukee in Congress and to kick off the 2020 Democratic Convention.
Oh, I sure wish you all were here in the City of Milwaukee, which takes its name from the languages of the first peoples interpreted as good land and gathering place by the waters. This is a City where blood was shed for labor rights, where fugitive slave was freed from prison, where women's right to vote was first ratified.
But today, we gather virtually. However, we gather unified in spirit, unified in our values and purpose to heal divisions and, together, move the nation confidently into a prosperous inclusive future.
Oh, what better way to gather than all across America to nominate my beloved friend, Joe Biden, to be 46th President of the United States of America, with my VIP, VP nominee, sister Kamala Harris by his side?
Tonight, we are gathered, to reclaim the soul of America. So, if you're ready, to come together, America, text Join to 30330. Thank you, I love you all and God bless you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
("RISE UP" VIDEO FEATURES STORIES OF RESILIENCE)
SINGER: Can't see nothing in front of me Can't see nothing coming up behind I make my way through this darkness I can't feel nothing but this chain that binds me Lost track of how far I've gone How far I've gone, how high I've climbed On my back's a sixty pound stone On my shoulder half mile of line
Come on up for the rising Come on up lay your hands in mine Come on up for the rising Come on up for the rising tonight
Left the house this morning Bells ringing filled the air I was wearing the cross of my calling On wheels of fire I come rolling down here
Come on up for the rising Come on up lay your hands in mine Come on up for the rising Come on up for the rising tonight
Li li, li li li li li Li li, li li li, li li li li li Li li, li li li, li li li li li Li li, li li, li li li li
There's spirits above and behind me Faces gone black, eyes burning bright
[21:20:00]
May their precious blood bind me Lord as I stand before your fiery light
Li li, li li li li li Li li, li li li, li li li li li Li li, li li li, li li li li li Li li, li li, li li li li
I see you Mary in the garden
BIDEN: We have to let them know who we are, what we stand for.
(CROWD CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
BIDEN: We choose hope over fear.
(CROWD CHANTS YES)
BIDEN: Truth over lives.
(CROWD CHANTS YES)
BIDEN: And yes, unity over division. It's time for us to lift our heads up, open our hearts, and remember who we are. We are the United States of America. I mean this. (CROWD CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
BIDEN: There's not a single thing we cannot do if we do it together.
(MUSIC)
TEXT: #THERISING.
TEXT: WE THE PEOPLE NEED A LEADER WHO UNITES US NOT DIVIDES US.
ERIC, ILLINOIS: The idea of us calling ourselves the United States of America feels like it's pretty wrong right now. I'm fairly ashamed to say it, but I'm one of many who voted for the current President, Donald Trump. I challenge you think back to what made you vote for Donald Trump in 2016. I know I sure have.
And I've registered as a Democrat for the first time in my life. I'm doing that, because I think this election is bigger than any political party. What I think, in light of current events, if nothing else, we need more than anything is a proven leader.
Donald Trump's rhetoric is, it's divisive, it's dangerous. It's also really difficult to vote for someone who essentially has zero platform, right now, four months out from the election.
Joe Biden, on the other hand, has a very detailed plan, things like unity, education, climate preservation, racial inequality and even healthcare. We have a chance, right now, to look ourselves in the mirror, and go vote for a proven leader with a history of caring about others and putting - truly putting all Americans first.
(MUSIC)
TEXT: WE THE PEOPLE.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASTON: Our nation is facing a lot right now. And, over the next four nights, we're going to cover it all.
But tonight, we're going to talk about three specific crises we face, the pandemic, an economic downturn, and an ongoing systemic racial injustice. We're not just going to focus on what's wrong. We're going to talk about how to make it right.
When peaceful protesters were tear-gassed, across from the White House, our next speaker stood up, stood strong, and turned that place into the Black Lives Matter Plaza, in their honor.
Please welcome Mayor Muriel Bowser.
MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER, (D) DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, D.C.: Hello, I'm Muriel Bowser, Mayor of Washington D.C.
The story of our nation's capital is a story of reckoning. It was here that John Lewis and Dr. King spoke on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was here that millions of women and men flooded the streets for the Women's March. It was here that just weeks ago, Americans donned face masks and safely and peacefully protested the death of George Floyd.
But while we were peacefully protesting, Donald Trump was plotting. He stood in front of one of our most treasured houses of worship, and held a Bible for a photo-op. He sent troops and camouflaged into our streets. He sent tear-gas into the air and federal helicopters too.
I knew if he did this to D.C., he would do it to your City or your town. And that's when I said, "Enough." I said "Enough" for every Black and Brown American who has experienced injustice, "Enough" for every American who believes in justice.
But I said "Enough" for another reason too. I have a 2-year-old daughter, and I want her to grow up in an America where she's not scared to walk to the store, an America where she's safe behind the doors of her own home, an America where the President doesn't fan the flames of racism, and looks out for all of us.
So, I created Black Lives Matter Plaza, right behind me, as a place where we could come together, to say, "Enough." And by coming together, this November, to elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, we will say next, because we can't just paint those words behind me.
We can't just say those words. We have to live those words. We have to undo the laws and systems that have codified racism for far too long.
[21:25:00]
But we have to do something too. Each and every one of us, challenge our own biases. If we see something, do something. Together, we can turn this reckoning into a reimagining of a nation, where "We the people" means all the people.
There were a few people, who stood on this very balcony, as thousands of people peacefully protested in this City. One was our next Vice President, my sister, Kamala Harris. The others were members of George Floyd's family, who I'm honored to introduce now.
PHILONISE FLOYD, GEORGE FLOYD'S BROTHER: My brother, George, was selfless. He always made sacrifices for his family, friends, and even complete strangers.
George had a giving spirit, a spirit that has shown up on streets around our nation, and around the world, people of all races, all ages, all genders, all backgrounds, peacefully protesting in the name of love and unity. It's a fitting legacy for our brother.
But George should be alive today. Breonna Taylor should be alive today. Ahmaud Arbery should be alive today. Eric Garner should be alive today. Stephon Clark, Atatiana Jefferson, Sandra Bland, they should all be alive today.
So, it's up to us to carry on the fight for justice. Our actions will be their legacies. We must always find ourselves in what John Lewis called "Good trouble."
For the names we do not know, the faces we will never see, those who can't mourn because their murders didn't go viral, please join me, in a moment of silence, to honor George and the many other souls we lost to hate and injustice.
And when this moment ends, let's make sure we never stop saying their names.
(MOMENT OF SILENCE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(LEON BRIDGES PERFORMS "SWEETER")
SINGER: Hoping for a life more sweeter Instead I'm just a story repeating Why do I fear with skin dark as night? Can't feel peace with those judging eyes I thought we moved on from the darker days Did the words of the King disappear in the air Like a butterfly? Somebody should hand you a felony 'Cause you stole from me My chance to be Hoping for a life more sweeter Instead I'm just a story repeating Why do I fear with skin dark as night? Can't feel peace with those judging eyes The tears of my Mother rain, rain over me My sisters and my brothers sing, sing over me And I wish I had another day But it's just another day Hoping for a life more sweeter Instead I'm just a story repeating Why do I fear with skin dark as night?
[21:30:00]
Can't feel peace with those judging eyes The tears of my Mother rain, rain over me My sisters and my brothers sing, sing over me And I wish I had another day But it's just another day Hoping for a life more sweeter.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASTON: Thank you, Leon Bridges, whose song "Sweeter" featured Terrace Martin, a song written after George Floyd's murder.
We have to ask ourselves, how do we, the people, take the protests and turn them into progress? How do we take the changes we're seeing in the hearts and minds of people, and translate it into real and lasting change in people's lives? We need to address the economic inequalities that this virus has exposed, and worsened, and we need to solve the testing and healthcare disparities that have led to people of color dying from COVID at higher rates than White people, and we need to make it easier for Americans to vote.
We have a lot to do. And, to do this, we need community action, we need Congress that can have power to do it, and we need a president, who understands that this is the moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: The moment has come for our nation to deal with systemic racism, to deal with the growing economic inequity that exists in our nation, to deal with the denial of the promise of this nation made to so many.
And I've said, from the outset of this election that we're in the battle for the soul of this nation, and we are in the battle for the soul of this nation. What we believe, and maybe most importantly, who we want to be, it's all at stake. That's truer today than it's ever been, at least in my lifetime. And it's this urgency, it's in this urgency, we can find a path forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: Hey, everybody, how are you? Thanks for doing this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Doing well, Mr. Vice President.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Greetings.
BIDEN: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Jamira, tell the rest of the folks a little about your background.
JAMIRA BURLEY, SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE: I started doing activism when I was 15. It was at the intersection of knowing both the perpetrator and a victim.
My brother, Andre, was shot and killed in Philadelphia. And it made me realize that I had a responsibility, almost a collective responsibility, to ensure that that didn't happen to other young people.
And I think that's what's missing in America right now, is our collective responsibility to each other, and to realize that the person down the street, or around the corner, even across the country, that we have a responsibility to ensure that we're making sure that they're safe, they have access to education, and that, in all, we're created in a world, in which that our differences are celebrated, as well as protected under the law.
BIDEN: Mayor, how are you prioritizing many things you have to do, as we try to tackle in a way that we haven't before, systemic racism in the City?
MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT, (D) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: It really is about economic empowerment, because if people are lifted out of poverty, and they are given an opportunity to feel a stake in their own future, that goes a long way.
We're also challenging all kinds of institutions, from corporations to community-based organizations, to think about what they can do better to end systemic racism, and make sure that we're uplifting the quality of life in the communities, but also the voices of people that traditionally don't have a seat at the table.
BIDEN: President is talking about defunding the Post Office, and mail- in voting. I mean, what do you think we should be doing, Mr. President?
DERRICK JOHNSON, PRESIDENT & CEO, NAACP: First of all, we have to change the public discourse around voting. It should be seen as the - a democratic thing to do, the most patriotic thing we can do, and not a partisan exercise.
Secondly, how do we open up access to voting? So, we can address some of the systemic problems. Not only should we reauthorize the Voting Rights Act, but we have to go further.
Most importantly, voting should be seen as a constitutional right that's guaranteed, and with that level of sight that all citizens can be assured that they can have unfeathered access without being suppressed.
[21:35:00]
CHIEF ART ACEVEDO, HOUSTON POLICE: This is a watershed moment, and we can't lose this moment. We have got to have action at the national level. We have got to have congressional action.
We cannot have 18,000 police departments and, in 2020, have police departments still allowing the use of a knee on a man's neck, in George Floyd. A lot of us were shocked. And I think what gives me hope, is that police officers were shocked.
Police officers have spoken out, and we're hopeful that we'll have some national standards, as it relates to policing, use of force, national database, and abolishment of prohibition and a national standard in terms of chokeholds and that we actually use the death of George Floyd's and others to actually make policing - take it to the next level, which is what everyone wants, including all the good cops that are out there that thankfully are more of them than there are bad cops.
BIDEN: Most cops are good. But the fact is, the bad ones have to be identified and prosecuted and out. Period!
Gwen, how are you doing?
GWEN CARR, ERIC GARNER'S MOTHER: Well, I'm doing pretty well, as well as can be expected.
BIDEN: You know, I'm sure that the words of George Floyd, "I can't breathe" were not new to you, and they echo in your mind every single day, these six years ago, when your son died. But we can't let this keep happening. What do you think the next thing we have to do, Gwen?
CARR: Well, first of all, I know, when my son was murdered, there was a big uprising, but then it settled down. We can't let things settle down. We have to go to the politicians and we have to hold their feet to the fire, because otherwise, the big uprising is not going to mean a lot.
So, I'm just asking that if you become the President that you make sure that we get national law as well as state and local law, especially when it comes to police brutality, because that has been age-old problem.
BIDEN: Well, I may be kidding myself, but I think the people are ready. I think people are ready. We just got to keep pushing. We can't let up. But thank you for what you're doing. I really appreciate it. Thanks for joining me.
LIGHTFOOT: Thank you.
CARR: Thank you.
BURLEY: Thank you.
BIDEN: Thank you. Bye-bye.
LIGHTFOOT: Thank you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC)
TEXT: WE THE PEOPLE NEED A LEADER WHO WILL FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.
ANTON G., SOUTH CAROLINA: Racism, structurally, individually, and systematically is real.
JEANNA H., CALIFORNIA: Black, Brown, no matter what you look like, you should not ever be fearful of your life due to the color of your skin.
DEKEVIUS A., NORTH CAROLINA: What I want to see in the next President of the United States is someone who's fair, who believes in equal justice under the law. I want him to lead us through this revolution that we're experiencing right now.
SINA: Joe Biden is a healer, and he's a unifier. He will fight for the Black Lives Matter Movement.
RHONDA C., VIRGINIA: Undo, remove, tear down the remnants of structural and systematic racism in this country.
JOSEPH M., FLORIDA: The systemic injustices that exist, things that our nation has overlooked that need to be addressed.
JEANNA H.: We need to stand on our platform and introduce legislation that makes this platform felt from coast to coast.
VICTOR S., ILLINOIS: And I know that Joe Biden is the person to restore the values that we hold so near and dear to our hearts.
DEKEVIUS A.: I have a 10-year-old son. I want to make sure that there is a world that's left better for him.
TEXT: WE THE PEOPLE.
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D-SC): Good evening, I'm Congressman Jim Clyburn, here in historic--
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Standby.
CLYBURN: Good evening, I'm Congressman Jim Clyburn, here in historic Charleston, South Carolina. Six months ago, I stood not far from here, and endorsed Joe Biden to be our 46th president.
It was a decision I made with my feet firmly planted in this community, this community where 80 percent of African-Americans in this country can claim an ancestor, who arrived on these shores in bondage, a few blocks from here over at Gadsden's Wharf, this community that is still healing from the wounds we received when a White supremacist entered Emanuel AME church, and murdered nine Black parishioners as they studied the Bible together.
The ground beneath our feet is seeded with pain that is both old and new. But from that soil we always find a way to grow together.
Earlier this summer, the City of Charleston removed a statue honoring John C. Calhoun, an honored advocate of slavery. And construction is underway on the International African-American Museum at Gadsden's Wharf.
[21:40:00]
Much like the country as a whole, we are stepping out from the shadows of our past, and beginning to lay the groundwork for a more just future. It won't be easy. We can only succeed if we move forward together.
So, we will need a president who sees unifying people as a requirement of the job, a president who understands the true meaning of community, and how to build it through trust and humility.
And as so many families experiencing loss, in this pandemic, lost jobs, lost loved ones, and lost confidence in the President to keep us safe, we need a president who understands both profound loss and what it takes to bounce back. But more important than his firsthand experience with loss and hardship, it's his ability to translate that perspective into policy and solutions, and prioritize hardworking people and persistent poverty counties over partisan politics or personal gain.
That's why I stand with Joe, and why he will always be an adopted son of South Carolina. Joe Biden is as good a man as he is a leader. I have said before, and wish to reiterate tonight, we know Joe. But more importantly, Joe knows us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAPTAIN KEVIN PENN, USMC (RET.) AND TAPS MILITARY MENTOR: I am Kevin. I do a lot of things in life. But the thing I'm most proud of is I'm a TAPS Military Mentor, and that's how I spend the majority of my time, post Marine Corps.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
PENN: Building memories like the ones we build together is the single best thing I do with my time. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives and sharing the journeys for the past decade.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
PENN: We got about 500 kids and family members and mentors and we're all packed into this very large ballroom, and all of a sudden the back door opens up, and in walks Joe Biden.
I had almost an out-of-body experience, because he surprised us all. I'd like to think I'm decent at reading people, from my time in the Marine Corps, my time as an Intel Officer, my time as a drill instructor, my time studying psychology.
He was being real. I mean you can't fake that kind of a smile. He was genuinely happy to see these kids, and he spent time with them.
It's easy to lose faith in humanity. Especially today, there's a lot of polarization, leaves a lot of room for a lot of hope. And it's hard to articulate real character when you see it.
Policies are great, and we need sound policies as well, which that's - he also has those, because he's got the chops right? But it's almost like none of that matters if you don't have the character.
This is a very unprecedented and challenging time that requires an unprecedented and courageous leader. We need someone with the courage to do what's necessary, and what's right, to strive towards a more perfect union. That's Joe Biden.
I know Joe, because he cares about everybody else before himself.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASTON: You know what else Joe knows? Joe knows about pandemics. In 2014, he helped stop the spread of Ebola, and brought the world together to keep it contained.
And after that success, knowing this would happen again, Vice President Biden and President Obama assembled a pandemic playbook to make sure that America was prepared and protected. The Trump Administration disbanded the Pandemic Response Team that was given to them.
Americans have died and lost their livelihoods because of it. We, the people, deserve a president, who believes in science that recognizes the threat of COVID, who has a plan to get us through it. And that is Joe Biden.
We're grateful that, across the country, there are responsible leaders who are stepping up. One of them provided clear direction and memorable power points, New York's Governor, Andrew Cuomo.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): Hello. Today is Monday, day 170.
New Yorkers were ground zero for the COVID virus, and have gone from one of the highest infection rates on the globe to one of the lowest. We climbed the impossible mountain and, right now, we are on the other side.
We did it with the kindness and assistance of so many. New Yorkers want to thank everyone who came to our aide, 30,000 Americans, who volunteered to come here to help in our hour of need. Your love gave us the strength to carry on.
We went through hell, but we have learned much. We know that our problems go beyond the COVID virus.
[21:45:00]
COVID is the symptom, not the illness. Our nation is in crisis. And in many ways, COVID is just a metaphor. A virus attacks when the body is weak, and when it cannot defend itself.
Over these past few years, America's body politic has been weakened. The divisions have been growing deeper, the anti-Semitism, the anti- Latino, the anti-immigrant fervor, the racism in Charlottesville, where the KKK didn't even bother to wear their hoods, and in Minnesota, where the life was squeezed from Mr. Floyd.
Only a strong body can fight off the virus. And America's divisions weakened it. Donald Trump didn't create the initial division. The division created Trump. He only made it worse.
Our collective strength is exercised through government. It is in effect our immune system. And our current federal government is dysfunctional and incompetent. It couldn't fight off the virus. In fact, it didn't even see it coming.
The European virus infected the northeast, while the White House was still fixated on China. The virus had been attacking us for months, before they even knew it was here. We saw the failure of a government that tried to deny the virus, then tried to ignore it, and then tried to politicize it. The failed federal government, that watched New York get ambushed by their negligence, and then watched New York suffer, but all through it, learned absolutely nothing.
So today, six months after it began, the nation is still unprepared. And we now face a second threat. But this time, not from Mother Nature.
This is a man-made threat by our own negligence. We now see the virus ricocheting across the country, from one State to another. Today, we trail the world in defeating COVID. We have over 5 million cases.
Americans learned a critical lesson, how vulnerable we are when we are divided, and how many lives can be lost when our government is incompetent. But we learned something else, my friends. We saw the negative, but we also saw the positive.
As they proved their way failed, we proved that our way succeeded, that America can still rise to the occasion. We can put our differences aside and find commonality. Government can tell the truth and can build trust.
We can judge by content of character rather than color of skin. We can care for one another that Americans can work together and forge community and a competent government that of course, we will wear masks, because we are smart, and because I care about you, and because you care about me.
Of course, we will socially distance, because staying away shows how close we actually are. Yes, we will set up testing and tracing, and do whatever we need to do to mobilize to win this battle, because we are America, we win wars, and we are the greatest country on the globe.
And for all the pain, and all the tears, our way worked. And it was beautiful. We showed that our better angels are strong, and that Americans will rise to their call. We saw that even at the end of the day, even if it is a long day that love wins.
Americans' eyes have been opened. And we have seen, in this crisis, the truth, that government matters, and leadership matters, and it determines whether we thrive and grow, or whether we live or die.
Now, we need a leader as good as our people, a leader who appeals to the best within us, not the worst, a leader who can unify, not divide, a leader who can bring us up, not tear us down.
I know that man. I've worked with that man. I've seen his talent. I've seen his strength. I've seen his pain. And I've seen his heart. That man is Joe Biden. Joe Biden is what I call "America Tough," tough in the best way, tough that is smart, united, disciplined and loving.
Joe Biden can restore the soul of America. And that's exactly what our country needs today. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And now, we'll hear from Kristin Urquiza.
KRISTIN URQUIZA, FATHER DIED OF CORONAVIRUS: Hi. I'm Kristin Urquiza. I'm one of the many who has lost a loved one to COVID. My dad, Mark Anthony Urquiza, should be here today, but he isn't.
[21:50:00]
He had faith in Donald Trump. He voted for him, listened to him, believed him and his mouthpieces when they said that Coronavirus was under control and going to disappear, that it was OK to end social distancing rules before it was safe, and that if you had no underlying health conditions you'd probably be fine.
So, in late May, after the stay-at-home order was lifted, in Arizona, my dad went to a karaoke bar with his friends. A few weeks later, he was put on a ventilator. And after five agonizing days, he died alone, in the ICU, with a nurse holding his hand.
My dad was a healthy 65-year-old. His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump, and for that he paid with his life.
I am not alone. Once I told my story, a lot of people reached out to me to share theirs. They asked me to help them keep their community safe, especially communities of color, which have been disproportionately affected. They asked me, a normal person, to help, because Donald Trump won't.
The Coronavirus has made it clear that there are two Americas, the America that Donald Trump lives in and the America that my father died in. Enough is enough. Donald Trump may not have caused the Coronavirus, but his dishonesty and his irresponsible actions made it so much worse.
We need a leader who has a national, coordinated, data-driven response to stop this pandemic from claiming more lives and to safely reopen the country. We need a leader who will step in, on day one, and do his job, to care.
One of the last things that my father said to me was that he felt betrayed by the likes of Donald Trump. And so, when I cast my vote for Joe Biden, I will do it for my dad.
BLITZER: We just heard one of the most emotional and scathing attacks on President Trump so far, in this Democratic Convention, as Kristin Urquiza blamed him directly for the death of her father.
There's more to come from headline speakers tonight, Michelle Obama, and Bernie Sanders, the former first lady expected to cap the night by directly taking on President Trump, as she never has before. We'll be right back.
[21:55:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We're back with our Democratic Convention coverage. We're standing by for the headline speech by the former first lady, Michelle Obama. She's expected to directly, directly call out President Trump and his leadership, and speak to Joe Biden's character.
We're also waiting to hear Senator Bernie Sanders delivering impassioned call for Democrats and his own progressive supporters to unite behind Joe Biden.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TEXT: WE THE PEOPLE DEMAND A FAIR ELECTION.
TERRY, MICHIGAN: Millions of people and veterans and senior citizens rely on the Postal system for prescription medicines, for their checks.
JEFFREY, MARYLAND: Having the Postal Service to deliver my prescriptions became even more comforting when the COVID-19 virus hit us here in the United States.
VICTORIA, GEORGIA: However, now, with Donald Trump in office, and his attempts to undermine the United States Postal Service, we are extremely concerned.
JEFFREY: This Administration's decision not to provide the necessary funding to the United States Postal Service is appalling.
ELIZABETH AND LEONARD, NEW YORK: I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Voting by mail is our only realistic option.
RHODA, MISSOURI: In no way do I want my 11 grandchildren to grow up in a world where this kind of suppression exists.
TEXT: WE THE PEOPLE.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SARA GIDEON, (D) MAINE SENATE CANDIDATE: I'm Sara Gideon, and I'm running to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate.
Every day, I see the caring and resilient spirit that will get us through this crisis. Americans are looking out for one another. It's time we have leadership in Washington that did the same. With Joe Biden in the White House and a Democratic Senate, I know we can build back our economy and our communities even stronger.
But tonight, I am here to welcome someone who has strong ties to our State and is here in Maine with me. She is reminding all of us to keep fighting through with her song that she's performing "Back in My Body."
Please help me welcome someone who is an inspiration to all of us, and one of my favorite artists, Maggie Rogers.
(MAGGIE ROGERS PERFORMING "BACK IN MY BODY")
MAGGIE ROGERS, SINGER & SONGWRITER: I was stopped in London when I felt it coming down Crashing all around me with a great triumphant sound Like the dam was breaking and my mind came rushing in I was stopped in London, oh, I was awakening, I was
I was o'er in Paris when I almost ran away Two times 'round the block before I decided to stay Puffed along a cigarette that went and made me sick Spent another day pretending I was over it
This time, I know I'm fighting This time, I know I'm (Back in my body) This time, I know I'm fighting--
