DNC Night 1: Welcome To Chicago | Joe Biden Appreciation Night | Kamala’s Surprise
Mark Hamill assured fans that the “Force was strong with Harris-Walz”, while others who turned up included director Spike Lee, Amy Klobuchar, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (referencing Steph Curry’s iconic “night night” line as a dig at Trump), and Sean Astin. Tony Goldwyn addressed the crowd, and James Taylor performed “You’ve Got a Friend.”
Also present was iconic American civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson, who shared the stage with Reverend Al Sharpton and NAACP President Derrick Johnson.
The DNC’s opening night featured performances by James Taylor, country star Mickey Guyton, and folk singer Jason Isbell.
Jeffrey Wright narrated a video about Kamala Harris that premiered during the DNC’s opening night. Although Wright has not been highly active in the political scene, he contributed to the HBO documentary “We Are Not Done Yet,” which focused on war veterans. The video also featured Beyoncé’s song “Freedom.”
While Tony Goldwyn hosted the event on Monday, Ana Navarro – who identifies as a Republican against Trump – will host the event on Tuesday. Wednesday’s host is
The Office
star and Kamala Harris’ dosa-making buddy Mindy Kaling, while Thursday will see Kerry Washington host the show.
Others who are scheduled to perform at DNC Days 2, 3, and 4 include:
: John Legend is set to headline a show at the Salt Shed, hosted by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, on Tuesday. The singer, who performed at the Lincoln Memorial during Biden and Harris’s inauguration, has become increasingly active in advocacy, particularly in the areas of police reform and voting rights.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
: Julia Louis-Dreyfus is scheduled to host a panel highlighting female governors across the country, as reported by CNN. The
Seinfeld
star, who played a vice president on HBO’s
Veep
, has long supported Democratic causes and frequently speaks on women’s issues.
Jon Stewart
: Jon Stewart, best known for his time on
The Daily Show
, is slated to host a live episode from Chicago’s Athenaeum Center on Thursday, which has already sold out. Stewart returned to
The Daily Show
for the 2024 election and hosted a live show following the presidential debate in June.
Lil Jon
: Lil Jon is expected to appear at the “Southern Soul Party” at Prysm nightclub on Monday night. The event, hosted by the Georgia Democratic Party, is one of many where Lil Jon has voiced his opposition to Trump and Republican policies.
Content Creators Come to the Fore
Among the 200 content creators credentialed for the DNC was Deja Foxx, a 24-year-old reproductive rights activist, political strategist, and the first Influencer and Surrogate Strategist for Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign.
At the conference, Foxx spoke about her experiences, being raised by a single mom, and her work with Planned Parenthood. She said: “Because of policies that lift people up, I walked through the gates of my dream school as a first-generation college student. People my age are making big decisions about our lives, and we deserve a president who has our back.”
Foxx has 140,000 followers on TikTok and 52,000 followers on Instagram.
She told NPR: “It signals to young people a presidency that will listen to them, that will respond to them, and that has young people in the room. It is a reminder that the future of politics and political figures will look different with Gen Z.”