The 2012 Democratic Convention
The 2012 Democratic Convention will take place this week from Tuesday to Thursday. The first two days of the convention will be held at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. The last night, September 6, will be held at Bank of America Stadium, where President Barack Obama is expected to deliver his acceptance speech. The date also caused the National Football League to move the Kickoff game, normally on a Thursday, to Wednesday, September 5, to avoid a conflict.
On Tuesday, September 4, speakers will include Independent Governor Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, former President Jimmy Carter via video, First Lady Michelle Obama and Julian Castro, mayor of San Antonio.
The following day, on Wednesday, September 5 speakers for the day include: Democratic Senate candidate for Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren and former President Bill Clinton.
On the final night, Thursday, September 6 speakers for the day will include Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama
A number of other speakers are scheduled over the course of the convention, but I have been unable to find a precise agenda. These speakers include Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, former Governor Charlie Crist of Florida (an ex-Republican who has endorsed President Obama), former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Georgetown Law School Graduate Sandra Fluke, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, California Attorney General Kamala Harris, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Montana State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau, former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America Nancy Keenan, Caroline Kennedy (daughter of President John F. Kennedy), Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy (ret.), women’s rights activist Lilly Ledbetter, Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California, CarMax co-founder and former CEO Austin Ligon, Obama Campaign Co-Chair Eva Longoria, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund Cecile Richards, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, journalist Cristina Saralegui, Costco co-founder and former CEO Jim Sinegal, former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, and Los Angeles Mayor and Democratic Convention Chair Antonio Villaraigosa.
Protest activity and demonstrations are being anticipated at the convention. Over sixty organizations have gathered into a group known as The Coalition to March on Wall St. South, and have declared their intention to protest at the convention. The demonstrators say they want to call attention to the influence of corporations on politics as well as the role of the military-industrial complex in US politics. Charlotte has received a $50 million grant from the federal government for convention security.
In anticipation of protest activity, the city of Charlotte has also passed a variety of new laws. These include bylaws prohibiting camping on public property and restricting the use of a list of items such as "cables, bars, projectiles, spray guns, breakable containers," aerosol containers, fireworks, smoke bombs, pepper spray, mace, masks, scarves, body-armor, helmets, and police scanners.
On Tuesday, September 4, speakers will include Independent Governor Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, former President Jimmy Carter via video, First Lady Michelle Obama and Julian Castro, mayor of San Antonio.
The following day, on Wednesday, September 5 speakers for the day include: Democratic Senate candidate for Massachusetts Elizabeth Warren and former President Bill Clinton.
On the final night, Thursday, September 6 speakers for the day will include Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama
A number of other speakers are scheduled over the course of the convention, but I have been unable to find a precise agenda. These speakers include Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, former Governor Charlie Crist of Florida (an ex-Republican who has endorsed President Obama), former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Georgetown Law School Graduate Sandra Fluke, Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, California Attorney General Kamala Harris, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Montana State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau, former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America Nancy Keenan, Caroline Kennedy (daughter of President John F. Kennedy), Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy (ret.), women’s rights activist Lilly Ledbetter, Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California, CarMax co-founder and former CEO Austin Ligon, Obama Campaign Co-Chair Eva Longoria, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Houston Mayor Annise Parker, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund Cecile Richards, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, journalist Cristina Saralegui, Costco co-founder and former CEO Jim Sinegal, former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, and Los Angeles Mayor and Democratic Convention Chair Antonio Villaraigosa.
Protest activity and demonstrations are being anticipated at the convention. Over sixty organizations have gathered into a group known as The Coalition to March on Wall St. South, and have declared their intention to protest at the convention. The demonstrators say they want to call attention to the influence of corporations on politics as well as the role of the military-industrial complex in US politics. Charlotte has received a $50 million grant from the federal government for convention security.
In anticipation of protest activity, the city of Charlotte has also passed a variety of new laws. These include bylaws prohibiting camping on public property and restricting the use of a list of items such as "cables, bars, projectiles, spray guns, breakable containers," aerosol containers, fireworks, smoke bombs, pepper spray, mace, masks, scarves, body-armor, helmets, and police scanners.