Kamala Harris has accepted the Democratic nomination for president on the final night of the party convention in Chicago
Harris pledged to lead "for all Americans" and create an "opportunity economy" in a highly personal headline speech
Other key themes included protecting the right to abortion, unity and working-class aspiration
Harris also called for a ceasefire in Gaza, but did not address directly the protests taking place outside the convention over US support of Israel
Republican rival Donald Trump gave a running commentary on social media, saying: "Why didn’t she do something about the things of which she complains?"
Democrats have been riding on a surge of enthusiasm since Harris became their nominee, but polls suggest the election remains extremely tight
Harris accepts Democratic nomination 'on behalf of the people'
Brandon Drenon
Reporting from the convention
A California delegate just ducked down to crawl under a rope meant to section off the crowd.
The fatigued DNC volunteers have abandoned the idea of crowd control.
We've also seen some delegates crying as Harris speaks.
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from the convention
Image source, ReutersHarris is now telling us a bit about her vision for president.
She says she will be "a president who unites us around our highest aspirations".
"A president who leads and listens, practical and has common sense, and always fights for the American people," she adds.
"From the court house to the White House, that has always been my life's work," she says.
In accepting her party's nomination for president, Harris calls on Americans to "move past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past.
She says that her nomination is "a chance to chart a new way forward".
She says that the country needs to move forward, "Not as members of any one party or faction, but as Americans".
"I promise to be a president for all Americans."
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from the convention
Kamala Harris accepts Democratic nomination 'on behalf of the people'
Harris says her work so far in life has been "on behalf of anyone who has ever set out on their own unlikely journey".
"People who work hard, chase their dreams and look out for one another," she says, leading to one of the most important parts of her speech.
Harris says that "in the greatest nation", she "accepts your nomination" for the Democratic candidate, and a loud applause erupts from the crowd.
Harris says that she was inspired by legal civil rights icons like Thurgood Marshall at a young age.
It made her want to pursue a career as a prosecutor.
"Everyone has a right to safety, dignity and justice."
She recalled a friend named Wanda who was sexually abused at a young age, and she wanted to fight on her behalf.
"A harm against one of us is a harm against all of us", Harris said.
The vice-president has told the story of her high school friend dozens of times, pointing to that episode as one of the reasons she became a prosecutor and focused on child sex crimes.
She's also shared it while speaking out for reproductive rights in the wake of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v Wade, the landmark ruling that enshrined abortion rights. Aides say it's an important touchstone in explaining how Harris views the world.
Harris says her mother Shyamala - an immigrant to the United States from India - "never lost her cool" no matter how the world treated her.
"She taught us to never complain about injustice but to do something about it."
And Harris says she taught them "Never do anything half-ass", adding that was one of her mother's direct quotes..
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from the convention
Harris is continuing to tell us the story of how she got where she is today.
She says she grew up in a "beautiful working class neighbourhood" with firefighters and nurses in the East Bay in San Francisco.
She talks about all who pitched in to help her single mother raise her - a "family by love".
Image source, EPAHarris says memories of her childhood are "joyful," listening to music such as Aretha Franklin.
She describes her mother as encouraging her and her sister Maya to be careful, and her father encouraging her to "run" and follow her dreams.
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from the convention
"The path that led me here in recent weeks was no doubt unexpected," Harris tells the crowd just a month after Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
"But I'm no stranger to unlikely journeys", she says, adding that her mother had one as well. "I miss her every day," she says.
She also thanks Biden and the first lady, Jill.
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from the convention
Harris has finally succeeded with quieting the crowd down.
"Let's get to business," she says.
She starts off by wishing her husband, Doug Emhoff, a happy anniversary. Today is their 10th wedding anniversary.
Phil McCausland
Reporting from the convention
Harris is having trouble quieting down the crowd to give her acceptance speech.
The crowd is growing louder and louder as they cheer on their Democratic nominee, and they break into a "USA" chant.
Harris, for her part, is all smiles.
Image source, ReutersHarris enters the arena to thunderous applause.
Mike Wendling
Reporting from Chicago
I'm with pro-Palestinian protesters outside the DNC. They have returned to Union Park after a long slow march.
There are still significant numbers chanting and beating drums but many have peeled off along the route, and there is still a huge police presence in the area.
All night we've heard speculation that Beyoncé may perform at tonight's DNC.
But the Associated Press has reported the singer will not be attending the DNC. And a representative for Beyoncé told The Hollywood Reporter that "the report of a performance is untrue".
Courtney Subramanian
Reporting from the convention
The outpouring of enthusiasm for Harris's candidacy has given her a tailwind in the lead-up to this week's convention. She's attracted crowds of thousands at her campaign rallies across battleground states and shattered fundraising records in the month since she announced her bid to replace Joe Biden.
But Harris has yet to sit for a major interview or hold a press conference with reporters in which she could face critical questioning over her record or detail her policy agenda.
She hasn't had to endure the harsh political scrutiny that most candidates face in a primary election and has only offered a loose agenda focused on "freedom".
Harris aides contend there's no need for her to sit for an interview amid the momentum for her campaign. The vice-president said she'll schedule an interview before the end of the month, but so far the campaign has yet to confirm any such tough interview.
Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent
Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger just spoke here at the DNC. While he’s a vocal Donald Trump critic, he lost his seat in the US House of Representatives in large part because Illinois Democrats redrew his congressional district lines, making it nearly impossible for him to win re-election.
He doesn’t appear to hold a grudge, however, quipping that he is working with Democrats now to defend truth, democracy and decency in a “somewhat awkward alliance”.
Caitlin Wilson
Reporting from the convention
We've heard from a lot of speakers so far tonight. But we're getting close to the main event now, when Kamala Harris will stand before the delegates - whose support she has only recently secured - and accept their nomination for president.
Stick with us up here in the press box in the United Center, along with our BBC colleagues down on the convention floor, in the TV studio and outside the stadium on the streets of Chicago.
We'll bring you all the news from her speech - and anything else that might happen - plus analysis afterward as we march ever closer to November's election.
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from the convention
Kamala Harris's sister, Maya, is telling the crowd about their family's story.
She talks about their mom, a "trail blazer", civil rights activist and scientist.
She says her mother had "great expectations of us".
"She raised us to believe that we could be or do anything. And we believed her," she says. It's a "distinctly American story".
Madeline Halpert
Reporting from the convention
Image source, ReutersActor and model Eva Longoria has just introduced a host of DNC watch parties taking place across the country.
Multiple squares took up the screen showing voters watching the convention programme from numerous US cities.
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the convention floor
It's clearly an emotional day for some members of the crowd - particularly those who see the nomination of Kamala Harris as a historic moment.
The woman next to me, Mosemarie Boyd, runs a political action committee called "Madame President" that for more than two decades has sought to put a woman in the White House.
She's confident that Harris will be the one that finally does it.
"Women have been working for 150 years for this. It's been a long time coming," she says. "This is our moment."