My Journey with Bernie

After the rally, I walk around Philadelphia where I see people, protests, exhibits, and more. There is so much to do and experience in Philadelphia including painted donkeys in front of the Marriott Hotel and other sites. The fifty-seven decorated “Donkeys Around Town,” painted by local artists, represents the fifty U.S. states, five territories, Washington D.C., and Democrats abroad delegations at official delegate hotels, Independence Hall, the Visitor Center, and other locations around Philadelphia.¹⁸¹ There are events taking place all around Philadelphia this week including food, music, film, and the official Democratic convention events. Though the official DNC event is not open to the public, there are other activities available including the caucus and council meetings at the Pennsylvania Convention Center that is open to the public to attend.

As I walk back, I pass a building with a history of the presidential conventions in Philadelphia. I decide this is a museum that I must see and stop inside to take a look! The exhibit has photos from all the party conventions over the years. This convention is the 12th presidential convention in Philadelphia. The history of Philadelphia, America's birthplace, is unique. Our three most important documents were enacted here, the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. The first conventions were held here to start the American revolution and form our government beginning with the First Continental Congress (1774), Second Continental Congress (1775), and the Constitutional Convention (1787). In total, Philadelphia has hosted twelve national presidential conventions. During the summer of 1948, all three national conventions, Republican, Democratic, and Progressive parties all convened during the summer in one city because it was the first year that all three would be on live television networks (ABC, CBC, and NBC). The DNC 2016 slogan “Let's Make History Again” inspires me.