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On the third night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, delegates looked forward to hearing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accept his party’s nomination for vice president.

Delegates in the convention hall also anticipated speeches from Democrat stars such as former President Bill Clinton and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democrats’ late-breaking nominee for president, is set to formally accept the party’s choice Thursday night, the convention’s last.

After President Joe Biden’s departure from the race, Harris will accept the nomination without having received a single primary vote. 

Here are some of the biggest highlights from the third night of the DNC. 

Hostage’s Parents Speak Amid Anti-Israel Protests Outside Arena

Outside United Arena this week, pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protesters marched in the streets, which has been seen as a political liability for Democrats. 

The parents of American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin spoke at the convention at a time when the Biden-Harris administration has faced scrutiny over support for longtime U.S. ally Israel after its massive retaliation for the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks by Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip. 

Hamas captured 109 hostages, eight of them Americans, while killing 1,200 people, including 45 Americans, in a rampage of rape, torture, and murder. 

Rachel Goldberg talked about the hardship of missing her son Hersch for 320 days. 

“Since then, we live on another planet,” she told the hall and the nation. “Anyone who is a parent, or who has had a parent, can try to imagine the anguish and misery that John and I and all the hostage families are enduring.”

John Polin, Hersh’s father, said that Biden and Harris were working for a cease-fire deal that included release of the hostages.

“This is a political convention, but needing our only son and all of the cherished hostages home is not a political issue,” Polin said. “It is a humanitarian issue. The families of the eight American hostages meet every week in Washington. We are heartened that both Democratic and Republican leaders demonstrate their bipartisan support for our hostages being released.”

The crowd gave the couple a standing ovation, reportedly including Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who is known for making anti-Israel comments. 

Michigan AG Praises Harris for Not Defending the Law

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel praised Harris’ tenure as California attorney general for an unusual reason: because she chose not to defend a law endorsed by voters. 

In a 2008 referendum, California voters approved an amendment to the state Constitution defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. 

“What really stands out is when she stood up and protected her constitutional freedoms,” Nessel, who is openly lesbian, said of Harris. “In 2011, she refused to defend California’s ban on same-sex marriage. She refused to argue that some families should have fewer rights than other families. It meant a lot. She was fighting for families like mine.”

“In 2022, I faced a similar situation, when Roe v. Wade was overturned [and] Michigan’s archaic abortion ban was resurrected,” Nessel said, noting that she didn’t defend it. “Vice President Harris had my back.”

Nessel said both the California and Michigan laws were scrapped.

The Michigan attorney general roused the crowd to a standing ovation with her next line. 

“I got a message for the Republicans and the justices of the United States Supreme Court,” Nessel said. “You can pry this wedding band from my cold, dead, gay hand.”

Stevie Wonder Touts Harris and ‘Higher Ground’

Stevie Wonder, a superstar R&B musician since the 1960s, fired up the crowd during prime time. 

Before singing, Wonder told the delegates that he has prayed for peace. 

“This is the moment to remember when you tell your children where you were and what you did,” Wonder said. “As we stand between history’s pain and tomorrow’s promises, we must choose courage over complacency. It is time to get up and go vote.”

The legendary singer and performer stepped away from the lectern and went to his keyboard, his band behind him. 

“Are we ready, because you know we need Kamala Harris, yes, we do,” Wonder said. “And we need a great man and we do have [one] for our future vice president, you know that.”

Before singing, he added: “I’m depending on you to do, as [movie director] Spike Lee would say, the right thing,” referring to Lee, whose films include “Do the Right Thing.”

Wonder and his band then broke into “Higher Ground,” his funky 1973 hit.

Ken McIntyre contributed to this report, which will be updated throughout the night. Be sure to come back.