Day 3
On Tuesday I attended
the Women's Caucus on Tuesday. In our seats were complimentary
tambourines for us to shake and make noise. There were several
celebrities including Rosario Dawson, Eva Longoria and Donna Brazil.
Donna gave an exciting speech. She talked about Sen. Clinton and how
she supported putting her name in nomination and how important it
was for Clinton supporters to engage in that process. She went
further and indicated that when the votes were counted and with Sen.
Obama as the nominee that Clinton supporters would be in line to
support him.
Later that evening at
the Pepsi Center there was much buzz about Clinton supporters and
what they would do at the convention. There were petitions and
papers that were being passed around in support of Sen. Clinton. So,
there was much anticipation about what she would say on Tuesday
evening. By all accounts, she gave a very strong endorsement of Sen.
Obama with much conviction. She placed it on the line for her
supporters and challenged them on whether they voted for her or for
the people in this country who were in need of assistance especially
after 8 years of failed policies in the Bush administration. She
also made it clear that there was no way any of them should be
supporting John Mc Cain or making a decision to stay home. The
country needs Sen. Obama and we must get behind him.
I think she did what
she needed to do to communicate to her supporters. She is meeting
with them again today to reaffirm her position. I think by the time
Thursday arrives, most of the Clinton supporters will be on board
with Sen. Obama.
After the convention
we attended a party for our delegation. There was food, dancing and
fun. A good way to end the day.
Day 3 |
Day 2 | Day 1
Day 2
Today is the second
day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). It is exciting. It
is electric. It is historical. I am here along with over 4000
delegates from around the country. It is an opportunity to make new
friends and see lots of celebrities.
I arrived on Saturday
afternoon and connected with some of the other Wisconsin delegates
including Frances Huntley Cooper of Madison. We went out for dinner,
looked around and got the lay of the land.
On Sunday more people
began arriving. We went to an Interfaith event. We were welcomed by
Rev. Leah Daughtery, an African American woman who is the CEO of the
2008 DNC. She is inspiring and dynamic. The program including a
musical selection from Richard Smallwood, readings from different
faith traditions including the Torah, Sutra Nipata, the Bible and
the Qur’an.
Presentations were
made from a number of religious leaders discussing our
responsibility to our neighbor, our nation and our world.
We later attended a
welcome to Denver event with a New Orleans theme. There was lots of
good food, (ie. Gumbo, beans and rice, etc.) and great music. A band
paraded through the room with horns and drums in full Mardi Gras
costume.
We then went to a
celebration of the Civil Rights movement. The Master of Ceremonies
was Danny Glover. The co-chairs of the event were Rep. Maxine
Waters, Tavis Smiley, Jackie Jackson and Daniel Halpern.
Presentations were mad to the following organizations for their
commitment to civil rights issues: Leadership Conference on Civil
Rights, NAACP, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, National Action Network,
National Council of Negro Women, Rainbow Push Coalition, the
National Voting Rights Museum and Institute and the Urban League.
The celebration
concluded with an electric concert by Maze, featuring Frankie
Beverly. We heard all of our favorites, danced and partied. It was a
lot of fun. We even went to a reception afterwards with the Hon.
Maxine Waters, her family and others.
This was a great day
and along one and the convention had not yet begun!
Day 3 |
Day 2 | Day 1
Day
1
On Monday we joined
our fellow delegates for breakfast. We received our credentials,
heard a couple of rousing speeches and were on our way.
Some of us attended
the African American caucus. We heard from Howard Dean, Chair of the
Democratic Party. He indicated what we need to do to help Sen. Obama
get elected in November. He recommended that we knock on our
neighbors’ doors, talk to them and register people to vote.
We then heard a town
hall discussion moderated by Angela Glover. The panel members
included Julian Malveaux, President of Bennett College, Marc Morial,
President of the Urban League, Michael Coleman, Mayor of Columbus,
Ohio, Michael Thurmond, Commissioner of Labor in Atlanta and
Geoffrey Canada, President of the Harlem Children’s Zone. The
discussion centered around education and job creation. There were
many new insights shared and extensive support for Sen. Obama.
There was a little bit
of a disruption. Two pro-life protestors came into the arena and
began making a scene. There were quickly removed.
The other speaker who
closed out the caucus session was Corey Booker, Mayor of Newark. He
is an exciting young man with an amazing message and clearly
motivated and captivated the crowd. We will be seeing him again!
Then, it was time for
the convention. I’m sure most of you had a chance to see it on
television last night. The list of speakers was quite impressive.
They included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Maya Soetero-Ng (Sen.
Obama’s sister), and many others. But kudos go to Rep. Jesse
Jackson, Jr. for his brilliant speech, Pres. Jimmy Carter for all of
his philanthropic work, Caroline Kennedy and Sen. Ted Kennedy who
made a surprise visit and of course, Craig Robinson, (Michelle’s
brother) and the very dynamic and incredibly gifted Michelle Obama.
It was a great way to
kick off the convention. Michelle hands down knocked it out of the
ballpark and endeared us all with her style, grace and commitment to
her family and her country.
Today is the second
day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC). It is exciting. It
is electric. It is historical. I am here along with over 4000
delegates from around the country. It is an opportunity to make new
friends and see lots of celebrities.
I arrived on Saturday
afternoon and connected with some of the other Wisconsin delegates
including Frances Huntley Cooper of Madison. We went out for dinner,
looked around and got the lay of the land.
On Sunday more people
began arriving. We went to an Interfaith event. We were welcomed by
Rev. Leah Daughtery, an African American woman who is the CEO of the
2008 DNC. She is inspiring and dynamic. The program including a
musical selection from Richard Smallwood, readings from different
faith traditions including the Torah, Sutra Nipata, the Bible and
the Qur’an.
Presentations were
made from a number of religious leaders discussing our
responsibility to our neighbor, our nation and our world.
We later attended a
welcome to Denver event with a New Orleans theme. There was lots of
good food, (ie. Gumbo, beans and rice, etc.) and great music. A band
paraded through the room with horns and drums in full Mardi Gras
costume.
We then went to a
celebration of the Civil Rights movement. The Master of Ceremonies
was Danny Glover. The co-chairs of the event were Rep. Maxine
Waters, Tavis Smiley, Jackie Jackson and Daniel Halpern.
Presentations were mad to the following organizations for their
commitment to civil rights issues: Leadership Conference on Civil
Rights, NAACP, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, National Action Network,
National Council of Negro Women, Rainbow Push Coalition, the
National Voting Rights Museum and Institute and the Urban League.
The celebration
concluded with an electric concert by Maze, featuring Frankie
Beverly. We heard all of our favorites, danced and partied. It was a
lot of fun. We even went to a reception afterwards with the Hon.
Maxine Waters, her family and others.
This was a great day
and along one and the convention had not yet begun!
- Celia Jackson
Day 3 |
Day 2 | Day 1
