Kamala Harris accepts Democratic nomination, urges unity on America's 'highest aspirations'

Aug. 22 (UPI) -- On the final night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris accepted her party's nomination and stressed unity for the nation, saying that, if elected, "I promise to be a president for all Americans."

The packed United Center roared when Harris took the stage, erupted in cheers and chants throughout her speech and celebrated as she ceremonially accepted the Democratic Party's nomination.

"To be clear, my entire career I only had one client: the people," Harris said. "So on behalf of the people, on behalf of every American regardless of party, race, gender or language your grandmother speaks, on behalf of my mother and everyone who ever set out on their own unlikely journey -- on behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth, I accept your nomination to be the president of the United States of America."

Harris' family and upbringing were central to her message as she painted the picture of a middle-class upbringing, raised by her mother, an immigrant from India. She shared the story of her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, who she said taught her to fight for her beliefs.

"She taught Maya [Harris' sister] and me a lesson Michelle [Obama] mentioned the other night. Never complain about injustice. Do something about it," Harris said.

The vice president and Democratic nominee presented a picture of some policies that she plans to pursue if elected. The loudest cheers, aside from when she took the podium, came when she said she would support the Palestinians' pursuit of self determination. She also voiced support for Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas .

"What has happened in Gaza over the past 10 months is devastating," Harris said. "So many innocent lives lost. Desperate, hungry people fleeing for safety over and over again. The scale of suffering is heartbreaking. President Biden and I are working to end this war, such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination."

Harris contrasted her policies with those of Trump. She reinforced U.S. support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia and pledged commitment to NATO allies. She countered Trump's plan for an extension of corporate tax cuts by calling for middle-class tax cuts. She also indicated that she will address the nationwide housing shortage.

The issue of abortion access remained a focal point, as well. Harris credited, or blamed, Trump for the U.S. Supreme Court 's Dobbs decision, warning that he will ban medication abortions and limit access to birth control if elected. Meanwhile, she hopes to sign a law restoring the right to an abortion nationwide.

"When Congress passes a bill to restore reproductive freedom, as president of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law," Harris said.

Unity was another prevalent theme from Harris.

"I know there are people of various political views watching tonight and I want you to know I promise to be a president for all Americans," she said. "You can always trust me to put country above party and self. To hold sacred America's fundamental principles, from the rule of law to free and fair elections, to the peaceful transfer of power. I will be a president who unites us around our highest aspirations. A president who leads and listens, who is realistic, practical, and has common sense. And always fights for the American people. This has been my life's work."

The issue of gun violence has been prominent during Thursday's speeches. Survivors of mass shootings at Sandy Hook and from Uvalde, Texas, and Charleston, S.C., shared personal stories about their experiences, including the loss of children and students.

Gabby Giffords, a former Republican turned Democrat that represented Arizona in the U.S. House, said Harris can "beat the gun lobby" and will fight gun trafficking. Giffords survived an assassination attempt in Tucson, Ariz., in 2011.

Sen. Mark Kelly , Giffords' husband, also spoke. He honed in on the divisiveness of the former president and the threat he may pose if elected. Kelly recounted his military service during the Gulf War.

"America rallied our allies to kick out a tyrant who invaded a neighbor," Kelly said. "Today, Vladimir Putin is testing whether we're still that strong. Iran, North Korea and especially China watch closely. What's Trump's answer? He invited Russia to do -- and these are his words, not mine -- whatever the hell they want."

Prominent Democrats including Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey and California Sen. Alex Padilla were among those to open Thursday's event. Lawmakers focused on sustaining Social Security, lowering the costs of services such as child care and lauding Harris' plans for the economy, drug prices and the housing market.

"She'll take on Wall Street firms that buy up millions of houses and apartments and then jack up the rent," Warren said. "She'll take on corporate monopolies that rip off consumers and billionaires who don't pay taxes."

The Rev. Al Sharpton took the stage to present the contrasts between Harris and her opponent in the election, former President Donald Trump . This was also a common theme among the speeches on Thursday.

"I see one candidate who wants to protect the right to vote while the other has tried to cook up 11,000 votes in Georgia," he said. "I see a candidate who with Joe Biden brought leaders to the White House to confront violent hatred running against a man who said neo-Nazis in Charlottesville were 'fine people.'"

Sharpton ended his speech with the message "We won't go back" after discussing progress in civil rights for people of color and the LGBTQ+ community.

"We've endured Jan. 6. We've endured lies and eras of darkness," he said. "If we stay together, joy, joy, joy, joy coming in the morning." He then brought the Central Park Five onto the stage, who he referred to as the "Exonerated Five." He mentioned during his speech that Trump had called for their execution.

The Central Park Five -- Korey Wise, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Antron McCray and Yusef Salam -- were teenagers in 1989 when they were falsely accused of assaulting a White woman in Central Park. Trump purchased a four-page newspaper advertisement calling for a return of the death penalty in New York.

"Everyday as we walked into the courtroom people screamed at us, threatened us, because of Donald Trump. He spent $85,000 on a full-page ad in The New York Times calling for our execution," said Wise. "We were innocent kids but we served a total of 41 years in prison."

They were exonerated after spending more than a decade in prison.

Harris' stepdaughter Ella Emhoff, goddaughter Helena Hudlin and niece Meena Harris took the stage together to speak to the vice president's character. Emhoff said Harris "never stopped listening," and would continue to listen to Americans.

"Like a lot of young people, I didn't always understand what I was feeling but not matter what, Kamala was there for me," Emhoff said. "She was patient, caring and always took me seriously."

Harris' speech comes on the same date as the vice president's tenth wedding anniversary.

Harris' acceptance speech, according to a campaign official, will focus on three things -- sharing her story and record, contrasting her vision of America with Donald Trump's and grounding her vision in patriotism.

The speech will prosecute the case against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. It is expected to bring into stark relief the contrast between a prosecutor topping the Democratic presidential ticket while Republicans have chosen a convicted felon to top theirs.

Harris worked on her speech at a downtown Chicago hotel Wednesday. According to sources, it includes sharing how she grew up middle-class and made her decision to become a prosecutor in order to protect people.

A Harris campaign official told CNN Harris will say that the right-wing Project 2025 plan for Trump, should he win a second term, would take away freedoms of Americans.

" She will point out the dangers posed by Donald Trump's Project 2025 agenda that would rip away people's freedoms, increase the cost of living, and take the country backwards," the campaign official said.

The theme of the final night will be "For Our Future." It's a piece of the overall theme of the DNC of "freedom" and the idea that the Harris-Walz ticket stands for expanding freedom, not taking it away.

There were also musical performances and celebrity appearances. Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry appeared by video to show his support for Harris. Scandal star Kerry Washington and Harris' great-nieces led a "Kamala" chant.

The musician Pink headlined the last night of a DNC convention, which -- in contrast to the Republicans' convention in Milwaukee in July -- has been amped up with music and celebrity appearances, creating a festive party-like atmosphere.

The Chicks, formerly known as the Dixie Chicks, sang the national anthem at the DNC Thursday. They suffered a backlash from many country music fans and radio stations who boycotted them in 2003.

At the time, lead singer Natalie Maines had said from the concert stage that the band was "ashamed" of then-President George W. Bush over the impending invasion of Iraq.

DNC speakers Thursday night include: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper ; Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and former Republican Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a member of the House Jan. 6 Committee.

Kinzinger was one of ten House Republicans to voted to impeach Trump and he is supporting the Democratic ticket now.

"To every American of every political party, and those of none: I say now is not the time to watch quietly as Donald Trump threatens the future of America," Kinzinger said.

Kinzinger said he has an "awkward alliance" with Democrats to "defend truth, democracy and decency."He said the Republican Party is no longer conservative.

"I've learned something about the Democratic Party. And I want to let my fellow Republicans in on the secret," he said. "The Democrats are as patriotic as us. They love this country just as much as we do."

Other Republicans who spoke at the DNC in support of Harris-Walz included former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, former Trump White House national security official Olivia Troye, former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham , and Mayor John Giles of Mesa, Arizona.

Whitmer said her speech at the DNC will be "relatively short" and she will talk about the stakes in this election and the fundamentals of what's need for Democrats to win in November.

Sen. Warren said in an interview with PBS, "Kamala has a long history of fighting for families, and particularly fighting for women and access to health care overall."

She said America has changed substantially since 2016 and a woman can be elected president now.

"I think this is not just Kamala Harris' moment , I think this is the moment for the United States of America, and I'm loving it," Warren said.

Prior to Thursday's main event, the organization Muslim Women for Harris-Walz announced it is disbanding after a Palestinian American was denied time to speak in the United Center. Uncommitted delegates have called for the Biden administration and the Harris-Walz campaign to support an arms embargo on Israel.