Mariska Hargitay has an important message to share while speaking at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
The 56-year-old Law & Order: SVU actress made gave a virtual speech during the event on Wednesday (August 19) where she advocated for sexual assault survivors.
“When I started doing research to play Detective Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU over 20 years ago, I was shocked to find out how many people, including children, experience physical or sexual abuse,” Mariska shared. “The statistics fueled my resolve, and I committed myself to the movement to end this violence.”
Mariska spoke alongside the CEO and President of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence Ruth Glenn, who is urging Congress to “reauthorize and enhance” the Violence Against Women Act, which then-Senator Joe Biden wrote and introduced in 1990.
In 2004, Mariska started the Joyful Heart Foundation, which aims to educate and empower survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
“I created the Joyful Heart Foundation to help survivors heal, and to change the way our society responds to sexual violence,” Mariska said. “The vice president has worked tirelessly by our side to end the backlog of hundreds of thousands of untested rape kits. And our work will continue because testing kits not only makes our country safer, but it sends a vital message to survivors that what happened to them matters.”
You can check out our coverage of the 2020 DNC here.
It’s official – Kamala Harris is the Democratic nominee for Vice President!
The 55-year-old Senator made history accepting the VP nomination on Wednesday (August 19) during the 2020 Democratic National Convention, making her the first Black woman and first South Asian American woman to be a VP nominee on a major-party ticket.
“I accept your nomination for vice president of the United States of America. I do so committed to the values [my mother] taught me, to the word that teaches me to walk by faith and not by sight,” Senator Harris said. “And to a vision passed on through generations of Americans, one that Joe Biden shares, a vision of our nation as a beloved community, where all are welcome.”
Senator Harris praised her Indian immigrant mother fro raising her and her sister to be “proud strong Black woman,” and then called out the systemic racism that is going on today.
“And let’s be clear — there is no vaccine for racism,” Senator Harris said. “We’ve gotta do the work. For George Floyd. For Breonna Taylor. For the lives of too many others to name.”
“We’re at an inflection point. The constant chaos leaves adrift. The incompetence makes us feel afraid,” Senator Harris continued. “The callousness makes us feel alone. It’s a lot. And here’s the thing: We can do better and deserve so much more. We must elect a president who will bring something different, something better, and do the important work. A president who will bring all of us together—Black, White, Latino, Asian, Indigenous—to achieve the future we collectively want. We must elect Joe Biden.”
You can watch Kamala Harris‘ entire acceptance speech now.
Hillary Clinton is recalling her 2016 Presidential Election loss during her speech at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.
The 72-year-old former Secretary of State gave a virtual speech on Wednesday night (August 19) where she addressed losing the election four years ago to Donald Trump, urging voters to make sure that he doesn’t win again.
“For four years, people have said to me, ‘I didn’t realize how dangerous he [Trump] was.’ ‘I wish I could go back and do it over.’ Or worse, ‘I should have voted,’” Secretary Clinton said. “Well, this can’t be another ‘woulda coulda shoulda’ election.”
Secretary Clinton then went on to praise Joe Biden and and his running mate Kamala Harris – who she called “relentless in the pursuit of justice and equity” – before urging Americans to vote.
“And don’t forget, Joe and Kamala can win by three million votes and still lose,” Secretary Clinton added. “Take it from me. So we need numbers overwhelming, so Trump can’t sneak or steal his way to victory.”
Barack Obama gave a passionate speech during the 2020 Democratic National Convention from the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Penn., on Wednesday night (August 19).
The former President of the United States took aim at Donald Trump for his treatment of the presidency and what is really at stake in the election.
“What we do these next 76 days will echo through generations to come. I’m in Philadelphia where our Constitution was drafted and signed. It wasn’t a perfect document. It allowed for the inhumanity of slavery and failed to guarantee women and even men who didn’t own property the right to participate in the political process,” Mr. Obama stated in his speech, adding, “But embedded in this document was a North Star that would guide future generations, a system of representative government, a democracy to which we could better realize our highest ideals. Through Civil War and bitter struggles, we improved this Constitution to include the voices of those who had once been left out. And gradually, we made this country more just and more equal and more free. ”
He continued, taking straight aim at the current leader of the country, “I never expected that my successor would embrace my vision or continue my policies…I did hope, for the sake of our country, that Donald Trump might show some interest in taking the job seriously. That he might come to feel the weight of the office and discover some reverence for the democracy that had been placed in his care. But he never did.”
“For close to 4 years now, he has shown no interest in putting in the work. No interest in finding common ground. No interest in using the awesome power of his office to help anyone but himself and his friends. No interest in treating the presidency as anything but one more reality show that he can use to get the attention he craves. Donald Trump hasn’t grown into the job, because he can’t. And the consequences of that failure are severe.”
Mr. Obama went on, focusing on the numbers of the coronavirus pandemic, jobs lost, and more.
“Now, I know that in times as polarized as these, most of you have already made up your mind. But maybe you’re still not sure which candidate you will vote for or whether you will vote at all. Maybe you are tired of the direction we’re headed, but you can’t see a better path yet or you just don’t know enough about the person who wants to lead us there. So let me tell you about my friend, Joe Biden,” he shared, turning his focus to the Democratic nominee. “Joe is a man who learned early on to treat every person he meets with respect and dignity, living by the words his parents taught him. No one is better than you, Joe. But you’re better than nobody. That empathy, that decency, the belief that everybody counts, that’s who Joe is.”
He added about his VP pic, Kamala Harris, “In my friend Kamala Harris, (Biden)’s chosen an ideal partner who is more than prepared for the job, someone who knows what it’s like to overcome barriers and who has made a career fighting to help others live out their own American dream. Along with the experience needed to get things done, Joe and Kamala have concrete policies that will turn their vision of a better, fairer, stronger country into a reality.”
Billie Eilish made her thoughts loud and clear in a powerful message ahead of her performance at the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Wednesday (August 19).
The 18-year-old Grammy winner urged fans everywhere to use their voices and vote in the upcoming election.
“You don’t need me to tell you things are a mess — Donald Trump is destroying our country and everything we care about,” Billie began. “We need leaders who will solve problems like climate change and covid — not deny them. Leaders who will fight against systemic racism and inequality.”
“And that starts by voting for someone who understands how much is at stake; someone who is building a team that shares our values,” she added.
“It starts with voting against Donald Trump and for Joe Biden. Silence is not an option and we cannot sit this one out,” Billie adds. “We all have to vote like our lives and the world depend on it — because they do. The only way to be certain of our future is to make it ourselves. Please register; please vote.”
The message came just before a taped performance of “my future”.
Kerry Washington made a powerful speech as she hosted night three of the 2020 Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night (August 19).
The 43-year-old Little Fires Everywhere actress wore a sharp pin-striped pantsuit for her appearance where she spoke about the importance of voting, diversity and more.
“When I was in 7th or 8th grade we memorized the preamble of the constitution and I’ve never forgotten it,” Kerry started. “The first 15 words of our constitution are, ‘We the people, of the United States in order to form a more perfect union’ … we say more perfect because our union is not without flaws.”
She continued, “When our constitution was written, women couldn’t vote. Black people were considered three-fifths of a human being, but therein lies the work. No one is perfect. Nothing is. But it is the striving towards justice, equality, and truth that distinguishes us. We fight for a more perfect union because we are fighting for the soul of this country and for the fight of our lives.”
Kerry Washington: "Our union is not without flaws. When our Constitution was written, women couldn't vote. Black people were considered 3/5ths of a human being — but therein lies the work." #DemConventionhttps://t.co/f4hSCWZoSMpic.twitter.com/7cdfhl8Pxl
While appearing during the virtual DNC on Tuesday (August 18), the 30-year-old U.S. Representative praised Senator Bernie Sanders‘ campaign, before seconding his nomination for president.
“If you were confused, no worries!” AOC tweeted. “Convention rules require roll call & nominations for every candidate that passes the delegate threshold. I was asked to 2nd the nom for Sen. Sanders for roll call. I extend my deepest congratulations to @JoeBiden – let’s go win in November.”
AOC then went on to show her support for Biden.
“Congratulations, @JoeBiden – I deeply look forward to fighting for our future together and reclaiming our democracy in November,” AOC tweeted. “Thank you @DemConvention for having me deliver Sen. Sanders’ roll call nomination speech. It’s been an absolute honor. #NotMeUs & #Biden2020.”
You can watch Alexandria Ocasio-Coretz‘s full speech below.
