Thousands of delegates from around the country representing various causes and organizations from all walks of life are attending the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. IPM News spoke to some of them.
“I am actually a breast cancer survivor. And last year, the 2024 legislation I worked to get a bipartisan bill- breast cancer bill unanimously passed out of the house and the Senate in Indiana. I want to let people know that it’s time to update the Women’s Healthcare and Cancer Act to include aesthetic closure in chest wall to the definition of breast reconstruction.”
“So when I go door knocking for somebody, I try and get a button for them. When I make some phone calls, I try and get a button. It’s just something for me to remember the work that goes into the work that we still have ahead of us.”
“I worked very hard on (Hilary Clinton’s) campaign and I was really hoping she would be the first woman president, but that wasn’t in the cards. I thought my chance of seeing a woman president while I’m alive is gone and now Kamala is in it and I’m excited and thrilled and thrilled to be here at the convention.”
“I am the first openly trans candidate to ever serve in the state of Indiana. It is so important that LGBTQ folks feel like they belong, whether it’s older folks like me or young folks in school learning about history or whether it’s folks who are entering the job market and seeking to ensure that they have equity and employment.”
“I’ve been involved probably for the last 25-30 years in Illinois politics. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it this upbeat.”
“A woman- a woman of color from Asian to Black. Hey… (Kamala Harris) done broke the ceiling and just put your boots on, because the glass will be everywhere.”
“This (button) right here on my upper left- closest to my face is for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, which is a veterans service organization that supports the families of soldiers who have passed away to due to combat or service connected injuries or illnesses. This is my wife Katherine. She passed away in 2022 and that’s what actually brings me to the political sphere. I use to be a structural engineer and when she was diagnosed with cancer, I became her caregiver. This right here is the button that means the most to me.”
“I’ve got multiple pins from various elections dating back to before I was born in 1957 and my favorite pin is the pin that says ‘I am Roe.’ I’ve worked on multiple campaigns throughout my lifetime and Roe v. Wade passed when I was in high school and it was probably one of the most important pieces of legislation in my lifetime.”
“The best advice I can give right now is that young voters are no longer going to turn out to vote, because it’s the right thing to do or their civic duty…as much as I’d like that. They’re gonna turn out because our candidates are authentic, are genuine, and running on Democratic principles.”