by Jennifer L. Sharp —
From former first lady Michelle Obama’s compelling speech to the heartwarming stories from everyday people, the 2020 Democratic National Convention (DNC) has been a trending topic on social media this week.
The DNC, which was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years by the United States Democratic Party and administered by the Democratic National Committee. During the DNC, the committee and the Party officially nominate a candidate for president and vice president and adopt a comprehensive party platform.
This year’s virtual DNC is giving the viewing audience an opportunity to experience the entire convention from the safety and comfort of their homes.
“This is a neat experience and it is well-produced,” said Tennessee State Sen. Raumesh Akbari of Memphis. “This convention is very inclusive, and it has shattered viewing records.”
During the second night of the convention, Akbari was among the 17 “rising stars” engaged to deliver the keynote address. In the spotlight, Akbari talked about the constituents who build this country, especially during the pandemic.
“The nurses in Memphis who came out of retirement to treat patients during this pandemic, you built this country,” said Akbari.
She also talked about how Joe Biden fought for women’s rights and how he will continue to fight for women’s rights if elected as the 46th President of the United States.
“Joe Biden has been fighting for women his entire career. As senator, he authored the Violence Against Women Act. And as president, he’ll restore funding for Planned Parenthood. He will codify Roe v. Wade and make reducing maternal mortality, especially for women of color, a top priority,” said Akbari, the only local politician to represented Memphis during the DNC’s keynote address.
“This was a tremendous honor to share our vision for America and to share a virtual stage with amazing people such as Stacy Abrams,” she said.
A measurement of the DNC’s success will be whether eligible voters will be stimulated to cast ballots during this year’s presidential and local elections.
“The Democratic ticket is super exciting. Senator Kamala Harris is a strong woman who does not back down from a fight, and she will give Pence a run for his money (as vice president,” she said.
“My advice for voters is to vote early in person or request an absentee ballot and turn it in early, visit the candidates’ websites to do your research regardless of who you are voting for and find ways to support your candidates by donating or volunteering.”
(To view the full keynote address, visit https://bit.ly/3iP98o2. To view all of the 2020 Democratic National Convention videos, visit https://bit.ly/322IFfW.)
