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Over 4,700
delegates and
347 alternates gathered in Philadelpia in late July to make Hillary
Clinton the Democratic nominee. Seventeen months earlier, on Feb.
12,
2015, the Democratic National Committee announced the selection of
Philadelphia as the host city (+).
In
April
the
DNC
announced
leadership
of
the
Democratic National Convention Committee.
The
Philadelphia
2016
Host
Committee raised funds and
in-kind contributions to host the convention, organized
volunteers, and made preparations to welcome delegates and
visitors. The third key
player is the City of
Philadelphia, led by Mayor Jim Kenney. The key to an
operationally
successful convention is for these three entitites to be working
together. continues...
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DEMOCRACY IN
ACTION |
Mon., July 25 3:00 p.m.4:00 p.m. |
Tues.,
July 26 4:00 p.m. |
Wed., July 27 4:30 p.m.4:00 p.m. |
Thurs., July 28 4:30 p.m.4:00 p.m. |
United Together |
A Lifetime of Fighting for Children and Families | Working Together |
Stronger Together |
First Lady
Michelle Obama Senator Bernie Sanders DREAMer Astrid Silva PROGRAM |
President
Bill Clinton Mothers of the Movement PROGRAM |
Vice
President Joe Biden President Barack Obama PROGRAM |
|
Selected Press Releases
Democratic National Convention Committee +
July 25, 2016 - Officers
for the Democratic National Convention in
Philadelphia
July 24, 2016 - Schedule for
Convention Caucus and Council Meetings
July 20, 2016 - Plans to Make this
the Most Accessible Convention Ever
July 18, 2016 - Americans from Across the
Country to Speak at
Democratic National Convention
July 15, 2016 - Headlining Speakers for
Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia
July 13, 2016 - Unprecedented Array of
Livestreaming Options
July 11, 2016 - Curalate
Named An Official Technology Provider
June 22, 2016 - Moves
Into Wells Fargo Center
June 6, 2016 - Signs
Project Labor
Agreement with Philadelphia Labor Unions
May 27, 2016 - Announces Series of
Platform Hearings Across the Country
May 23, 2016
- Announces Platform Drafting Committee
Members
Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee
+
Sept. 27, 2016 - Federal Election Commission (FEC) Report
Summary
July 23, 2016 - Welcomes Delegates and Visiitors with
360 Virtual Reality Anthem
July 23, 2016 - Unveils Patriotic Themed Scrims
Throughout Center City Construction Sites
July 22, 2016 - Names Exelon Official Zero-Carbon Energy
Provider for Democratic National Convention
July 22, 2016 - To Kick Off the Democratic National
Convention with Philly Feast Street Food Festival
July 15, 2016 - Announces Media Partnerships to Promote
Philadelphia Ahead of the Democratic National Convention
July 7, 2016 - Partners with the Arc
of Somerset County
and AT&T to Offer Opportunities to Members of the Disabled Community
July 6, 2016 - Opening of Pop-Up Shop
for Official Host
Committee Merchandise
June 20, 2016 - Beautification
Projects Along Broad
Street Ahead of Democratic National Convention
June 17, 2016 - ...and Impact
Communications Announce
Launch of Official Online Merchandise Store
June 9, 2016 - Selection of Volunteer
Vetting Services
Firm
June 1, 2016 - You
Don't
Want
to
Miss
This"
Promotional Campaign
May 26, 2016 - Unique Partnership with
Local
Organizations to Create Youth
News Team
May 12, 2016 - PoliticalFest
May 9, 2016 - Selection of
Event
Planners For Three Major Convention Parties
April 19, 2016 - Donkeys Around Town
March 14, 2016 - LeapStarr Productions
As Official Event Producer of
PoliticalFest
March 1, 2016 - Selection
Of Impact
Dimensions As Official Merchandise Firm
City of
Philadelphia +
July 23, 2016 - Mayor Kenney DNC Schedule
July 23, 2016 - Mayor Releases Statement on Airport
Subcontracted Employees
January 27, 2016 - City Announces Preparations for Democratic
National Convention
July 27, 2016 - Coalition of 57:
Coalition of 57
Democratic Party
delegations commend police response to peaceful direct
action following nomination of Hillary Clinton
July 25, 2016 - Media Research Center: Media Research Center Infiltrates Democratic Convention with Ads
July 21, 2016 - National Nurses United: Nurses to Co-Host Sanders-Sponsored Convention Forum On Next Steps for Guaranteed Healthcare/Medicare for All
July 21, 2016 - Freedom
from
Religion
Foundation: FFRF
takes its message to DNC
July 20, 2016 - Delta Scientific:
At Democratic Convention, Delta Portable
Anti-Terrorist Barriers to Protect Against Vehicle Threats
July 13, 2016 - 32BJ SEIU: Philadelphia Airport Workers Vote to Strike During DNC, Demand $15 and a Union
July 6, 2016 - Democrats for Life of America: Party of Diversity and Inclusion Needs to Open the Big Tent to Pro-Life Voters
July 5, 2016 - Priorities USA Action: Priorities USA Action, Senate Majority PAC, House Majority PAC to Host Unity Events at Democratic National Convention
June
15-July 1, 2016 - ACLU of
Pennsylvania: Press Releases on
Free Speech Restrictions and Accomodating Protests During the DNC
June 8, 2016 - The Creative Coalition: Eight Time Grammy Winner FERGIE to headline The Creative Coalition’s Benefit Gala during 2016 Democratic National Conventio
May 31, 2016 - Equality Forum: Nation’s Premier LGBT Civil Rights Summit Announces Plans for 2016 Democratic National Convention
May 6, 2016 - Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia:
Credit Unions Partner With Democratic
National Convention Committee and RealClear Politics on Community
Service Project for The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Jan. 21, 2016 - PIDC The Navy
Yard: PIDC Announces Event Spaces
Available at The Navy Yard for Democratic National Convention Related
Events
Both Conventions
July 19, 2016 - U.S. Travel Association: Party Conventions to Create $360 Million in Direct Spending for Host Cities
July 18, 2016 - SOLiD: SOLiD
Delivers In-building Cellular Coverage and Capacity at Republican and
Democratic National Conventions
July 17, 2016 - Zignal Labs: Zignal Labs Command Centers to be Featured at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions
July 15, 2016 - HeadCount:
Grace
Potter, Dawes, Moon Taxi to Play HeadCount Convention Jams
July 14, 2016 - Amnesty International: Amnesty International to Send Delegation of Human Rights Observers to the Republican and Democratic 2016 National Conventions
July 13, 2016 - Grassroots
Global Justice Alliance: Grassroots
Leaders
from
across
the
US
and
Honduras
converge
on
the
conventions
July 12, 2016 - Americans for the Arts Action Fund: ArtsSpeak at the 2016 Political Conventions
July 11,
2016 - Feeding
America:
Elected
Officials
Take
Time
Out
From
National
Political
Conventions
To
Learn
About
Hunger
In
America
July 8, 2016 - Uber: Donkeys,
Elephants and Uber
July 1, 2016 - Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: Franklin Graham Holding Live Prayer Events for Upcoming Political Conventions
June 27, 2016 - Verizon: Verizon
enhances network for
Republican
and Democratic convention delegates, media and visitors
See also: Media
AL | AK | AZ | AR | CA | CO | CT | DC | DE | FL | |
GA | HI | ID | IL |
IN | IA | KS | KY | LA | ME | |
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MD | MA | MI | MN | MS | MO | MT | NE | NV | NH | |
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NJ | NM | NY | NC | ND | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI |
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DA |
seating chart |
A major emphasis for convention organizers from the site selection process on was a focus on diversity. On June 10, 2016 the DNCC reported that as of May, 61% of DNCC staff were women and 56% of DNCC staff are diverse. Following the convention, the Host Committee reported that "an unprecedented 67 percent of the Host Committee’s opportunity spend [discretionary spending] was awarded to diverse- and minority-owned businesses."
The DNCC took control of Wells Fargo Center on May 28. All told, as of June 21 the Committee had about 120 staff. By comparison the Host Committee was much smaller, with about 12 staff and 15 full time equivalents. One of the Host Committee's biggest expenses was transportation; running a fleet of 400 buses adds up. The Host Committee had pledged to raise $46.5 million in cash and $15 million in in-kind contributions, and it surpassed that amount, reporting after the convention that it raised $85.5 million (+).
From a planning perspective, Philadelphia has the advantage of
having
hosted the Republican National Convention not so long ago, in 2000, and
organizers can draw from those experiences. To take one example
the Host Committee organized a PoliticalFest event which mirrored an
event of the same name put on by the Philadelphia 2000 Host Committee (+).
In addition to the official
activities of the Convention, Democrats and
allied groups organized hundreds of events, receptions, forums
and parties. Republicans set up a counter-convention
presence.
While Sen. Bernie Sanders and his
supporters talked
about a contested convention, on June 6 the Associated Press reported
that Hillary Clinton had
achieved the requisite number of delegates to win the nomination, and
her victories in the
June 7 contests sealed the deal. The question was whether the
Sanders campaign wouldl take a confrontational or more
consensus-oriented approach.
At one point Sanders said the convention could be "messy." His
campaign
warned that, "If the process is set up
to produce an unfair,
one-sided result, we are prepared to mobilize our delegates to force as
many votes as necessary
to amend the platform and rules on the floor of the convention."
For example, the Sanders campaign sought to remove co-chairs of two
of the Convention
Standing
Committees, describing them as "aggressive attack
surrogates for the Clinton campaign" (1, 2).
Sanders
gained
a
voice
in
drafting
the
platform; the Platform Drafting Committee,
announced
on
May
23,
had
representatives
selected
by
the
Clinton
and
Sanders
campaigns
and
the
DNC
Chairman.
The
Committee held
hearings
in
June
and
on July 8-9 finalized what party chair Debbie Wasserman Schulz called
"the most progressive,
inclusive and ambitious" platform in the Democratic Party’s history,
subject to ratification by the full Convention. Sanders lauded
the platform, pointing to successes on climate change, criminal justice
reform and the federal minimum wage, and stating, "We have made
enormous strides."
Hillary Clinton's selection of Sen. Tim
Kaine as her running mate, announced via text on July 22 (+) was
seen as something of a rebuff to Sanders. Sanders supporters
could claim a victory when hacked DNC emails* led DNC chair Debbie
Wasserman Schultz to announce on
July 24 that she would resign. Still there was tension between
Clinton and Sanders supporters. Sanders supporters were
particularly boisterous on the first night of the Convention, marked by
dueling chants of "Hillary" and "Bernie." On Tuesday the roll
call vote concluded with Sanders asking that Clinton be nominated by
acclamation, but some Sanders
supporters walked out and occupied the front of one of the media tents (+). During the Convention
proceedings on Wednesday some Sanders delegates
continued to wave smuggled TPP signs, and on Thursday many donned
fluorescent yellow-green tee-shirts. Some Sanders delegates and
activists vowed that they
would never support Clinton. Other Sanders delegates
acceded to the calls for unity, and donned Clinton campaign
buttons or shirts. Personal interactions within state
delegations, as
well as powerful speeches by Michelle Obama, Vice President Biden,
President Obama and others helped pave the way. Closing speeches
by Chelsea Clinton and Hillary Clinton brought the Convention to a
successful conclusion, and Clinton and Kaine started a bus tour the
next day.
Both
conventions were
designated
National
Special
Security
Events
and
dozens
of
law
enforcement
agencies
coordinated on security
operations under the direction of the U.S. Secret Service (+). The
City of Philadelphia received a $49.9 million grant
from the
Department of Justice for security, most of which will go to covering
overtime costs of the various law enforcement agencies.
There were protests. Sanders
supporters held marches,
rallies and events (+) ranging from a
"DC to DNC March for Democracy" to a "Revolutionary Celebration for We
the People"
(+). Americans
Against Fracking held a "March for a Clean Energy Revolution" the day
before the convention opened (+).
The
Poor
People’s
Economic
Human
Rights
Campaign
did
a
"March
for
Our
Lives"
on
the
opening
day
of
the
convention
(+).
Socialist
groups
from across
the spectrum were represented at various events (1, 2).
Finally,
some fifteen
thousand
media
representatives
covered
the
activity at the Convention.
![]() Gabriela Hurtado-Ramos fb/ppehrc |
Recent Conventions: 2012 Charlotte
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2008
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Boston - 2000
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