“Hope and hard work can take you anywhere,” Harrison said. “That’s the America Democrats believe in and that’s the America Democrats are fighting for her said.

At least two people arrested at protest against Israel-Gaza war

George Chidi

The Guardian’s George Chidi, who is reporting from Chicago, writes there was a standoff between demonstrators and the police:

At least two people have been arrested in a fenced area between a park and the United Center, as protesters began disabling fences in the narrow gap.

Riot police lined up and marched protesters together, driving them back through a gap created in the fence. As police repaired one hole in the fence, masked protesters unlatched holes in other parts.

The standoff diminished into a quiet vigil around 5.20 CT, with about 200 people on one side of the fence and equal numbers of cops on the other.

Good evening, US politics blog readers, and thanks for joining us as we cover the first night of the Democratic national convention in Chicago. Just a few weeks ago, we were expecting the four-day event to be all about Joe Biden and his campaign for a second term, but everything changed after the president bowed out of the race and allowed his vice-president, Kamala Harris, to take over as the party’s presidential nominee. Now in the final months of both his presidency and his more than 50-year career in politics, Biden remains an important figure among Democrats, and will give the keynote speech at the convention this evening.

Before Biden takes the stage (which we’re expecting at about 10pm CT), we’ll hear from first lady Jill Biden, and luminaries from across the party’s ideological spectrum, including Hillary Clinton, the party’s first female nominee for president, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the New York congresswoman and progressive icon.

The convention kicked off at 5.15pm CT amid protests near the convention center against the war in Gaza.

Here’s what else we’ll be watching out for this evening:

• Tonight’s theme is “For the People”, and is intended to showcase how Democrats are, well, “fighting for the American people”, according to the convention’s organizing committee.

• The vice-president is expected to appear this evening, as is her running mate, Minnesota governor Tim Walz. But do not expect either to speak – Harris will deliver the final address of the convention on Thursday, and Walz will speak to the crowd on Wednesday.

• Harris and Walz have both already been formally nominated by the party, but the convention will nonetheless hold a ceremonial nomination of the Minnesota governor this evening.

• Speakers this evening will run the gamut, from members of Congress to state leaders, including longtime South Carolina representative and Biden confidante James Clyburn, New York governor Kathy Hochul and progressive Texas congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.

• Organized labor will be well-represented this evening, with joint remarks from six labor groups scheduled, as well as an address from United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain.