Joe Biden passed the torch to Kamala Harris as the Democratic national convention ended the first of its four nights in Chicago.

Here’s a look back at what happened this evening:

• Biden told the convention that “democracy has prevailed” and recounted his accomplishments, while also saying that Harris and Tim Walz would carry on his work.

• Harris briefly spoke from the convention stage, telling attendees it was “going to be a great week” and thanking Biden for his leadership.

• Hillary Clinton gave Harris her endorsement, saying the vice-president “has the character, experience, and vision to lead us forward”.

• Pro-Palestine demonstrations brought thousands to the streets outside the United Center, where the convention was being held. Part of the protest grew violent, with demonstrators breaking through the outer security fencing, but not getting near the convention, Chicago police said. At least two arrests were made.

• Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor who is Harris’s running mate, appeared in the convention hall, but did not give a speech.

• The president said pro-Palestinian protesters “had a point”, while reaffirming his support for a ceasefire in Gaza. Some demonstrators interrupted his speech, though it was not clear that he noticed.

• Residents of red states told of the damage done by Republican-supported restrictions on abortion, which is a key campaign issue for Democrats.

As he closed his speech, Joe Biden said he had dedicated himself to serving the United States, and had never felt more optimistic about the country’s future.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my career, but I gave my best to you for 50 years. Like many of you, I gave my heart and soul to our nation, and I’ve been blessed a million times in return in the support of the American people,” the president said.

He continued:

I’ve really been too young to be in the Senate, because I wasn’t 30 yet, and too old to stay as president. But I hope you know how grateful I am to all of you. I can honestly say, and I mean this in the bottom, giving my word as a Biden, I can honestly say I’m more optimistic about the future than I was when I was elected as a 29-year-old United States senator.

Joe Biden said making Kamala Harris his vice-presidential pick was the “best decision” of his five-decade-plus political career.

“Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made … when I became our nominee, and it was the best decision I made my whole career,” the president said.

The passing of the torch continued, with Joe Biden telling Democrats that “Kamala and Tim” would continue his work on priorities such as protecting voting rights and abortion access, as well as taxing the megarich.

“Kamala and Tim are going to make them pay their fair share. They’ll protect Social Security, Medicare. Trump wants to cut Social Security, Medicare. Kamala and Tim will protect your freedom … your right to vote, protect your civil rights. And you know, Trump will do everything to ban abortion nationwide. Oh, he will. Kamala and Tim will do everything they possibly can. That’s why you have to elect a Senate and House to restore Roe v Wade,” Biden said.

Joe Biden addressed the war in Gaza, which became one of the most divisive issues of his presidency after he supported Israel’s invasion of the enclave, while pushing for a ceasefire between the warring parties.

The president reiterated that he would continue working towards an elusive deal, and showed sympathy with the pro-Palestinian protesters who have accused him of abetting genocide by supplying Israel with military equipment.

“A few days ago, I put forward a proposal that brought us closer to [a ceasefire] than we’ve been since October 7,” Biden said. “We’re working around the clock, my secretary of state, [to] prevent a wider war, reunite hostages with their families and surge humanitarian, health and food assistance into Gaza now to end the civilian suffering of the Palestinian people and finally, finally, finally, deliver a ceasefire and,” as he pounded his fist on the podium, “end this war!”

He then addressed the protesters who have denounced him in demonstrations nationwide over the past 10 months, including right outside the convention in Chicago: “Those protesters out in the street, they have a point. A lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides.”

Pro-Palestine protesters interrupt Biden speech

Rachel Leingang

A few anti-war protesters unfurled a banner that said “Stop Arming Israel” when Joe Biden was speaking.

The move did not go over well with Democrats nearby, some of whom hit the demonstrators with their “We love Joe” signs and tried to rip the banner away from them, video of the incident posted by reporters showed:

It wasn’t clear if the president noticed the disruption.

Joe Biden again attacked Donald Trump as a “loser” for characterizing the United States as a nation in decline.

“Donald Trump calls America a failing nation,” Biden said. “When he talks about America being a failing nation, he says, we’re losing. He’s the loser. He’s dead wrong.”

Here’s an image of the emotional moment when Joe Biden took to the stage at the convention after his daughter, Ashley, introduced him:

The president gave heartfelt remarks about his children and his wife, Jill Biden, to kick off his speech. He also appeared to get emotional as the crowd repeatedly interrupted his remarks with lengthy “we love Joe” and “thank you, Joe” chants.