Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson delivers remarks at the inauguration of the stage ahead of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center on Thursday in Chicago.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
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Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
NPR will be reporting live from Chicago all week to bring you the latest on the Democratic National Convention.
The Democratic National Convention will take place in Chicago, from Monday, August 19 to Thursday, August 22.
Jump to:
➡️ How to watch the conference live every night
➡️ The latest updates from the DNC in Chicago
➡️ NPR’s Complete Coverage of the 2024 Election
History of the DNC in Chicago
Chicago hosted some party congresses — most recently DNC 1996and perhaps most notably DNC 1968.
As a senior editor and correspondent for NPR Ron Elving said that“Chicago ’68 has been repeatedly cited as the epitome of disaster like the sinking of the Titanic or the stock market crash of ’29.”
In timePresident Lyndon Johnson announced that he would not seek re-election, and Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. Vice President Hubert Humphrey then had to fight for the nomination against anti-war Senator Eugene McCarthy.
Huge crowds of protesters descended on Chicago in 1968 for the DNC, protesting U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, promoting racial equality, and ending poverty.
Protesters and police clashed, with violent images on TV for the whole country to see.
But beyond the convention venue, there are already some echoes of 1968 playing out in 2024. (And not just in the world of politics: Both years have also seen new changes Planet of the Apes movie, Summer Olympics and US moon missions, such as Note by NPR’s Rachel Treisman.)
In April, historian Keith Orejel summarized in a post on X, formerly Twitter:
“I mean, okay, Columbia was having unrest and there was widespread anti-war activity, so that could be a coincidence. But there was a guy named Robert Kennedy running for president and [Democratic National Convention] in Chicago. Is this a bit much?”
A few months later we had Another similarity in 1968: President Biden has announced He will not seek the nomination.
But while The shadow of 1968 is looming. about this week’s conference, especially regarding protesters and security, The convention itself is more formal. than in 1968 — We know who will be nominated.
➡️ Official: Kamala Harris Becomes 2024 Democratic Presidential Candidate
➡️ Harris picks Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate
How to watch
NPR will broadcast live video from the United Center each night of the convention starting at 9 p.m. ET.
On Wednesday and Thursday nights, NPR’s politics team will host coverage and analysis throughout the evening.
Live updates from the conference
For the latest information on the Conference throughout the week, follow NPR’s live blog to update, analyze, check information and colors.
