The Democratic National Convention kicked off Monday night with opening remarks from actress Eva Longoria before a montage ensued of Americans reciting the preamble of the U.S. Constitution.
Longoria, who is serving as the night’s MC, insisted that this election is the most important of her lifetime.
‘Every four years we go together to reaffirm our Democracy, this year, we’ve come to save it,’ Longoria claimed in her opening remarks.
‘We always hear that line about this being the most important election of our lifetimes, but this year, it really is,’ she urged.
Longoria added that ‘the past four years have left us diminished’ and specifically said in regards to the coronavirus pandemic that ‘the past few months have tested us all.’
Along with a flurry of ‘everyday Americans,’ soccer star Megan Rapinoe, actor Daniel Dae Kim, the woman who posed for the ‘Rosie the Riveter’ poster Agnes Moore and a few state legislators were featured saying ‘We the People.’
Actress Eva Longoria kicked off the Democratic National Convention Monday night with opening remarks claiming this is ‘the most important election of our lifetimes’
Biden’s grandchildren led the Pledge of Allegiance. From left to right: Finnegan Biden, Hunter Biden, Natalie Biden, Naomi Biden, Maisy Biden
A flurry of ‘everyday Americans’ and some with star power, including the real life WWII ‘Rosie the Riveter’ Agnes Moore recited the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution
Soccer star Megan Rapinoe (left) and Gold Star father Khizr Khan (right), both of whom have been highly critical of Trump, were part of reciting the Preamble and repeating ‘We the People’
Also featured reciting parts of the preamble in a pre-recorded video from separate locations were Gold Star father Khizr Khan and retired Major General Frank Vivala.
Khan harshly criticized Trump at the 2016 DNC after losing his son, Humayun, in 2004 in Iraq. He blasted Trump for his proposed Muslim ban.
All of the other speakers were in introduction of presumed Democratic candidate Joe Biden, who completed the preamble with the last sentence.
After the convention Chairman and Mississippi Representative Bennie Thompson slammed his gavel signaling the start of the 2020 events, Biden’s grandchildren recited the Pledge of Allegiance and individuals of all ages, races and genders from all 50 states, Washington D.C. and U.S. territories sang the National Anthem.
The virtual convention is the first of its kind in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis and will end Thursday night with the nomination of Joe Biden.
After images of Trump’s infamous Bible photo-op were used in the Springsteen video, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser spoke on a roof overlooking ‘Black Lives Matter Plaza,’ the section of 16th Street N.W. painted with the yellow message the day after peaceful protesters were teargassed minutes before the president walked across Lafayette Park.
‘While we were peacefully protesting, Donald Trump was plotting,’ she said. ‘He stood in front of one of our most treasured houses of worship and held a Bible for a photo-op. He sent troops in camouflage into our streets, he sent teargas into our air and federal helicopters too.’
‘I knew if he did this to D.C. he would do this to your city or your town,’ Bowser said. ‘And that’s when I said enough.’
That ‘enough’ was Bowser’s decision to create the plaza, situated due north of the White House.
‘I said enough for every black and brown American who has experienced injustice,’ Bowser said.
Bowser kicked off a virtual discussion on racial injustices after Longoria revealed the night would focus on systemic racism, the coronavirus pandemic and the economic crisis – and how Democrats plan to tackle those issues.
She also introduced Philonise Floyd, who provided brief remarks from Texas about his brother George Floyd’s death earlier this year, which was filmed, went viral and sparked months of nationwide riots and Black Live Matter protests.
‘Our actions will be their legacies,’ Philonise said while he and George’s other brother sat by his side.
He also initiated a moment of silence for George and other black Americans who died at the hands of law enforcement.
Following those remarks, singer Leon Bridges performed a song ‘Sweeter,’ which Longoria revealed was written after George Floyd’s death.
‘How do we the people take the protests and turn them into progress?’ Longoria posed. ‘We need to address the economic inequalities that this virus has exposed and worsened.’
‘We need a president who understands that this is the moment,’ she said before a video of Biden addressing that exact issue played.
This transitioned to a pre-recorded video of a conversation between Biden and social justice activist Jamira Burley, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, NAACP President Derrick Johnson and Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner.