Unions, ex-Defence officials join Democratic National Convention to nominate Hillary Clinton

Several union leaders and former Defence officials have joined the list of speakers at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), which begins on Monday to nominate Hillary Clinton as their official presidential candidate for the White House.

Richard Trumka, elected president of the National Union Trade Centre will speak at the opening day of the convention being held in Philadelphia, as well as Mary Kay Henry, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), according to a statement by the Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) issued on Sunday.

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 statement added.

On Wednesday, among others, the speech by former Secretary of Defence 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 Islamic State and former commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, will deliver a speech.

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

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 Abdul-Jabbar and Jason Collins, will also go to Philadelphia to attend the convention.