CHICAGO — The final night of the Democratic National Convention Thursday included a lineup of lawmakers and others who have long advocated for gun safety and have dealt with the aftermath of gun violence in their communities.

“Our losses do not weaken us — they strengthen our resolve,” Georgia U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, a longtime gun safety advocate, told delegates.

McBath became an advocate for gun safety after her 17-year-old son, Jordan Davis, was murdered at a Florida gas station in 2012.

Her son was shot and killed by a white man who was angry about the loud music being played by the Black teenager and his friends.

McBath’s remarks on gun violence were a leadup to the keynote address by Vice President Kamala Harris, as she not only aims to energize her Democratic base, but make her case to the American people to elect the first woman president come November.

As gun violence remains a top concern for Americans, Harris is uniquely positioned to campaign on the issue. Last year, she was tasked with overseeing the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, is an avid hunter but believes in banning assault weapons.

Harris is also able to campaign on a major accomplishment of the Biden administration in passing and signing into law the most comprehensive gun safety legislation in decades.

That measure, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, provided millions for states to enact so-called red flag laws and allocated billions for mental health services for youth.

McBath has been an advocate for passing the red flag laws, which allow federal courts to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is adjudged to pose a threat to themselves or others.

She was able to get the legislation passed in the House, when Democrats controlled that chamber.

It followed mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas.

In Buffalo, a white supremacist targeted a Black neighborhood and killed 10 Black people in a grocery store. And in Uvalde, 19 children and two teachers were murdered, making it the second-deadliest mass shooting since the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012.

There have been 353 mass shootings this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks gun violence in the U.S.

McBath on the DNC stage was joined by Kimberly Mata-Rubio, whose 10-year-old daughter was killed in the Uvalde mass shooting, and a former teacher from Sandy Hook Elementary School, Abbey Clements.

“They should still be here,” Clements said of her students.

Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt when she was shot while meeting with constituents, received a standing ovation from the crowd at the United Center.

She now runs a gun safety advocacy group — the Giffords Law Center.

Giffords spoke of her life growing up in Arizona, and how it gave her “grit.”

“I fell for an astronaut,” she said of her husband, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a former astronaut, before planting a kiss on his forehead.

She said she sees that same grit in Harris, who “is tough” and will fight against gun lobbyists.

PROVIDENCE — Law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island have charged several individuals with a variety of offenses, including assault, drug possession, and intent to deliver controlled substances, following a series of investigations and arrests conducted on August 20 and 21.

On August 20, the ACI Investigations Unit charged Anthony Medina, 28, of Woonsocket, with simple assault/battery.

Bradley Peterson, 59, of Cranston, faced charges of stalking, while Earl Dandy, 29, also of Cranston, was charged with assault of a healthcare provider and assault with bodily fluids while incarcerated.

Jonathan Perez, 30, of Providence, was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Amanda Baker, 29, from the same Cranston address as Dandy, was charged with assault with bodily fluids while incarcerated.

All were arraigned in Third District Court and released to the Sheriff’s Department.

The following day, the HIDTA Task Force, along with other units, made significant drug-related arrests.

Robert Braxton, 36, of Providence, was charged with multiple counts of possession with the intent to deliver controlled substances, including fentanyl, cocaine, xylazine, MDMA, and psilocybin mushrooms, as well as with possessing a large-capacity feeding device, controlled substance conspiracy, and resisting arrest.

Jason Palmer, 40, of North Providence, faced similar drug-related charges.

Both men were arraigned in Sixth District Court and held without bail.

Additionally, the Computer Crimes Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force arrested Mark Deshaies, 36, of Coventry, for possession and transfer of child pornography.

Justice Houlihan set bail at $5,000 with surety and imposed restrictions on contact with minors and internet use.

Robert Harris, 49, of Providence, was also arrested by the HIDTA Task Force for possession with the intent to deliver cocaine.

He has been held without bail following his arraignment in Sixth District Court.

PROVIDENCE — On Aug. 31, throngs of people dressed all in white and carrying picnic supplies are expected to take to the streets of Providence and search the city for a pop-up party. They won’t know the exact location until they arrive.

This secret soiree is called Le Diner en Blanc — “dinner in white” in French — and it’s a flash mob that takes place annually in 120 cities across the globe. The event started in 1988 in Paris, and has graced one grand venue after the next. The event spread to Montreal in 2009, and then to New York City in 2011 for its US debut, which organizers say triggered a worldwide infatuation with the get together. This is the first time it will be held in Rhode Island.

Interested guests can get on the event’s “fan” list by signing up on Le Diner en Blanc’s website.

Attendees have to dress head-to-toe in white, and elaborate and original looks are encouraged. Guests must bring their own chairs, linens, tables, plates, flatware, and food. According to the organizers, everything other than the food also must be white, though some tablescapes feature silver, glass, and crystal as well.

Bring a picnic basket with fine food, or order a catered picnic basket from Neighborhood Kitchen through the event’s online store and pick it up on site. Guests cannot bring their own alcohol, but if they want wine or Champagne at the French-influenced event they must reserve their selections, provided by Kobrand Fine Wine & Spirits, through the event’s online store.

Le Diner en Blanc has been held in Boston for more than a decade, in locations such as City Hall Plaza, the Moakley Federal Courthouse, and the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. But this is the first year the party is coming to Providence. Rhode Island’s inaugural event will be hosted by Ashley McGowan, Kaitlyn O’Connor, and Kathy Lucas, who said Le Diner en Blanc is an opportunity to get dressed up, share a meal and conversation, toast to the city, dance under the stars, and reunite with old friends or make new ones.

All three women are veterans of the hospitality and entertainment industry, and have co-hosted Le Diner en Blanc in Boston.

“Providence, with its rich history and vibrant community, is the perfect backdrop for the inaugural event,” the hosts said.

The details of Le Diner en Blanc Rhode Island are under wraps, but past events in other cities have featured fireworks, musical performances, and other entertainment.

Alexa Gagosz can be reached at alexa.gagosz@globe.com. Follow her @alexagagosz and on Instagram @AlexaGagosz.