Democratic National Convention 2020: Day 3

In a section of tonight's programming focused on immigration, Silvia Sanchez, an undocumented immigrant in North Carolina, shared her story alongside daughters Jessica, who is a Dreamer, and Lucy, who is a US citizen.

Speaking in Spanish, Silvia said that she did what any mother would do to "save her daughter's life" after her daughter Jessica was born without a fully developed spinal cord and the doctors in their town told them she would not be able to survive.

Silvia said she took her daughter and "traveled for days" to reach the border and then crossed the river.

"We came to America before I was one years old. She saved my life," Jessica said of her mother.

Silvia said she had no choice but to come to the United States in search of a miracle. She said her family now works hard, contributes to their community and pays taxes in the country.

Jessica echoed her mother's sentiment, saying her home is in the US and she qualifies for DACA, the Obama-era program that shields from the deportation of certain undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children. But, she said President Trump took her ability to apply for the program.

Jessica explained that because she does not have the right ID, she cannot get insurance through the exchange.

"I need health insurance, I deserve it, right?" Jessica said.  

Jessica called on Americans to vote for a leader who "will fix the broken immigration system, and commit to keeping families together."

"It breaks our hearts to see children separated from their families at the border. That's wrong, those children need their parents," Silvia said.

"On November 3rd, I will vote for my mother, my sister, and my daughters. I will vote for a future where all of our lives have dignity and respect," Silvia's daughter Lucy said.

"I'm voting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the daughter of immigrants. Who are you going to vote for?" Lucy said in closing.

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Singer Billie Eilish urged Americans to "vote like our lives and the world depend on it, because they do" before performing her new song "My future."

She opened her remarks by criticizing President Trump, saying he is "destroying our country and everything we care about."

"We need leaders who will solve problems like climate change and Covid, not deny them. Leaders who will fight against systemic racism and inequality. That starts by voting for someone who understands how much is at stake," she said.

The Los Angeles native continued: "Someone who's building a team that shares our values. It starts with voting against Donald Trump and for Joe Biden."

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New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivered the convention’s primary speech on climate change, slamming the Trump administration for eliminating climate regulations and touting Joe Biden’s climate plans.

Lujan Grisham, who interviewed to be Biden’s running mate, said the former vice president would rejoin the Paris climate agreement if he is elected president and “invest in clean energy jobs.”

“The choice is clear,” she said. “The choice is Joe Biden.”

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Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was shot and wounded when a gunman opened fire on one of her events in 2011, touted the needs for resilience and strength in a powerful speech Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention.

Giffords, who was shot in the head during the deadly attack, says that she while she “known the darkest of days,” she chose to respond with “grit and determination.”

Giffords has become a symbol for the Democratic fight for stricter gun laws, founding the organization Giffords in the wake of her shooting, an advocacy organization that pushes lawmakers to pass sweeping gun laws.

The former congresswoman then related her personal fight to the current state of the country and her support for Biden.

Giffords' taped speech was introduced by a video on her life voiced by actress Regina King and featured video of the former congresswoman playing the French horn, something she did often before her shooting.

“It was an honor to help share Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ story of perseverance and courage as part of the Democratic National Convention,” King said in a statement. “Her determination to never stay silent, against all odds, should be inspiration to us all.”

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Activist Emma González appeared in a video tonight during the Democratic National Convention calling for an end to gun violence in the US.

González is a student at the helm of a pro-gun control youth movement that erupted after a shooter killed 17 of her classmates and others in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 18, 2018.

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California Sen. Kamala Harris opened the third night of the convention, urging people to create a plan for voting.

“I want to talk about the importance of voting,” Harris said, standing in what looked like the backstage of the convention set up in Delaware.

Harris will accept the Democratic Party’s vice-presidential nomination and delivers her acceptance speech later in the program.

The California senator lamented the fact that voters are hearing a lot about “obstacles” to voting, adding that she thinks it is important for people to “to ask ourselves why (Republicans) don’t want us to vote” and “why are there so many effort to silence our voices.”

Harris urged viewers to create a voting plan and closed the short message by saying, “I’ll see you a little later tonight.”

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Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers kicked off night three of the Democratic National Convention by telling viewers that "we were really looking forward to having you here in America's dairyland."

Wisconsin, one of the nation's marquee swing states, expected to host the convention in Milwaukee — but the coronavirus pandemic forced Democrats to switch to a two-hour-a-night televised version.

So instead, Evers — who defeated Republican Gov. Scott Walker in 2018 as Democrats swept statewide races in Upper Midwest battlegrounds — got an opening slot. The election, he said, is about "returning kindness, respect, empathy and stability back to the White House — and that's who Joe and Kamala are, because they know, especially during challenging times like these, the problems we face can only be solved by all of us together."

The third night of the Democratic National Convention has begun. Kamala Harris will take her turn in the spotlight tonight, where she will portray her story as the daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants as one that can resonate with all Americans as she makes the case for electing Joe Biden.

She will say that she and Biden are committed to "a vision of our nation as a beloved community — where all are welcome, no matter what we look like, where we come from, or who we love." And one where Americans may not "agree on every detail" but are "united by the fundamental belief that every human being is of infinite worth, deserving of compassion, dignity and respect," according to excerpted remarks released ahead of her speech.

Harris will formally become the first Black and South Asian woman ever nominated to a major presidential party ticket.

Three generations of women — Harris' sister Maya Harris, her niece Meena, and her stepdaughter, Ella Emhoff — will deliver speeches virtually officially nominating the California senator as the Democratic nominee for vice president of the United States.

Harris will be joined on the program by some of the nation's most prominent women, including Hillary Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who, like Harris, competed against Biden for the 2020 nomination.

Former President Barack Obama will also make the case for his former vice president in what will be a sharp rebuke of Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the presidency in general.

Ahead of Sen. Kamala Harris' speech this evening, friend Stacey Johnson-Batiste spoke to CNN's Dana Bash about what tonight's historic moment means to her friend of more than 50 years.

"It means so much, and by this being the 100th anniversary of the women's right to vote, it's so symbolic. I mean, it just seams like, you know, the stars have lined up and everything Kamala has worked so hard for, all these decades has gotten her ready," she said.

Harris will formally become the first Black and South Asian woman ever nominated to a major presidential party ticket when she formally accepts the nomination tonight.

Johnson-Batiste added that Harris' career has prepared her to debate current Vice President Mike Pence in October.

"Kamala is fierce, and she's a fighter. And the one thing that she will not do is let, you know, let someone get away with not telling it like it, is telling the truth to the people. She won't let those types of comments to get past her," Harris' friend said. "She's going to hold him accountable, and she is going to stick to the facts, she's going to stick to the issue, she's going to educate."

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