DNC starts with protests, speeches from Illinois politicians

• The four-day convention will end with the party nominating Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, for the Democratic ticket for the 2024 election.

Driving the news: On Monday, the Coalition to March on the DNC kicked off its protest against the Biden administration's Gaza policies.

• The main message of the march is to urge Democrats to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and to end all U.S. aid to Israel.

Zoom in: Axios had three local reporters and a handful of national reporters filing dispatches from protests, events and speeches.

Editor's note: This story was formerly a live blog and has been updated with developments and background throughout.

President Biden's speech was set to take place during primetime but other DNC speeches pushed his speech start time to just before 10:30pm CT.

• Biden, who appeared to be wiping away tears as he entered the stage, was greeted by a minutes-long standing ovation by the crowd, chanting, "We love Joe."
• He was introduced by his daughter, Ashley Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden.

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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made her triumphant return to the United Center on Monday night.

Flashback: The last time she spoke in front of the Democrats at the United Center? 1996.

State of play: 28 years later, Clinton pushed for Democrats to elect the first female president in Vice President Kamala Harris.

• "The future is here," Clinton said. "On the other side of that glass ceiling is Kamala Harris raising her hand, and taking the oath office," she added.
• "When a barrier falls from one of us. It falls and clears the way for all of us."

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