A LOW AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR OUR SPECIAL CHICAGO TONIGHT.

COVERAGE OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, CHICAGO IS IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AS DAY.

ONE OF THE CONVENTION KICKS OFF AT THE UNITED CENTER AND MCCORMICK PLACE.

THOUSANDS OF DELEGATES AND ACTIVISTS ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT THE CITY TO HAVE THEIR VOICES HEARD.

LOCAL LEADERS ARE READY TO SHOWCASE THE CITY AND IN A POSITIVE LIGHT WHILE HOPING TO QUASH SECURITY CONCERNS ABOUT CROWDS AND VIOLENCE TO BEGIN.

TONIGHT, WE GO INSIDE THE UNITED CENTER WHERE AND DIVINITY KICKS OFF.

OUR CAN COVERAGE OF THE DNC.

AND OF COURSE, TODAY'S CONVENTION HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN THE MAKING.

YES, THIS IS CERTAINLY, AS YOU KNOW, I ACTUALLY RECENTLY SPOKE WITH A CONFIDENT THAT GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER WHO DIDN'T REMINISCING ABOUT REALLY HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS.

HE SAID THE BEEN PLOTTING TO TRY TO GET THE CONVENTION SINCE 2021.

AND NOW IT IS FINALLY HERE.

AS YOU WALK THE CONVENTION FLOOR IN CHICAGO TODAY AND EACH DAY OF THE CONVENTION BE PROUD OF WHO WE ARE AS ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS.

HE SAYS THAT THEY COULD BE PROUD OF THINGS LIKE POLICY SUCH AS FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE WORKER LEAVE POLICIES AND THESE ARE THE SORT OF POLICIES THAT WE CAN EXPECT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT FROM THE STAGE HERE AT THE INCLUDING PERHAPS FROM PRITZKER HIMSELF.

HE IS SCHEDULED TO SPEAK DURING PRIME TIME TOMORROW.

GOVERNOR PART IN THE CHICAGO MAYOR.

THAT IS BRANDON JOHNSON IS GOING TO BE GIVING SOME OPENING REMARKS WHEN THINGS GET UNDERWAY IN JUST A BIT HERE NOW, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, THE HEADLINER TONIGHT, PRITZKER WAS AMONG THOSE WHO GREETED THE PRESIDENT THIS AFTERNOON WHEN AIR FORCE ONE LANDED IN CHICAGO.

SENATOR TAMMY DUCKWORTH WAS A CO-CHAIR OF BIDEN'S CAMPAIGN AND SAYS SHE RECENTLY MET WITH HIM.

IT JUST, YOU KNOW, MISTER PRESIDENT.

I JUST NEED A COUPLE MOMENTS TO GRIEVE.

I JUST NEED TO CRY A LITTLE BIT.

I UNDERSTAND.

AND I LOVE COMMON ITEM WILL BE THERE FOR, BUT I JUST NEED TO GRIEVE FOR JOE BIDEN WHO YOU ARE.

HE SAID, NO, THIS IS ABOUT GETTING THE WORK DONE.

I WANT TO GO GET OFF THE PHONE AND GO TRY TO ACHIEVE A PEACE DEAL AND GAZA.

EVEN BIDEN'S MOST ARDENT FANS ARE FULLY EMBRACING KAMALA HARRIS AS THE NOMINEE.

TOP ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS WERE THERE TO MEET HER YESTERDAY WHEN SHE FLEW INTO CHICAGO AND THAT UNION LEADER WHO CALLED BIDEN ONE OF THE BEST PRESIDENTS IN HISTORY FOR LABOR IS REALLY EMBRACING AND SAYS THAT THERE IS AN EXUBERANT SNOUT THAT HARRIS IS IN THE RACE.

THEY BELIEVE THAT SHE IS THE PARTY'S BEST CHANCE TO BEAT REPUBLICAN NOMINEE DONALD TRUMP.

THIS SEXISTS RACES DRAFT DODGING LIONS, SON OF A JUST GOT TO ONCE AND FOR ALL.

WE NOT ONLY HAVE TO WIN, WE HAVE TO KICK THEIR SAS ALL THE WAY BACK TO MAR-A-LAGO.

PUT FORK IN END AND DONALD TRUMP'S PRESENCE.

WHEN WALZ A TEACHER AND THE WIFE OF VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE, MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM WALZ, SHE TOOK A DIFFERENT TONE.

SHE GOT FOLKSY EVEN DURING A SURPRISE APPEARANCE AT ILLINOIS DELEGATION BREAKFAST THIS MORNING.

THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CITIES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD.

AND I HAVE TO SAY JUST BEING A HOP, SKIP AND A JUMP IN MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL, WHICH IS MAKE OUR WAY TO CHICAGO QUITE OFTEN.

ILLINOIS IS VERY FIRMLY A BLUE STATE.

BUT THERE ARE TIGHT CONTEST THIS 2024 ELECTION CYCLE.

ILLINOIS'S FIRST OPENLY CONGRESSMAN.

THAT'S ERIK SORENSON OF THE 17TH.

JUST RENT IS THE MOST AT RISK OF LOSING HIS SEAT TO REPUBLICAN JUDGE JOE MACRON STORMS ALSO THE ONLY METEOROLOGIST MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

SO I CAN PROUDLY SAY THAT THE FORECAST FOR NOVEMBER 5TH IS THAT'S A COMMON SENTIMENT AMONG DEMOCRATS.

EVEN THOSE WHO ARE NOT WEATHERMEN.

BUT AGAIN, BRENDA, REMIND YOU THAT THAT WAS ALSO VERY MUCH THE FEELING LAST MONTH LEAVING THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE AMONG MEMBERS OF THE ILLINOIS GOP BACK HIM.

AND IT'S CERTAINLY A TIME WHEN BOTH PARTIES ARE FEELING GOOD ABOUT THEMSELVES AND THEIR PROSPECTS.

THANK YOU.

WE'LL CHECK BACK IN WITH YOU IN A LITTLE BIT.

THE COALITION TO MARCH ON THE DNC HELD ITS FIRST DEMONSTRATION EARLIER TODAY CALLING ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO STOP SENDING AID AND WEAPONS TO ISRAEL AMID ITS WAR IN GAZA.

CHICAGO.

TONIGHT'S NICK BLOOMBERG IS AT UNION PARK, THE SITE OF THIS AFTERNOON'S RALLY AND HE JOINS US NOW WITH MORE.

NIC.

THAT'S RIGHT.

BRANDIS.

THIS IS THE PARK WHERE THE MARCH STEPPED OFF FROM SOME OF THE MARCHERS ACTUALLY MAKING THEIR WAY BACK TO THIS LOCATION RIGHT NOW.

IT WAS A RAUCOUS, HOURS-LONG GATHERING HERE TODAY WHERE WE HEARD MANY OF THE FAMILIAR CHARGES AGAINST TOP DEMOCRATS, GENOCIDE.

JOE KILLER KAMALA WITH ORGANIZERS AND SPEAKERS SAYING IT IS A MORAL IMPERATIVE TO STOP SUPPORTING ISRAEL.

WE HEARD A LOT OF THOSE KINDS OF MARCH IS A VERY FIRED-UP CROWD TODAY WITH ORGANIZERS SAYING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS KILLED COUNTLESS MORE DISPLACED.

IT'S NO TIME FOR THE DEMOCRATS TO BE IN TOWN, CELEBRATING THEMSELVES AT THEIR CONVENTION.

IT SAYS THE VIETNAM WAR OF OUR GENERATION.

IN THE LATE 60'S EARLY 70'S, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN IN THE UNITED STATES WERE IN THE STREETS TO STOP THAT WAR.

IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US TO DO THE SAME THING HERE.

THE MAIN PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO WIN PALESTINIAN FREEDOM OF THE PALESTINIANS THEMSELVES.

THIS MARCH IS A TESTAMENT TO HOW THE VERY WORKING AN OPPRESSED PEOPLE.

THESE DEMOCRATS CLAIM TO REPRESENT WELL, NO LONGER STAND FOR THE CURRENTLY EXISTING ORDER OF OUR TAX DOLLARS BEING SENT TO FUND A GENOCIDE.

THERE IS NO LESSER OF 2 EVILS WHEN THE SO-CALLED LESSER IS AIDING AND ABETTING A GENOCIDE.

NOW AFTER RALLYING IN THE PARK, INCLUDING APPEARANCES FROM INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE CORNEL WEST AND MUSICIAN AND POET JAMILA WOODS, A CHICAGO NATIVE OF THE MARCH FINALLY STEPPED OFF GOING FOR QUITE A WHILE DOWN WASHINGTON STREET BETWEEN BEFORE TURNING NORTH AND GOING WEST AGAIN.

AND NIC, THERE WAS SOME DEBATE ABOUT THE MARCH ROUTE.

HOW DID THINGS END UP?

THAT'S RIGHT.

ORGANIZERS SAID AT THIS MORNING'S PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THEY WERE GOING TO PUSH RIGHT UNTIL THE VERY MOMENT THAT THEY STEPPED OFF FOR THE CITY TO GIVE THEM A LONGER ROUTE TO ACCOMMODATE THE LARGE CROWD.

ONE ESTIMATE FROM AN ORGANIZER WITH SOME 15,000 PEOPLE POTENTIALLY.

BUT THAT WAS TO NO AVAIL.

THEY DID WIN A FIGHT WITH THE CITY TO GET, YOU KNOW, A STAGE.

AN AMPLIFIED SOUND HERE FOR THE RALLY AT UNION PARK.

NOW, ONCE THE MARCH TOOK OFF NEARLY AN HOUR AFTER ITS SCHEDULED START TIME, THE CROWDED MOVE VERY SLOWLY DOWN THE STREET REALLY JUST FILLING THE ENTIRE STREET.

THERE WERE LINES OF POLICE OFFICERS ON BIKES ALL DOWN THE SIDE OF EVERY ROAD.

WE EVEN SAW SUPERINTENDENT LARRY SNELLING AT ONE POINT AT THE FRONT OF THE MARCH.

IN ADDITION TO PROTESTS AGAINST THE WAR IN GAZA, SOME OF THE CHANCE TOOK AIM AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYING THE CPD KKK AND ISRAELI MILITARY, THEY'RE ALL ONE IN THE SAME ESSENTIALLY ORGANIZERS ALSO FOUGHT HARD FOR A ROUTE WITHIN SIGHT AND SOUND OF THE UNITED CENTER, WHICH THEY GOT, THOUGH, AT A DISTANCE OF SEVERAL BLOCKS AWAY.

WELL, OUTSIDE THE PERIMETER, WAS DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS INSIDE THE UNITED CENTER TO HEAR TOO MUCH OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.

WE SHOULD SAY THERE WAS A SMALL GROUP OF PROTESTERS NOT CONNECTED TO THE COALITION THAT BROKE THROUGH PART OF THE FENCE OUTSIDE THE OUTER SECURITY PERIMETER WITH CPD REPORTEDLY BRINGING IN, YOU KNOW, OFFICERS TO HELP SECURE NICK, WHAT OTHER KIND OF PROTEST TO EXPECT THIS WEEK?

WELL, THERE WAS ALSO A RALLY AND MARCH SCHEDULED TO END UP AT THE DNC RIGHT ABOUT AT THIS HOUR.

THAT'S LED BY THE POOR PEOPLE'S ARMY.

THEY WERE GOING TO GET MUCH CLOSER TO THE TO THE UNITED CENTER BECAUSE OF A SNAFU AT THE CITY'S AND WITH THE PERMIT AND THE COALITION TO MARCH ON THE DNC IS ALSO PLANNING AMONG OTHER ACTIONS THIS WEEK.

WHAT'S EXPECTED TO BE ANOTHER LARGE SCALE EVENT ON THURSDAY TO COINCIDE WITH THE CONVENTION'S FINAL DAY.

OK, NIC, THANKS AGAIN.

AND WE'LL CHECK BACK IN WITH YOU ON OUR 10:00PM BROADCAST HERE IN THE STUDIO NOW TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE EXPECTING FROM THE FIRST NIGHT OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

OUR JOE WALSH, FORMER REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN FROM ILLINOIS WHO RAN FOR PRESIDENT HIMSELF 4 YEARS AGO AND IS NOW SUPPORTING THE HARRIS-WALZ TICKET.

AND PASTOR COREY BROOKS, THE CEO OF PROJECT HOOD HERE IN CHICAGO.

PASTOR BROOKS SPOKE LAST MONTH AT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE.

GENTLEMAN.

WELCOME BACK.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE PROTESTS THAT WE'RE HEARING ABOUT COMING FRESH OFF OF THE REPORTING THAT YOU HEARD FROM MY COLLEAGUE NIC BLUMBERG, A COREY BROOKS, STARTING WITH YOU, PLEASE.

YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT THESE PROTESTS.

NO, I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE PROTESTS.

IT IS KIND OF ODD THAT YOU HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION HAVING THESE TYPE OF PROTEST IN THESE TYPE OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SEEKING THEIR OF THEIR VOICES HEARD BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

IT JUST SEEMS KIND OF A IT'S A PROBLEM FOR KAMALA HARRIS WILL PROTESTING IS AS AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE, BUT SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL.

SPLITS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY COALITION.

IT'S A PROBLEM BIDEN HAD.

IT'S A PROBLEM.

HARRIS HAS I PERSONALLY SOMEONE WHO'S VERY PRO-ISRAEL.

I THINK KAMALA HARRIS NEEDS TO COME OUT THIS WEEK.

INCHED LI PUT OUT A STATEMENT ABOUT HER STRONG SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL BECAUSE I WORRY ABOUT HER AS SOMEONE WHO WANTS HER TO WIN.

I WORRY ABOUT HER LOSING MODERATE IN JEWISH SUPPORT.

AND IF SOMEONE YOU SAID WHO WANTS HER TO WIN, BUT YOU'RE A FORMER REPUBLICAN, A NEVER TRUMPER, BUT YOU'RE STILL LETS, YOU KNOW, EXPLAIN WHY YOU'RE BACKING KAMALA HARRIS, PLEASE.

DONALD TRUMP IS EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY.

PERIOD.

HE'S UTTERLY UNFIT TO BE PRESIDENT.

I'M NOT A DEMOCRAT.

I DISAGREE WITH KAMALA HARRIS ON MOST POLICY, BUT ALL OF U.S. REPUBLICANS FOR HARRIS ARE ALIGNED IN THE FACT THAT THAT GUY BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE WILL BE A REAL DANGER TO THE COUNTRY.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TAKING 4TH IN BATTLEGROUND STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.

PASTOR BROOKS, YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN.

YOU GAVE THE CLOSING PRAYER AT THE RNC IN MILWAUKEE LAST MONTH.

ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS, WHY ARE YOU BACKING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP?

WHAT ABOUT HIS MESSAGING APPEALS TO YOU?

WELL, I THINK VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN JOE.

YOU KNOW, JOE THINGS ONE WAY ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I THINK ANOTHER.

I THINK THAT IF WE WERE, IF IF WE PUT KAMALA HARRIS INTO OFFICE, WE'RE GOING TO BE SETTING FORTH AN AGENDA THAT IS GOING TO PUT AMERICA AND A DETRIMENT AS FAR AS OUR STANDING IN THE WORLD.

AS FAR AS OUR STAYING WHERE WE GO WITH EDUCATION, OUR ECONOMY IS ALREADY FALLING APART.

THE BIDEN, KAMALA HARRIS REGIME IS.

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE EVEN WORSE.

SO FOR ME, IT'S ABOUT THE POLICY IS NOT ABOUT THE PERSON.

I THINK JOE AND OTHERS FOCUS A LOT ON THE PERSON.

DONALD TRUMP FOR FOCUS ON POLICY NOT BEING ANY TIME.

WE PLAY THIS IDENTITY POLITICS, THINGS WE'RE FOCUSING ON RACE AND GENDER.

IT GETS US INTO TROUBLE.

SO FOR ME, IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE POLICY.

AND IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE PRINCIPLES.

AND I'LL TALK ABOUT WHAT I'M A GIFT TALK ABOUT WHAT FOR FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION BEING STRONG.

BUT I'M ALSO FOR SCHOOL CHOICE.

THAT'S DONALD TRUMP.

I AM FOR NOT HAVING CHILDREN HAVING TRANSGENDER OPERATIONS.

I'M NOT FOR FOR STRONG FAMILIES.

THAT'S WHAT FOR.

AND I THINK DONALD TRUMP REPRESENTS THOSE ISSUES VERY WELL.

JOE WAS THE HIGHLIGHT TONIGHT, OF COURSE, IS GOING TO BE A KEYNOTE ADDRESS FROM PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AFTER HISTORIC DECISION TO STEP ASIDE, NOT RUN, ENDORSING HER.

WE'VE GOT ABOUT 25 SECONDS LEFT.

HOW DO YOU EXPECT HIM TO MAKE THE CASE FOR TONIGHT?

HAS THE TORCH AND HE'S GOING TO SAY WHAT HE SAID 3 OR 4 YEARS AGO THAT HE WAS THE BRIDGE.

AND THIS NOW IS THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND SHE CAN BEAT DONALD TRUMP AND HE WILL RALLY THE ENTIRE COUNTRY TO GET BEHIND HER.

COREY BROOKS, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'RE EXPECTING TONIGHT?

SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF EXCITEMENT.

I THINK THE PASSING OF THE TORCH, I THE FACT THAT THEY'RE PLANNING ON HONORING JESSE JACKSON, I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF EXCITEMENT THINK THEY'RE GOING TO GET THE MOMENTUM THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, THE LEAD THEM INTO THE REST OF THE WEEK.

ALL RIGHT, JOE WALSH, COREY BROOKS, WE'LL CHECK BACK IN WITH YOU IN A LITTLE BIT SHORTLY.

THANK YOU.

BUT NOW LET'S GO BACK OUT TO THE NEAR WEST SIDE AND THE SHADOW OF THE UNITED CENTER W T TW NEWS REPORTER JOANNA HERNANDEZ HAS A LOOK AT HOW CHICAGO RESIDENTS WHO LIVE NEAR THE UNITED CENTER ARE ADJUSTING TO THIS MAJOR DISRUPTION TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

JOANNA.

IRAN IS THAT'S RIGHT.

FROM ROAD CLOSURES TO LIMITED PARKING AT SAYS THIS IS WHAT LOCAL RESIDENTS WILL HAVE TO ADJUST TO THROUGHOUT THE WEEK.

JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

WE'RE ALONG SOUTH CAROLINA AND WEST ADAMS.

THIS IS A VERY CONGESTED AREA AND WE SPOKE TO SOME LOCALS ON THEIR THOUGHTS.

TAKE A LISTEN.

I'M EXCITED JUST TO BE THERE JUST TO BE IN THE MOMENT.

YOU KNOW.

BUT BUT I AM CONCERNED.

YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT MY HOME STRAIGHT ALDERMAN WALTER BURNETT, SAYS HIS COMMUNITY IS NO STRANGER TO PARKING RESTRICTIONS, ESPECIALLY DURING GAME DAYS AND EVENTS.

BUT AS THE CITY'S PLANNING FOR THE DNC HAS BEEN FULL OF MOVING PARTS, WE HAVE ALL THE GAMES.

WE HAVE THE SEE PEOPLE BE OUT AND MAYBE BLOCKING TRAFFIC OR WE CAN GO DOWN SERVICE TREES AND WE GET USED TO THAT.

WE ADAPT TO THAT.

WE OKAY WITH THAT.

BUT NOBODY STOP US FROM PARKING IN FRONT OF HOUSE.

US AS DNC WEEK KICKS OFF.

ALDERMEN.

BURNETT SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME FRUSTRATIONS WITH UNWARRANTED PARKING RESTRICTIONS LEADING UP TO TODAY.

WHAT HAS BEEN WORKING TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THEY WANT EVERYBODY TO BE SAFE.

WE WORKED WITH THE PEOPLE WHO WILL HAVE THEIR PARKING RESTRICTED.

ONE OF THOSE RESIDENCES.

JAY HUNT.

HE LIVES AT THE HENRY HORNER ANNEX NEXT TO THE UNITED CENTER.

WE GOT BIG SHOTS WHO ON THE FILM LAW.

THE BUILDING IS WITHIN THE PEDESTRIAN RESTRICTED PERIMETER.

HUNT SAYS HE HAS LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND IS USED TO TRAFFIC AND ROAD CLOSURES.

WE'LL BE PARKING ACROSS THE STREET SO THAT WILL HELP.

THOSE UP BECAUSE THIS WAS PARKING.

PARK LAST GUESTS WILL GET CHECKED WE DO.

WELCOME TO THE BUILDING.

DESPITE CONCERNS OVER RESTRICTED ACCESS POINTS, PARKING AND TRAFFIC, LONGTIME RESIDENTS AND OR GREEN SAYS THE CONVENTION IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCALS TO EXPERIENCE A MOMENT IN HISTORY.

WE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

YOU KNOW, SO THE KEY IS CAN SEE THINGS.

YOU KNOW, IMPORTANT FOR THE KEY IS UNDERSTAND.

I KNOW VOTING IMPORTANT VOTING.

YOU.

LESS THAN A MILE AWAY.

RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER, DOCTORS AND STAFF ARE WORKING OVERNIGHT TO PREPARE FOR ANY SITUATION THAT MIGHT ARISE WE ARE RIGHT IN THE BACKYARD OF THE UNITED CENTER.

WE ARE CLEARLY AWARE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE IMPACTED IN MAINLY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF TRAFFIC.

INTERIM CHIEF OF OPERATIONS JOHN TOMORROW SAYS THE HOSPITAL HAS OFFERED OUT PATIENTS A VIRTUAL OPTIONS TO AVOID TRAVELING INTO THE AREA BUILDING, CONFIDENT FOR SURE, BUT ALSO RECOGNIZING WE MAY HAVE TO ADJUST THOSE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROTEST ARE TOP OF MIND FOR THE HOSPITAL AS WELL AS ALDERMAN BURNETT.

JUST WANT TO SAY TO ALL OF THE PROTESTERS THAT'S COME IN.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR RIGHT TO EXPRESS YOURSELVES.

NO RIGHT TO STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE JUST DON'T MESS COMMUNITY.

AGAIN.

THIS IS A LIVE VIEW FROM WEST OGDEN, WEST ADAMS AND ALONG SOUTH CAROLINA'S, YOU CAN SEE VERY CONGESTED AREA OF MEMBERS OF THE SEE TRYING TO MOVE IN TRAFFIC.

SO IF YOU CAN AVOID THIS AREA, YOU'RE GOING TO BE DRIVING ALONG THIS AREA, THE PATIENTS REPORTING LIVE FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED JOHN HERNANDEZ BRANDIS SEND IT BACK TO YOU.

YEAH, JOE, AND A LOT OF FOLKS AVOIDING THAT AREA IF THEY CAN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

AND WE'RE BACK WITH ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER CHRIS WELCH FROM THE UNITED CENTER RIGHT AFTER THIS.

CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

THERE WE GO BACK INSIDE THE UNITED CENTER WHERE WBTW NEWS REPORTER AMANDA VICKI IS WITH ILLINOIS HOUSE SPEAKER EMANUEL CHRIS WELCH.

AMANDA.

YES, BRIDGETT.

I ACTUALLY SURPRISINGLY, THIS IS YOUR FIRST CONVENTION.

TELL ME WHAT YOU'RE EXPECTING, HOW THE EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN SO FAR?

WELL, MY FIRST CONVENTION AND THEY'RE SINGING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM.

SO WANT TO KEEP MY ON YOU KNOW, I'M EXCITED.

THIS IS FIRST.

THIS I'M REALLY EXCITED BE HERE TO ELECT THE FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT AWESOME OPPORTUNITY WE OF COURSE, FIRST CONVENTION WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE BEEN 2020 BUT OIL BECAUSE OF COVID PANDEMIC.

YOU'RE READY TO PARTY ACTUALLY HOSTING ONE.

TELL ME ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING WEDNESDAY.

WEDNESDAY, THE 7 BLACK SPEAKERS.

AND JUST IN THE NATION RIGHT NOW.

WE'RE GATHERING DISPLAY LIKE EXCELLENCE WHAT BETTER WAY TO DISPLAY LIKE AND BRINGING 7 BLACK SPEAKERS FIRST IN OUR STATE'S HISTORY.

ONE WANT TO SEE ME.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE BLACK ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THIS DAY AND AGE?

A HOUSE SPEAKER POTENTIALLY SECOND BLACK PRESIDENT.

TONIGHT.

OPENED THE DOOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.

PEOPLE LIKE THE OTHERS LIKE MANY ON MORE JUST DOWN THIS IS A YOU NOW GREAT ME IS CENTER THE ILLINOIS DEMOCRATIC MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS HOUSE.

IF YOU BELIEVE YOU CAN GET WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THAT?

BUT YOU CAN'T RIGHT NOW.

A SOLDIER THE CHICAGO.

THEY WERE AWESOME.

WE GOT TO JUST GIVE THEM A SHOUT YOU KNOW, IT'S ELECTION TIME AND WE HAVE 78 GREAT MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, MY WAS ELECTING DEMOCRATS WANT MORE.

AND 24 AND I THINK WITH THIS ENVIRONMENT, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.

BUT NOTHING'S GOING TO BE GIVEN TO US.

WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT THERE AND KNOCK ON DOORS.

WE'VE GOT TO DO WINNERS, DO THE WORK.

YOU TALKED ABOUT WANTING TO DO MORE WHEN IT COMES TO REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, WORKERS RIGHTS OR 2 THAT STUCK OUT TO ME AFTER YOU SPOKE TO THE ILLINOIS DELEGATION THIS MORNING.

ANY PARTICULAR POLICY YOU KNOW WHAT?

THERE IS THERE IS.

AS VOTERS CHOOSE.

IN FACT, WE'RE TOLD POST MOVE BALL.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT WORKERS RIGHTS, WOMEN'S RIGHTS, VOTER RIGHTS, LGBTQ+ RIGHTS.

IF YOU KNOW RIGHTS THAT HARD FOR IN THIS CASE, WE'RE GOING VOTE FOR KAMALA HARRIS AND TIM WALZ AND KEEP MOVING THIS COUNTRY FOR PROMISES TO TAKE US BACK.

ALL DO IS LOOK 2020, TOLD US WHAT THEY'RE GOING YOU KNOW, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS THAT WE COVERED AFTER THE DEATH OF SONYA MASSEY FIELD, SHERIFF'S DEPUTY HAD SAID THEY WANT TO PART OF THIS WEEK.

THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION AGENDA TO BE FOCUSED DOING SOMETHING ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT POLICE OFFICERS WHO TROUBLED PASTS ARE NOT ABLE TO GET A JOB IN ANOTHER DEPARTMENT TO AS WAS FUNDRAISING BEEN CHARGED WITH MASSEY'S WHAT IS LIKE GOING TO ON THAT FRONT?

AND DO YOU WANT THAT TO BE PART OF CONVENTION WHERE THE REMEMBER THAT ILLINOIS MAY SAVED CAUSE OF WE HAVE BY THERE'S SOMETHING MORE THAT WE CAN DO THE SUN TO ADVOCATES AND AND CONSIDER IT.

BUT WHAT WE REALLY GEORGE FLOYD PASSED BY CONGRESS.

WE NEED DO SOMETHING THEY SON TIM WALZ AND DEMOCRATS IN CONTROL OF CONGRESS.

WE CAN GET THAT TO POINT PASSED INTO LAW WHAT YOU DO BELIEVE THEN THAT WOULD PERHAPS THAT HAD PREVENTED IS THERE ANYTHING FIND?

IT REALLY CENTERING ON ILLINOIS?

BECAUSE, AGAIN, HER FAMILY IS WE WANT THERE TO MORE.

IS SOMETHING OUT A DEBATE, BUT IT WASN'T USED WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.

DON'T GET TO APARTMENT AND YOU KNOW POLAND ARE LOW RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED TO TIGHTEN THIS I HAVEN'T PINPOINTED.

IT YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO CATCH THESE.

BUT SOMETHING LIKE YOU'VE SEEN THAT VIDEO.

IT WAS HORRIFIC TRAGIC.

IT NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED.

SHE ME AND ALSO ASK YOU, THERE ARE A LOT OF LABOR LEADERS, COURSE, HERE AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION IN THOSE IN CONTEXT WHAT RECOGNIZED YOU ARE IN THIS IN YOUR ROLE SPEAKER ANYWAY, WHAT ALLEGEDLY SOME MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF SAY HELPING THEM FROM WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

AND KNOW THAT YOU SAY THAT THERE ARE SOME LAWS THAT ARE PREVENTING IT.

NOT A SORT DIVIDE IN OF WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE PREACHING PRACTICING.

WELL, YOU LEGISLATIVE LEADER, WE LEGISLATE.

MY NAME ON RUN WHEN DEEPLY BELIEVE IN IT?

I'M HOPING THAT THE BILL PASSES THE SENATE MOST OF THE GOVERNORS.

RIGHT.

WE WILL LEAVE IT AT THAT BECAUSE SO MUCH DURING HIS FIRST CONVENTION, ILLINOIS HOUSE CHRIS MIGHT SPREAD TO BACK TO THANKS AND CHICAGO'S MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON.

THEY'RE WELCOMING THE CROWD AND ANOTHER SHOUT OUT AS HE SAID TO BE SOLD CHICAGO CHOIR THAT WE HEARD FROM.

AND BEFORE WE SEND YOU THAT PBS NEWS HOUR, CONVENTION COVERAGE WANT TO GET SOME FINAL THOUGHTS FROM OUR STUDIO GUEST JOE WALSTON PASTOR COREY BROOKS FIRST, PASTOR.

BROOKS OVER TO YOU.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN APPEARS TO BE STRUGGLING WITH MESSAGING AND IT'S OFFENSIVE LINE OF ATTACK AGAINST VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS SAYING THAT THEY PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO IDENTITY POLITICS.

ALWAYS FOCUSING ON OUR BLACKNESS OR WHETHER SHE'S ASIAN OR THE FACT THAT TIME ABOUT ISSUES CONCERNING ARE BEING A WOMAN.

I THINK THOSE ISSUES TAKE AWAY FROM THE POLICIES.

I THINK THAT WE WOULD JUST FOCUS MORE FROM ONE IMMIGRATION, WHICH IS A BIG THING.

AND THAT'S A CONCERN FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT WOULD DRIVE HOME A BETTER MESSAGE.

BUT I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A BETTER MESSAGING AT AFTER THIS CONVENTION.

HOPEFULLY THEY'LL HONE IN WHAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.

IMMIGRATION, EDUCATION, ECONOMICS ALL DAY LONG.

TRUMP'S LIKE A CHILD.

HE WANTED TO RUN.

HE CAN SPY.

HE STILL WANTS TO RUN AGAINST BIDEN.

SO HE GOES OUT THERE EVERY DAY.

HE COMPLAINS AND STOMPS HIS FEET LIKE A CHILD THAT THE TRUTH IS THE BIDEN TRUMP MATCHUP WAS A MATCHUP THAT MOST AMERICANS DIDN'T THE DEMOCRATS DID SOMETHING ABOUT THAT AND THEY'VE GENERATED A LOT OF EXCITEMENT INTO A RACE IN WHICH WE DIDN'T EXPECT A LOT OF EXCITEMENT.

SHOW US WHAT YOU THINK VOTERS NEED TO HEAR TONIGHT FROM THE LINEUP OF SPEAKERS THAT WE'RE HEARING FROM.

I THINK THEY NEED CONTINUE TO HEAR HOPE AND OPTIMISM.

ENJOY.

AND I KNOW WE OVERUSE THAT WORD A LITTLE BIT.

BUT TO COUNTER IT AGAINST THE FEAR THAT TRUMP AND JD VANCE CONTINUE TO PUSH.

DO YOU THINK THAT THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN AND THEN THE DEMOCRATS FOR THAT MATTER NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE CLEAR ABOUT HER POLICY IDEAS AND HER PLATFORM.

YES, AND I THINK SHE WILL BE.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S COMING THIS WEEK?

I THINK BETTER HAD BETTER WE PAST A BROOKS 10 SECONDS.

REMAINS TO BE SEEN?

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN.

JOIN A FIGHT IT OUT OVER WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARD.

I KNOW CAN TELL THE 2 OF YOU'RE USED TO YOUR YOU ENJOY SPARRING WITH EACH OTHER.

I KNOW DO.

JOE BROOKS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN AT 10.

AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR NOW.

BE SURE TO JOIN US MORE FOR LIVE COVERAGE TONIGHT AFTER THE CONVENTION AROUND 10:00PM.

AS WE BREAK DOWN DAY ONE OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

IN THE MEANTIME, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR A LIVE BLOG COVERING THE VERY LATEST NEWS FROM THE CONVENTION.

AND STAY TUNED FOR LIVE CONVENTION COVERAGE FROM OUR FRIENDS AT THE PBS NEWS HOUR NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M GREATEST FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

SO YOU AT 10.

MY FELLOW DEMOCRATS.

CAPTIONED HIS MAY COST BY ROBERT A CLIFF AND LAW.

A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH.

IT IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE ITS AND SENIOR PARK, ROBERT WHO RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS BY SUPER LAWYERS TOP