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DNC cuts loose in final session

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 6 (UPI) -- Excitement buzzed through Time Warner Cable Auditorium in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, the final day of the Democratic National Convention.

As in the previous days' sessions, speakers talked of how President Barack Obama will press the nation forward, and accused Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney of wanting to take the country backward.

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John L. Lewis, D-Ga., one of the 13 original civil rights-era freedom-riders from Washington to New Orleans, said America in 2008 "showed the world the true promise of America when we elected president Barack Obama."

Lewis said Republicans are "changing the rules" with new voter ID laws in states controlled by GOP governors and legislatures.

"That's not right, that's not fair and that's not just," he said.

Voting, Lewis said, "is the most powerful non-violent tool we have to form a more perfect union."

He urged people to "march to the polls like never ever before. We must come together and exercise our sacred right."

"This president on so many issues -- immigration, LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] rights, women's health -- has proven he cares about all of us ... and he'll keep expanding opportunities," said Alejandra Salinas, president of the College Democrats of America.

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Iraqi war veteran Jason Crow spoke of Obama's commitment to the troops, noting that Romney didn't mention Afghanistan during his acceptance speech last week.

Romney has said he did not need to mention Afghanistan during the speech because he had he had discussed his views on the military the previous day in a speech at the American Legion convention.

Obama "did the right thing by ending don't ask don't tell" because it was wrong to suggest troops he served alongside weren't "good enough because of their sexual orientation," said Crow.

Thursday's session of speeches was brought to order by Democratic National Convention Committee Chairman Antonio R. Villaraigosa, the mayor of Los Angeles.

Harvey Gantt, a former mayor of Charlotte, introduced a film that honored Democratic leaders who had died since the last presidential election.

"Their work and their ideals inspire us every day," Gantt said. "Tonight we salute their contributions."

Before the final session officially began, singer-songwriter James Taylor sang several of his hits, including "Carolina In My Mind" and "You've Got A Friend," to an audience that held hands, swayed to the music sang along and even danced a bit.

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