The last day of convention was very exciting. VP Kamala Harris accepted our nomination.
Breakfast
Thursday was the final breakfast/credentialing session. The California delegation heard from house Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
My group of convention buddies were going to try to get into the United Center early, so I left to run some errands after the breakfast session.
Main Session
Seating
I met my convention buddies (several delegates from Southern California and the Inland Empire) and we opted for a cab to the United Center.
Although we arrived 3 hours before the “gavel drop” we were surprised to find our delegation’s seating area already full. It seems many California elected officials and their staffers opted to join our delegation. Except, there weren’t going to be enough seats for all the delegates.
In the several staffers were asked to sit elsewhere, with “elsewhere” defined as the upper rafter seats in the United Center.
I will say the chair of the California Democratic Party, Rusty Hicks, and some of his staffers were forced to act as ushers. I am sure this is not something they expected to have to do.
Speakers
Eventually, the convention got underway and the featured speakers began addressing the crowd.
Some of the speakers included:
- Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
- Reverend Al Sharpton
- Rep Maxwell Frost (FL) seen previously ar the Hispanic Caucus
Acceptance speech
Eventually, Vice President Kamala Harris gave her acceptance speech. In it, she spoke about her past, her current job, and where she wants to take this nation, and the world.
She reaffirmed this nation’s commitment to the state of Israel. But she was absolutely clear in that she will advocate for an independent Palestinian state. This is a small change in the position that the current administration has taken with regard to the war in Gaza. This was the most important point in this part of the speech. It is that imperative that have a ceasefire now.
Baloon drop
Eventually, the baloons were dropped and the celebrations began.
Protests
The previous evenings, we’d left in the shuttle buses that took us to the convention hotels. But those always took a long time and were overcrowded.
My convention buddy (a labor delegate from south Orange County) and I left the United Center on foot. Our plan was to find food and beverage at “the first open place.” What could go wrong?
As we left the secure perimiter of the convention center we encountered the controlled protest area.
With the help of a law enforcement officer, delegates were directed on how to leave the area safely.
By the time we hit the first interesting food establishment, it was pointed out that it was after 11 PM and that food would be difficult to find.
My convention buddy was adept at using Yelp to find good food at places open late in the evening. She found the entry for Pequod’s Pizza in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. By coincidence, that restaurant had been recommended by an internet friend who lives in the greater Chicago area.
Pequod’s Pizza
Pequod’s was recommended for it’s deep dish pizza. But I’d already had some deep dish pizza at a local chain, so we opted for the thin crust tavern cut pizza (apparently, locals prefer the the thin tavern cut, and deep dish is a tourist thing).
We arrived around midnight and saw that the restaurant was PACKED. Packed with conventioneers. It seems that word about Pequod’s has spread nationally. It becomes clear, that the other folks there, went directly from the United Center to Pequod’s.
In addition to the pizza, we ordered Italian beef sandwiches. Soaked, with peppers, and an optional cheese blanket (I foolishly opted out). It was a delicious sandwich.
End scene
Then we took an Uber to my VRBO rental, and my Convention buddy headed back to the delegation hotel (Hyatt Regency Chicago).
The end.
Selfies
Only a couple of selfies to share.
