DNC 2024: On the Sidelines in Chicago
Recapping the 2024 DNC in Chicago from the sidelines
Last week was both an amazing and emotional week in taking in the 2024 Democratic National Convention on the sidelines.
Up to a few weeks ago, I had no intentions at all to be going anywhere near downtown, especially upon hearing that protesters would number anywhere from 25,000 to 100,000. I’m so glad that I didn’t let the protesters win because I would not have had the week that I did!
While I did not attend the convention itself, the week was busy with multiple events between the Jewish Democratic Council of America, Israel Policy Forum, Zioness, American Jewish Committee, and the Israeli-American Council. Like everyone else attending the convention or on the sidelines, there was very little sleep.
Either the hostages, antisemitism, or October 7 came up during almost every panel. The AJC events allowed for guests to take home yellow ribbon pins or Bring Them Home Now necklaces. The Israeli Embassy’s Deputy Head of Mission, Eliav Benjamin, spoke in between the two panels on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the hostage families were also front and center at a number of events. It’s hard to hear what they have to say and not get emotional. In fact, I could barely get words out upon meeting Ronen and Orna Neutra, the parents of Omer Neutra. They still do not know the fate of their son.
Most of the panels that I attended were recorded. However, the official Dempalooza panels that JDCA hosted are not on their YouTube channel. I don’t know if they were recorded by they were also last-minute additions that the Harris-Walz campaign made happen.
JDCA also played host to a number of schmoozes with guests:
Rep. Tom Suozzi (NY-03)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (CT)
Sen. Brian Schatz (HI)
Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10)
Rep. Greg Landsman (OH-01)
Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49)
Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02)
Rep. Kathy Manning (NC-06)
Rep. Kim Schrier (WA-09)
JDCA Endorsee George Latimer
Mandana Dayani
Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22)
Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (FL-23) was supposed to talk at the Zioness Action Fund launch party but left early because a good amount of those planning to attend were still at the DNC. He was also supposed to be at Monday’s Schmooze but didn’t show up. That being said, he was in attendance to hear Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff on Thursday afternoon.
There were times while Second Gentleman Emhoff was speaking in which I started to feel emotional. Maybe it’s the fact that we probably won’t have a Jewish president in my lifetime but if all goes well, there will be a Jewish resident living in the White House and a mezuzah on the door.
I also had an opportunity to speak with Ambassador Herzog on three different occasions. Our conversations were brief and not as long as other conversations. The Herzogs brought yellow ribbon pins with them to the Zioness Action Fund party on Monday night so I finally have a pin. A few weeks ago, talking to the ambassador, let alone members of Congress, would have seemed unlikely!
I also did some work during the convention, too. Sure, I’m no longer on the political beat but I did have an opportunity to interview Jimmy Tingle. The comedian ran for Lt. Governor in Massachusetts back in 2018. He filmed a stage show just before the pandemic and the concert film will be released this year.
Monday
JDCA: What the 2024 Election Means for Israel
Moderated by Foreign Policy Expert Liz Schrayer and featuring former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides, Israel Policy Forum Chief Policy Officer Michael Koplow, and JDCA CEO Halie Soifer.
IPF Atid: Israel and the Future of the Democratic Party: A Conversation With Alan Solow and Dr. Michael Koplow
IPF CEO David Halperin also joined the panel, which was moderated by Alison Plott.
Zioness Action Fund launch party
Co-hosted by Hen Mazzig, Jenny Mollen, and Van Jones. The party featured numerous speakers but a number of no-shows due to the DNC running late at the United Center. In addition to the co-hosts, speakers included Amanda Berman, Mandana Dayani, Shirin Herzog, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-25), Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), former Congressman Mondaire Jones, Hostages and Missing Families representative Maya Roman and the Harris-Walz campaign’s Jewish community liason, Ilan Goldenberg. I’m going off the top of my head in remembering from memory.
Tuesday
American Jewish Committee
Moderated by AJC Chief Policy Officer Jason Isaacson, the panel featured former Ambassador Thomas R. Nides, U.S. Ambassador to Israel (2021-23); Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL-10); and Halie Soifer, CEO, Jewish Democratic Council of America.
Addressing Antisemitism in America
Moderated by AJC Ceo Ted Deutsch and featuring Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC); Stephen K. Benjamin, Assistant to the President, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of Public Engagement; and Katy Joseph, Chief of Staff, Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education.
Israeli-American Council Hostage Square pop-up
This was a one-day pop-up on Madison Street to both spread awareness and be within sight of those on the way to the United Center for the evening’s DNC activities.
JDCA: Path to Victory: How We Ensure Democrats Win
Moderated by JDCA CEO Halie Soifer and a panel discussion featuring GBAO Strategies pollster Jim Gerstein and political strategist Simon Rosenberg.
Wednesday
Dempalooza: The American Jewish Community and Israel After October 7
Moderated by Ambassador Alan Solomont and former Congressman Steve Israel and featuring JDCA CEO Halie Soifer, political veteran Ann Lewis, and President and Founder of J Street Jeremy Ben Ami.
AJC Diplomatic Reception
The remarks spoken during the reception are not on YouTube but Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog addressed the crowd as did Liz Hirsch Naftali (the great-aunt of Abigail Edan) and Ilan Goldenberg. I left to attend the JDCA Schmooze.
Thursday
Zioness Movement: Antisemitism in the Academy: A Deep Dive on Free Speech, Academic Freedom and Campus Climate
Brief remarks from Rep. Dan Goldman
Moderated by Amanda Berman and featuring Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education, Catherine E. Lhamon; foremost constitutional scholar and UC Berkeley School of Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky; former ADL Vice President for International Affairs and UCLA Adjunct Professor Sharon Nazarian; and recent University of Oregon graduate Luda Isakharov.
Dempalooza: Jewish Values and Domestic Policy: What's at Stake
Moderated by Obama speechwriter and bestselling author David Litt and featuring Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Senior Rabbi Emerita Sharon Kleinbaum, and JCPA CEO Amy Spitalnick.
Antisemitism, Extremism, and the 2024 Election
Moderated by JCPA CEO Amy Spitalnick and featuring Rep. Kathy Manning (NC-06), Global Antisemitism Expert Sharon Nazarian, Christian Nationalism Expert Amanda Tyler, and antisemitism Expert Alan Solow.
American representatives of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum