Illinois State Senator Tammy Duckworth spoke on the second night of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, sending a message on reproductive rights to American families and the Republican Party: “Stay out of our doctors’ offices!”
The second-term senator and Iraq War veteran is an advocate for the right to in vitro fertilization and disability rights. Duckworth, who herself struggled with infertility for ten years, described the experience as “more painful than any wound I sustained on the battlefield.”
The party convention is taking place in Chicago until Thursday. On the first evening, presidential candidate Kamala Harris made some surprise remarks and President Joe Biden crowned the evening with a speech in which he listed his successes.
Live updates from the Democratic National Convention: Barack Obama and Michelle Obama will take the stage
Watch Senator Tammy Duckworth’s full DNC speech here
Watch: Senator Tammy Duckworth’s full speech at the DNC convention
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) delivered a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
What you should know about Senator Tammy Duckworth
- Who is she? Senator from Illinois, Iraq War veteran and advocate for veterans and families
- What role does she play? She is the first senator to give birth to a child while in office. She emphasizes the difference between Trump’s and Harris’s reproductive policies.
- Important quotes: “Trump’s misogynistic crusade threatens the right of other Americans to have families of their own. Because if they win, Republicans won’t stop at banning abortion. Next they’ll tackle artificial insemination. They’ll prosecute doctors. They’ll pillory and spy on women. And if you think that’s far-fetched, just look at what happened in Alabama last year.”
- “How dare the Republican Party endanger the dreams of countless veterans who, because of combat injuries, cannot have children without artificial insemination, and punish our heroes for their willingness to serve in the military? It’s simple: Every American has the right to be called ‘Mommy’ or ‘Daddy’ without being treated like a criminal.”
When and where will the DNC take place
The Democratic National Convention will take place from August 19 to 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 National Convention eleven times, most recently in 1996, when President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second term at the United Center.
How to watch and stream the DNC 2024
The convention will be broadcast live on the organization’s website from the United Center in Chicago on Monday from 6:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time (5:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time) and on the other days from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time (6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time).
USA TODAY will provide live stream coverage of the DNC every night Monday through Thursday on YouTube.
What are the themes for each night of the DNC?
The DNC announced the evening’s themes for the convention. The title of the convention is “For the People, For Our Future.”
Here are the topics for each evening:
- Monday: “For the people”
- Tuesday: “A bold vision for America’s future”
- Wednesday: “A fight for our freedoms”
- Thursday: “For our future”
