Biden opens Democratic convention speech by rejecting political violence

Chicago (USA) – US President Joe Biden rejected political violence during his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday, asking an excited audience if they were ready to vote for “freedom” in November and run for Vice President Kamala Harris for the White House.

“There is no place for political violence in America, and you can’t love this country only when you’re winning,” Biden said, referring to former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump without actually mentioning him, taking a more sober tone at the start of his speech.

Biden’s speech, however, began on a positive note as attendees at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago greeted him with applause and chants of “Joe, we love you” while waving blue banners with the same message and red hearts.

Biden, who was emotional as he took the United Center stage led by his daughter Ashley, assured that the country was at a “turning point.” “This is one of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make right now determine the fate of a nation and the world.”

A month ago, Trump bowed to internal pressure from the same party and gave up his re-election bid in favor of Harris. He said that during the presidency of Republican Donald Trump (2017-2021), Nazis, supremacists and even the Ku Klux Klan “became bolder” because they saw him as an “ally.”

With Trump, Biden said, “they don’t even bother to put their hoods on anymore.”

Recalling Trump’s political career and victory over the Republicans in the 2020 elections, Biden assured: “Democracy prevailed (after the Trumpist attack on the Capitol in January 2021, before Trump’s inauguration), we have achieved results, and now democracy must prevail.

“Let me ask you this: Are you ready to vote for freedom? Are you ready to vote for American democracy? Are you ready to vote for Harris and Tim Waltz?” Biden said as delegates paused to applause as Democrats committed to honoring what they called the most relevant president in recent years.

On the first night of the Democratic National Convention, first lady Jill Biden spoke before Biden, and Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz, also appeared.

(Rome)