DNC live updates: Kamala Harris accepts party nomination on final night

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of the fourth and final night of the Democratic National Convention! Let’s get caught up:

– Atmosphere in the convention center reaches fever pitch as Beyonce confirmed by reports as mystery guest.

– Members of the exonerated “Central Park Five” addressed the convention and blasted Donald Trump. Yusef Salaam, Korey Wise, Raymond Santana and Kevin Richardson were joined by Reverend Al Sharpton.

– Vice President Kamala Harris will make the final speech of the night to accept the Democratic nomination for president. She is expected to discuss her upbringing and parents; plans to tackle social issues such as abortion; and deliver a blistering takedown of Donald Trump.

Kamala Harris has officially accepted the Democratic party’s nomination for president.

“My only client has on behalf of the people, she said.

“On behalf of every American…on behalf of my mother and everyone who has ever set out on their own, unlikely journey… on behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on earth, I accept your nomination for President of the United States of America.”

She added: “And with this election our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move past the bitterness, cyncism and divisive battles of the past, a chance to chart a new way forward.

“Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans. I promise to be a president for all Americans.”

Roy Cooper has just finished addressing the convention.

Here’s a profile on the North Carolina governor from The Independent’s Eric Garcia:

Kamala Harris has taken to the stage in Chicago, where she will formally accept the Democratic nomination for president.

The vice president arrived to roars, wearing a black pant suit, to Beyonce’s “Freedom” the song that has been a staple of her campaign so far.

Kamala Harris’ sister, Maya Harris, urged the convention to “roll up your sleeves” get out and vote, and elect “my big sister.”

Taking to the stage in a pink pant suit, she discussed growing up with her sister and mother, who she described as “a trailblazer.”

“She had great expectations for us but more than that she had greater expectations of us… she raised us to believe we could be anything we wanted to be,” she said.

She continued: “Kamala knows what it’s like to be underestimated… to be the underdog and yet still beat the odds.”

“She has created so much electrcity… so much joy around the nation. We are living in a time in which some are trying to divide us… my sister rejects that view.

“When others want to drag us back to the past, my sister says ‘hold up now… we are not going back.”

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer laid into Donald Trump, calling him “that man from Mar-A-Lago” – in reference to previous insults he had thrown at her.

“In Michigan they call me governor, in Detroit the call me Big Gretch. Donald Trump called me that woman from Michigan… as an insult. Being a woman from Michigan is a badge of honor!” she said, to cheers.

“Like women across America we just GSD – ‘get stuff done.’”

She continued: “Donald Trump doesn’t know you, at all… But Kamala Harris, she gets us, she sees us, she is us. We’ve all lived through a lot of history over the last few years… floods and fires… a plot and a pandemic.

“One day s*** whill hit the fan and you’ll ask… who is in charge. What if it’s him? What if it’s that man from Mar-A-Lago?”

“What I know is that we need someone to come up with a plan, to tell the truth. Right now we get to choose, what if we get to choose the leader who is tough, tested and a total badass.”

“I know who I want as my Commander-In-Chief. America let’s choose Kamala Harris!”

Senator Mark Kelly took to the stage to cheers and chants of “A-ri-zo-na!”

“President Obama had to follow Michelle I had to follow Gabby and Pink,” he quipped. “Gabby impresses me every day, she was able to walk out an address you today because she’s a fighter.”

“We all need a team, I’ve flown into space four times, I’ve flown into combat nearly 40 times, not once did I do that by myself it took a team to accomplish the mission.”

Senator Kelly blasted Donad Trump and the accusations that he had once referred to veterans as “suckers and losers.”

“If we fall for that again and make him Commander-In-Chief, the only suckers would be us,” he said.

Senator Kelly was, at one point, tipped to be a favorite to join Kamala Harris on the Democratic ticket.

Award winning artist Pink has taken to the stage with a group of singers, including her daughter Willow, to perform her hit song What About Us.