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By Natalie Venegas
Weekend Reporter
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Ahead of the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) next week, Democrats on Wednesday announced "DemPalooza," a series of several events expected to take place alongside the convention.
Delegates from across the nation will come together in Chicago from August 19 to 22 for the 2024 DNC to officially endorse Kamala Harris, who began her White House bid after President Joe Biden stopped down last month, and Tim Walz as the party's nominees for president and vice president.
Harris, who is expected to face off against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, will formally accept the Democratic Party's nomination at the convention.
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The Democratic National Committee shared details of "DemPalooza" on Wednesday, which it described as a series of trainings, panels and events.
The name is a nod to the Lollapalooza music festival that Chicago hosts annually, and the city is looking to welcome 50,000 total visitors for the Democrats' convention, including 5,000 delegates and alternates and 15,000 members of the media.
Newsweek reached out to the Democratic National Convention and Harris' campaign via email on Wednesday for comment.
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According to the Associated Press (AP), the Democratic National Committee said "DemPalooza" will take place daily at McCormick Place, while activities related to the main convention will be held at the United Center. The programs will reportedly include a wide range of activities, from training sessions on using organizing tools to briefings on polling and skills workshops.
In addition to the more formal sessions, "DemPalooza" will also feature an expo with interactive booths, offering everything from making friendship bracelets to getting a Kamala Harris-inspired manicure.
Participants will also have the opportunity to listen to podcasts and enjoy performances by local artists.
The Democratic National Committee said that these events are part of a broader strategy by both the committee and Harris' campaign to mobilize voters in a more digital and fast-paced media environment, the AP reported.
The committee previously announced that Harris has secured enough delegates to become the Democratic Party's nominee for president during a virtual roll call last Monday with a total of 4,563 pledged delegates.
Meanwhile, the events in Chicago will face increased security concerns following Trump assassination attempt on July 13 and planned protests expected at the convention.
The March on the DNC, a coalition of over 200 organizations from all over the country, plans to hold two demonstrations during the convention to highlight several issues within the Democratic Party, including financing the conflict in Gaza and wars in other countries.
However, Frank Figliuzzi, the former assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI, previously told Newsweek that the convention, designated as a National Security Special Event, will have enough resources to secure the event.
"Since the DNC, like the RNC, has been designated a National Security Special Event, the entire tool kit of federal resources and strategies, including some classified techniques, will be brought to bear on securing the event. This means it will be even harder for a lone actor to succeed in disrupting it," Figliuzzi told Newsweek.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said during a press conference that public safety is the top priority and that law enforcement members are committed to ensuring a safe and successful national convention.
The city of Chicago plans to have officers and safety resources in every single neighborhood, not just around the DNC venue location.
"Our officers have been training for over a year, the Chicago Police Department along with everyone working with us—our federal, state, local partners and county—we're all working in collaboration to make sure the city is safe and secure," Snelling said.
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