Markeshia Ricks file photo
Westville Alder and DNC delegate Darryl Brackeen, Jr.
Below is the second DNC 2020 diary entry submitted by Westville Alder Darryl Brackeen, Jr., who is a delegate at this year’s national party convention. The convention, which began Monday, is taking place almost entirely online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Click here to read the first entry.
On Day 2 of the Democratic National Convention, we were off to the races as the CT Delegation kicked off our afternoon celebrating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment with Lt. Gov Susan Bysiewicz & Norwalk Town committee Chairwoman Eloisa Melendez.
It was a celebration highlighting the future Vice President Kamala Harris, partnered with a conversation with rockstar women from across the region who broke down barriers for women in the political arena.
The panelists included New Haven’s Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Sen. Donna Soucy (president of the New Hampshire Senate), Sen. Becca Balint (Majority Leader of the Vermont State Senate), Dr. Nina Ahmad (Candidate for Auditor General of Pennsylvania).
They spoke of the history of the women’s suffrage movement and the racism faced in our nation by those seeking to shatter the political glass ceiling.
In the middle of this conversation, a surprise guest popped in on the Zoom conversation, former presidential candidate and Senator Amy Klobuchar. She reflected on her days as a student at Yale University, and on the challenges that she faced as a woman in politics.
They group even addressed the age-old question, “Is New Haven Pizza the best?” Sen. Klobuchar chose to take the high road and declare New Haven pizza is simply “delicious.”
We were off to virtual transition to our respective caucuses and to prepare for a night of pomp and circumstance. The Democratic National Convention’s meat and potatoes consist of adopting the rules, the party platform, and the roll call.
This process was inspiring despite having to meet virtually to develop and cultivate a platform and process.
I could not help but think that I was both a part of an age-old tradition and a means to change the direction of this country.
Roll Call Around The Country
PBS
Connecticut’s roll call pledge of delegates at the DNC.
One of the more genuinely inspiring moments of any convention is the roll call. All states and territories were represented by individuals who raised stories surrounding the campaign’s issues or issues that may affect their states.
Some highlights included an impromptu commercial for Rhode Island’s official state appetizer, “Calamari.” Connecticut highlighted its support for our firefighters, featuring the firefighters union president Peter Carozza and Gov. Ned Lamont.
Iowa’s representatives sought to bring awareness of a storm that had devastated the region last week, leaving many without power to take part in this momentous occasion.
The final delegate vote was virtually a landslide, mostly because Covid-19 hurdles impacted most primaries throughout the nation and spurred a need to unite the party quickly.
Vice President Joe Biden captured 66 percent (2,627) of the vote. In comparison, Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders received 26 percent (1,073) of the convention vote.
Like every night this week, there will always be moments of controversy, and I wanted to take the liberty to clear one thing up.
New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez was not trying to “shade” Vice President Joe Biden; she simply placed the name of Sen. Bernie Sanders into nomination. The rules surrounding the nomination process is to take the opportunity to give your full support for the candidate you are nominating. Well, I guess her every move is read into way too intensely.
However, many touching moments highlighted the character of Vice President Joe Biden and his genuine connection to the working class.
He came from a working-class background and was profiled as the poorest U.S. Senator to serve for many years.
Jacquelyn Brittany delivered one of those touching moments in her nomination of the Vice President as the Democratic nominee of the party. After her heartfelt conversation with the Vice President in an elevator, while he was on his way to a meeting, I’m sure she never expected to nominate the Democratic nominee.
Healer In Chief
But of course, hearing from Dr. Jill Biden, you can’t be surprised that Joe Biden would have wanted it that way. Dr. Jill was a showstopper, and her speech was the absolute highlight of the night. Even with the likes of President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State John Kerry, and a host of others. Dr. Jill’s speech was the conversation we didn’t realize we needed to have.
She talked about healing and bringing everyone together to transition from a devastating time for many.
We need a healer in chief and who better than an individual who has overcome many life-changing moments in his life, but he persisted.
Now onward to what will be a historic moment in the nomination of Sen. Kamala Harris as the Vice Presidential nominee of the Democratic party.