Watch California Rep. Maxine Waters' speech at the DNC convention

Rep. Maxine Waters was a surprise speaker Monday night to open up the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, when Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan brought out the longtime lawmaker to cheers and applause.

Waters immediately invoked some of the party's history, dating back to the 1960s and the fight against racism that existed within the Democratic Party .

Recounting the story of Fannie Lou Hamer , who fought for a seat at the 1964 convention, Waters brought the moment full circle with the pending nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris .

Democratic convention live updates: What time does Joe Biden speak tonight? How can I watch?

What to know about Maxine Waters

• Who is she: Maxine Waters is a U.S. representative from California. Her district covers part of Los Angeles
• What role she plays: She is serving her seventeenth term, and is a key member of Congressional Democratic Leadership and the progressive and Black caucuses.
• Key quote: "And when the dust settles in November and Americans of all stripes have elected her their president...in that moment, all of us, from New York to Pennsylvania, from to Arizona to California, we can ask ourselves is this America and we will be able to say loudly and proudly: You're damn right it is!"

When and where is the DNC

The Democratic National Convention will take place from August 19-22 in Chicago, Illinois.

The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, will be the main venue for the DNC.

Chicago has hosted the Democratic Convention 11 times, most recently in 1996 when the United Center saw President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second time.

How to watch and stream the 2024 DNC

The convention will air live on its website , from the United Center in Chicago between 6:15 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern (5:15 p.m. to 10 p.m Central) on Monday, and 7 p.m to 11 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central) the other days.

USA TODAY will provide livestream coverage on YouTube each night of the DNC, Monday through Thursday.

What are the themes for each night of the DNC?

The DNC announced nightly themes for the convention. The title of the convention is "For the People, For Our Future."

Here are the themes for each night:

• Monday: "For the People"
• Tuesday: "A Bold Vision for America's Future"
• Wednesday: "A Fight for our Freedoms"
• Thursday: "For our Future"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Watch California Rep. Maxine Waters' speech at the DNC convention