It was a long day's journey to Thursday night's acceptance speech by Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama.
That's what Rep. Laura Richardson, D-Long Beach, reported on her last day at the Denver convention site.
The journey to the speech began at 1:30 p.m., she said, adding that a line estimated at about a mile had formed early. However, due to security measures, the trip to the stadium, which was open to the public, was a long process getting seated --- even though the congressional members were shuttled..
Richardson said she sat near Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn and behind two Middle-East men. The two men, sporting turbans, struck a special note for the congresswoman, who was a superdelegate to the convention.
A few years ago, she said, it would have been rare to see such tolerance, but that the "inclusiveness" at the convention was part of the message of the Obama candidacy.
"This is a new movement," she said. "This is a new day."
The rookie congresswoman agreed that Obama's nomination is a historic moment, as had been Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,'s "I have a dream" speech 45 years ago.
"He didn't have a black message, or African-American message," she said of the King speech. "It was an American message."
She noted that women were the first to benefit from the civil-rights movement.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
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