‘Who all over there?’ A rundown of New York’s Black Dems at DNC
Despite severe flight delays due to weather, a whole host of Black and Brown Democrats from New York State (NYS) touched down at the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago this week. Here’s who made it for Monday’s festivities so far.
In a historic first, Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz secured the nominations for president and vice president during a virtual roll call. The more than 4,000 presidential delegates still must formally nominate the pair on Thursday.
NYS politicians and delegates spotted reconnecting with friends and family at the DNC’s various functions so far included Queens Congressmember Gregory Meeks, State Assembly Speaker Crystal Peoples-Stokes, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, State Attorney General Letitia James; State Assemblymembers Brian Cunningham and Latrice Walker; State Senators Zellnor Myrie, Leroy George Comrie Jr., and Cordell Cleare; Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights President and CEO Maya Wiley, Vanguard Independent Democratic Association (VIDA) President Henry Butler; and New York City Councilmembers Kevin Riley and Farah Louis.
Ariama C. Long photos
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries at podium at New York State delegation breakfast Monday, Aug. 19 -
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso (left) and Assemblymember Brian Cunningham (right) at delegation breakfast -
Brooklyn Democratic Party Boss/Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and son Daniel at New York State delegation breakfast Monday, Aug. 19 -
New York City Councilmember Kevin Riley -
United States Senator Cory Booker speaks at the Black Caucus meeting held at the DNC on Monday, Aug. 19
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Congressmember Gregory Meeks -
Brooklyn State Senator Zellnor Myrie (left) and wife Diana Richardson (right) at delegation breakfast
“I am excited. This is where America moves forward and we introduce our candidate for the president of the United States—the first Black and Indian woman,” said Meeks, who traveled to Chicago with his wife, Diana Richardson. “It’s historic in nature, but more than that, she is competent and the right person at the right time to take our nation forward.”
Meeks reflected on his most memorable DNC in 2008 in Colorado, when then-candidate Obama was launched as the presidential nominee. “I’m expecting the feeling here to be exactly the same. In fact, a lot of folk feel like it’s just 2008 on steroids,” said Meeks.
Cunningham is “proud to be a delegate this year from New York,” he said. “As you can see, people are really excited about this ticket—so much love, so much hope, so much promise. But also for the last four or eight years, there’s this back and forth rivalry between parties. It’s good to have a party that is excited about their candidate, excited about the future, and excited about policies.”
Political heavyweights are scheduled to speak on each day of the DNC, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senate Majority Leader/New York Senator Chuck Schumer, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
This year, the convention theme is “For the People, For Our Future.” Major broadcast networks will air an hour of convention coverage at 10 p.m. EST each night. The convention will also stream in its entirety on over a dozen social media/online platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
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