Unions and former senior Defense officials join the DNC

Several union leaders and former Defense officials such as Leon Panetta or retired General John Allen today joined the list of distinguished speakers at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), which begins Monday to nominate Hillary Clinton as their presidential candidate for the White House.

Richard Trumka, elected president of the National Union Trade Center, AFLCIO, will speak at the opening day of the convention, as well as Mary Kay Henry, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), according to the statement by the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC.)

On Tuesday, one of the main speakers of the evening will be the leader of the Democratic minority in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, the DNCC added.

On Wednesday, among others, the speech by former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is expected and on Thursday, the last day of the convention, retired General John Allen, former Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) and former commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, will deliver a speech.

The convention, to be held in Philadelphia, will open with the US First Lady Michelle Obama and Senator Bernie Sanders, Clinton’s main rival in the Democratic primaries.

On Tuesday will be the turn of former President Bill Clinton, while the current president, Barack Obama, and Vice President, Joseph Biden, will speak on Wednesday and on Thursday, the final night, the candidate will formally accept the nomination with a speech and will be introduced by her daughter, Chelsea Clinton.

In addition to other prominent leaders of the Democratic Party, including some Hispanics, immigrant activist Astrid Silva and the mothers of several African Americans killed by police officers will also attend the convention.

Several celebrities like actresses America Ferrera and Eva Longoria, singer Demi Lovato, lawyer Star Jones and former NBA players Kareem AbdulJabbar and Jason Collins, will also go to Philadelphia to attend the convention.