 
>>> IT IS MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE 
OUR CO-HOST FOR TODAY.
NATIONAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT FOR 
A SUBSIDIARY OF RADIO ONE, A 
NATIVE WASHINGTONIAN AND AN 
AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST WHOSE 
CAREER RADIO AND TV COMBINED 
SPANS 20 YEARS.
SHE IS CURRENTLY THE NATIONAL 
NEWS CORRESPONDENT FOR REACH 
MEDIA, SERVING AS A CONTRIBUTOR 
TO "THE AL SHARPTON SHOW" ON 
SIRIUS XM 126 FROM 1:00 TO 4:00 
P.M. MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.
BECAUSE OF HER DEDICATION TO THE
COMMUNITY AND LIFETIME ACTIVISM 
OUTSIDE OF HER CAREER, IN 2016 
SHE RECEIVED THE PRESIDENT 
BARACK OBAMA LIFETIME 
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.
PLEASE WELCOME OUR CO-HOST 
TODAY, EBONY McMORRIS.
>>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT, 
MARK.
BEFORE I BEGIN AND INTRODUCE THE
NEXT SPEAKER, I WANT TO QUOTE 
SOME OF THE WORDS FROM THE LATE 
JOHN LEWIS THAT HE SAID IN 1963.
HE SAID, "MY FRIENDS, LET US NOT
FORGET THAT WE ARE INVOLVED IN A
SERIOUS SOCIAL REVOLUTION.
BY AND LARGE AMERICAN POLITICS 
ARE DOMINATED BY POLITICIANS WHO
BUILD THEIR CAREERS ON IMMORAL 
COMPROMISES AND ALLY THEMSELVES 
WITH OPEN FORUMS OF POLITICAL, 
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
EXPLOITATION."
I'M GOING TO ASK THE SAME 
QUESTION THAT HE ASKED THEN, 
WHICH IS: WHERE IS THE POLITICAL
PARTY THAT WILL MAKE IT 
UNNECESSARY FOR US TO KEEP 
HAVING TO MARCH ON WASHINGTON?
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS A LAYER 
EASTMAN, A 2019 GRADUATE FROM 
MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH 
SCHOOL IN PARKLAND, FLR FORIDA.
ON FEBRUARY 14, 2018, SHE WAS IN
A CLASSROOM THAT WAS ATTACKED.
SINCE THEN SHE HAS STEPPED UP TO
SPEAK UP ON GUN LIE VENEZUELA IN
AMERICA AND REMAINED VOCAL 
AROUND CHRONIC GUN VIOLENCE THAT
AFFECTS YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICANS 
DAILY TO INCLUDE TESTIFYING 
BEFORE HOUSE AND SENATE 
JUDICIARY COMMITTEES.
SHE IS A CO-FOUNDER OF CONCERNED
CITIZENS D.C., A GROUP THAT NO, 
SIR ONLY ORGANIZED PROTESTS IN 
D.C. BUT DEVELOPED A LIST OF 
FEDERAL AND LOCAL DEMANDS THAT 
WOULD SAVE BLACK LIVES.
PLEASE WELCOME ALEAH EASTMAN.
♪ 
>>> I AM ONE OF THE MILLIONS OF 
YOUNG BLACK WOMEN WHO MAKE UP 
THE BACKBONE OF THE AMERICAN 
PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT.
LIKE TOO MANY OF US, MY JOURNEY 
OF ACTIVISM STARTED BY A 
SENSELESS ACT OF GUN VIOLENCE 
WHEN A FELLOW STUDENT OPENED 
FIRE IN MY CLASSROOM IN 
PARKLAND, FLORIDA.
AS I LAID BENEATH THE LIFELESS 
BODY OF MY CLASSMATE TO SURVIVE,
AS BULLETS RIDDLED MY 
CLASSMATES, AS MY SCREAMS MELTED
INTO THE CRIES OF THE WOUNDED I 
WAS BORN AGAIN WITH A VOICE THAT
CANNOT AND WILL NOT BE MUZZLED.
WHILE THE DETAILS OF MY STORY 
MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER 
IMPACTED YOUTH, MY BRUSH OF 
DEATH BY A GUN IS EXPERIENCED 
BY -- IS AN EXPERIENCE SHARED BY
TOO MANY OF OUR GENERATION.
I AM NOT THE FIRST IN MY FAMILY 
TO BE AFFECTED BY GUN VIOLENCE.
MY UNCLE PATRICK WAS GUNNED DOWN
IN THE STREETS OF BROOKLYN, 
NEW YORK, AT THE AGE OF 
18 MONTHS AFTER BEING BEATEN BY 
NYPD WHO DEEMED HIS BLACK BODY 
IN A WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD A 
THREAT.
GUN VIOLENCE IS PERVASIVE AND 
EXTENDS WELL BEYOND HIGH-PROFILE
MASS SHOOTINGS.
THIS VIOLENCE IS NOT INHERENT OR
A COINCIDENCE.
IT IS A RESULT OF POOR CHOICES 
MADE BY POLICYMAKERS THAT ALL 
TOO OFTEN HAVE RACIAL UNDERTONES
ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
THE FLOW OF GUNS INTO ALREADY 
STRUGGLING COMMUNITIES IS OFTEN 
FACILITATED BY WHITE GUN STORE 
OWNERS WHO LOOK THE OTHER WAYS 
AS GUNS ARE BOUGHT THAT ARE USED
TO TERRORIZE BLACK COMMUNITIES.
GUN VIOLENCE EXTENDED BEYOND THE
PATH OF THE BULLET AND CREATES 
MULTI-GENERATIONS OF POVERTY.
LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS FAILED TO 
PREVENT THE FLOW OF GUNS INTO 
BLACK COMMUNITY AS WELL AS 
PERPETUATED VIOLENCE IN THESE 
COMMUNITIES THEMSELVES.
STUDIES SHOW PERSISTENT GUN 
VIOLENCE IN POOR COMMUNITIES OF 
COLOR DIRECTLY RESULTS FROM 
CENTURIES OF ENTRENCHED 
DISADVANTAGES, ECONOMIC 
DEPRIVATION AND RACIST POLICY 
MAKING.
IN MANY WAYS, GUN VIOLENCE IS 
THE LAST DOMINO TO FALL AT THE 
END OF A LONG LINE OF RACISM, 
TRAUMA AND INDIFFERENCE, BUT IT 
IS NOT INEVITABLE.
COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTION 
PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY 
HAVING PROVEN THAT A CULTURALLY 
SENSITIVE EMBEDDED TEAM CAN STOP
VIOLENCE BEFORE IT STARTS.
WE DEMAND FUNDING FOR THESE 
PROGRAMS.
WE HAVE SEEN THE SHOOTING FROM 
OUR HIGH SCHOOL GAIN WORLDWIDE 
ATTENTION, BUT THE MASS SHOOTING
THAT HAPPENED IN SOUTHEAST D.C. 
LEE WEEKS AGO WHERE 17-YEAR-OLD 
CHRISTOPHER BROWN LOST HIS LIFE 
AND 20 PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED GOT 
NO ATTENTION.
BE OUTRAGED EQUALLY FOR BLACK 
LIVES.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT AS I TALK 
ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE I ADDRESS 
POLICE VIOLENCE.
WE MUST SHIFT FROM A PUNITIVE TO
A REHABILITATIVE MODEL IN THE 
PRISON SYSTEM.
THERE IS A NEED FOR A NATIONAL 
CONVERSATION OF DEFUNDING POLICE
DEPARTMENTS AND REFUNDING OUR 
COMMUNITIES INSTEAD.
WE MUST RE-ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS 
INTO SCHOOLS, JOBS AND NEEDS FOR
A COMFORTABLE LIFE.
WE NEED TO REVISIT THE USE OF 
FORCE PRACTICES AND ELIMINATE 
CONDUCT THAT PLACES SUSPECTS AT 
EXTREME HARM ONCE IN CUSTODY.
AS ESTABLISHED, OFFICERS 
NATIONWIDE LACK ACCOUNTABILITY.
FOR AN OFFICER THAT KNOWS HE CAN
KILL AN UNARMED BLACK MAN OR 
WOMAN AND ONLY GET PAID DESK 
DUTY AS A RESULT, ANYTHING LESS 
THAN THAT IS BUSINESS AS USUAL.
WE MUST CHANGE THIS REALITY AND 
EMPOWER CITIZENS OF THE 
COMMUNITIES BEING POLICED TO 
HOLD LOCAL FORCES ACCOUNTABLE.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE 
RECOGNIZE THAT THE SYSTEMATIC 
OPPRESSION THAT CONTINUES TO 
MARGINALIZE OUR COMMUNITIES IS 
NOT AN ACCIDENT.
AMERICA IS BUILT ON A SYSTEM 
STILL DOING ITS JOB! 
POLICE VIOLENCE IS GUN VIOLENCE,
AND GUN VIOLENCE IS THE LEADING 
CAUSE OF DEATH FOR BLACK YOUTH.
WE DEMAND TO LIVE IN PEACE.
WE DEMAND TO LIVE IN SPACES 
WHERE THE BEST OF BLACK CULTURE 
CAN THRIVE, WHERE BLACK MEN ARE 
MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A MORTGAGE 
AND PICKET FENCE THAN A RECORD.
WHERE BLACK WOMEN ARE BUSINESS 
EXECUTIVES AND PRESIDENTS.
THIS DREAM THAT I, THAT REV AL 
SHARP TON, THAT MARTIN LUTHER 
KING III HAD FOR BLACK AMERICANS
CANNOT BE REALIZED UNTIL WE HAVE
A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WITH OUR 
BEST INTERESTS AT HEART.
FOR OUR PART, WE ARE ENGAGED IN 
A CAMPAIGN TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO
CAST A BALLOT, MAKING VOTE BAIL 
MAIL AVAILABLE FOR ALL, 
RESTORING THE VOTING RIGHTS OF 
AMERICANS WHO PAID THEIR DEBT TO
SOCIETY.
WE HAVE SO MUCH GOOD TROUBLE TO 
GET INTO.
I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY 
ORGANIZERS OF NATIONAL ACTION 
NETWORK AND ESPECIALLY THE 
ORGANIZER IN CHIEF, THE REVEREND
AL SHARPTON AND MARTIN LUTHER 
KING III FOR THE WORK THEY DO, 
AND NOT JUST TODAY BUT EVERY DAY
AND GIVING US A SEAT AT THE 
TABLE.
AS I RETURNED FROM WHERE BREONNA
TAYLOR WOAS BRUTALLY KILLED BY 
THE P.D., IT IS CLEAR 
AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE NOT 
PROTECTED.
I REALIZE BLACK WOMEN ARE STILL 
THE BACKBONE OF THIS MOVEMENT.
MY NAME IS ALLAY AA EASTMAN.
A MEMBER OF A GRASSROOTS GROUP 
OF BLACK YOUTH ORGANIZERS 
DEMANDING TRUTH FOR YOUNG BLACK 
PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.
♪
♪
♪ 
>>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS MARCUS 
W. KING, THE PRESIDENT OF NEW 
JERSEY'S TEAMSTER LOCAL 331, A 
SECOND GENERATION TEAMSTER.
HE HAS BEEN A MEMBER SINCE 1983 
AFTER HE WAS ASKED TO JOIN THE 
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF 
TEAMSTERS AS A FIELD 
REPRESENTATIVE.
ONE OF HIS ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDED 
LOCAL 331.
THE MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL ASKED 
HIM TO STAY ON AND KING WAS SUB 
ES
SUCCESSFUL IN BEING ELECTED 
PRESIDENT IN 2019, REELECTED IN 
FOLLOWING YEARS.
HE HAS SERVED ON THE NEGOTIATION
COMMITTEE FOR PHILADELPHIA METRO
AREA AND THE MASSIVE FREIGHT 
SUPPLEMENT PANEL.
PLEASE WELCOME MARCUS W. JAMES.
>>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU, REVEREND AL SHARPTON.
MAR
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. III AND 
THE ACTION NETWORK FOR 
ASSEMBLING US HERE TODAY.
THIS IS AN AWESOME EVENT.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, GOOD 
MORNING.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU.
AS THE YOUNG LADY JUST SAID, MY 
NAME IS MARCUS KING, DIRECTOR 
FOR THE INTERNATIONAL 
BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS, HUMAN 
RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION.
I BRING YOU GREETINGS ON BEHALF 
OF OUR GENERAL PRESIDENT JAMES 
V. HOFFA.
THE TEAMSTERS' UNION HAS A LONG 
HISTORY OF STANDING NOT ONLY FOR
MEMBERS BUT FOR THOSE AMERICANS 
WHO HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED OVER
AND OVERLOOKED.
FOR 57 YEARS AFTER THE FIRST 
MARCH ON WASHINGTON, THE 
TEAMSTERS AGAIN STAND WITH YOU 
PROUD TO REAFFIRM OUR SUPPORT 
FOR RACIAL AND ECONOMIC EQUALITY
IN THIS COUNTRY.
THE TEAMSTERS' BROTHERS AND 
SISTERS, BLACK, WHITE, MEN, 
WOMEN, ALL STOOD WITH DR. MARTIN
LUTHER KING JR. TO FIGHT FOR 
JUSTICE.
NOW WE MUST FINISH THE FIGHT.
WE MUST FINISH THIS FIGHT.
WE MUST COMPLETE THE MISSION FOR
GENUINE EQUALITY.
THERE ARE FORCES OUT THERE 
WORKING AGAINST US TO DISMANTLE 
THE UNION AND LABOR LAWS.
THEY HAVE CIRCUMVENTED CIVIL 
RIGHTS LAWS IN OUR COURTS.
THEY HAVE MANIPULATED OUR 
ELECTION TO TRY TO BLOCK OUR 
VOTE.
THEY HAVE DENIED US JOB 
PROMOTION BECAUSE OF THE COLOR 
OF OUR SKIN.
THEY HAVE STOLEN WAGES FROM US 
BY PERPETUATING MINIMUM WAGE 
STANDARDS THAT NO ONE CAN 
SURVIVE ON.
YES, THEY EVEN ARE GOING AFTER 
LABOR UNIONS.
THEY HAVE TRIED TO 
SYSTEMATICALLY STRIP AWAY THE 
VOICE TO PROTECT WORKERS AS WE 
FIGHT FOR FAIR WAGES, EQUAL PAY,
GOOD HEALTH CARE AND A DECENT 
PENSION FOR RETIREMENT.
NOW THEY'RE TRYING TO SEPARATE 
AMERICAN LABOR BY PUTTING A GAP 
BETWEEN THE HAVEs AND THE HAVE 
NOTs.
AS IT GETS WIDER AND WIDER, JUST
LOOK AT JEFF BEZOS, WHAT HE MADE
THIS YEAR.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT IS TIME
FOR ACTION.
WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH.
WE WILL NOT BE IGNORED ANY 
LONGER.
WE CAN CHANGE IT NOW! 
SO THERE'S THREE THINGS THAT I'M
GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO.
ONE, LOBBY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS 
TO PASS HR-71, THE JUSTICE AND 
POLICING ACT, GEORGE FLOYD ACT.
TWO, LOBBY HR-4, THE JOHN R. 
LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
MOST IMPORTANT, NUMBER THREE, WE
MUST VOTE.
THIS COMING NOVEMBER WE MUST 
VOTE.
WE HAVE TO TELL THIS COUNTRY, 
TAKE THE KNEE OFF OUR NECKS.
USE YOUR VOICE FOR THOSE WHO CAN
NO LONGER BE WITH US.
MAKE YOUR VOICE COUNT.
GEORGE FLOYD, BREONNA TAYLOR, AR
MAUDE ARBERY, DO IT FOR MY 
BROTHER TEAMSTER CASTEEL WHO WAS
KILLED BY MINNESOTA POLICE, OR 
DO IT FOR YOU.
MAKE YOUR VOICE COUNT.
MAKE A BETTER PLACE FOR US AND 
OUR CHILDREN.
BLACK LIVES DO MATTER BECAUSE 
OUR LIVES MATTER! 
STAY SAFE.
GOD BLESS YOU.
ALL OF MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS 
IN THE MOVEMENT, TEAMSTER 
STRONG.
MY NAME IS MARCUS KING AND I'M 
THE DIRECTOR FOR HUMAN RIGHTS 
AND DIVERSITY FOR THE TEAM STERS
INTERNATIONAL UNION.
THANK YOU! 
>>> NEXT WE HAVE ALAN ROSKOFF, 
PROUDLY CO-AUTHORED THE NATION'S
FIRST GETAAY RIGHTS BILL IN 197 
AND SERVED AS CHIEF LOBBYIST.
IN 2004 HE FORMED THE JIM ALS 
CLUB WHICH IS A CITY WIDE LGBTQ 
AGENCY SERVING ALL OF NEW YORK 
CITY.
HE CURRENTLY SERVES AS SECRETARY
OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM, 
BUILT IN HARLEM, NEW YORK, UNDER
THE LEADERSHIP OF REVEREND AL 
SHARPTON.
LET'S GIVE HIM A ROUND OF 
APPLAUSE.
 >> 
>> I'M HERE TO TELL EVERYBODY 
THAT THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL 
AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY IS 
PART OF THIS STRUGGLE! 
WE JOIN WITH BLACK LIVES MATTER,
WE MARCH WITH YOU, WE GET 
ARRESTED, WE RISK ARREST AND WE 
GET BRUTALIZED IN SUPPORT.
AFTER ALL, THE GAY RIGHTS 
MOVEMENT WAS FORMED BECAUSE OF 
BRUTALITY OF THE POLICE IN A BAR
KNOWN AS STONEWALL'S.
UNTIL THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS 
RECOGNIZED AS AN EQUAL 
COMMUNITY, UNTIL THE POLICE 
HARASSMENT, THE POLICE 
BELITTLEMENT, THE POLICE 
SHOOTINGS AND THE POLICE 
KILLINGS, WE WILL STAND UNITED.
WE ARE ALL ONE! 
WE WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE WILL
CONTINUE DEMONSTRATING.
WE WILL CONTINUE MARCHING.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROTEST.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO UPSET THE 
POWER STRUCTURE.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO RISK ARREST.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ARRESTED.
WE WILL BE PART OF THIS MOVEMENT
AND IN ALL OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS
AND PROTESTS IN NEW YORK AND 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU CAN SEE 
OUR RAINBOW FLAGS AND OUR RAY 
BONE BANNERS.
BLACK LIVES MATTER IS ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONS AND
MOVEMENTS, ONE OF THE MOST 
IMPORTANT MOVEMENTS IN THIS 
COUNTRY AND IN HISTORY.
I THANK YOU ALL.
I THANK REVEREND AL SHARPTON AND
THE NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK FOR 
PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND BEING 
SUCH A GOOD FRIEND TO THE LGBTQ 
COMMUNITY.
TOGETHER TO VICTORY VOTE! 
AND VOTE OUT THE RACIST IN THE 
WHITE HOUSE AND VOTE OUT HIS 
ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION AND HIS 
SUPPORTERS.
THANK YOU.
♪
♪ 
>> UP NEXT WE HAVE FRANK 
NITTY SENTABA.
THAT'S RIGHT.
FRANK BROUGHT HIS CROWD.
JOINED BY FELLOW ACTIVIST SANDY 
SOLO, HE IS A BLACK LIVES MATTER
PROTESTER, ACTIVIST AND LEAD 
ORGANIZER FOR THE 2020 WALK FROM
MILWAUKEE TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
OKAY! 
TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE 
NATIONAL MARCH ON WASHINGTON, 
PLEASE WELCOME FRANK NIT
NITTY SENTBA.
>> HELLO.
I'M SANDY SOLO FROM MILWAUKEE, 
WISCONSIN.
I'M HERE WITH ACTIVIST FRANK 
NITTY AND TORREY LOWE.
WE TOOK A 750-MILE TREK ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY TO GET HERE.
I WILL LET FRANK SPEAK ON THE 
JOURNEYS, SOME OF THE THINGS WE 
FACED DURING THIS JOURNEY, BUT I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR 
FACEBOOK FRIENDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR 
PHOTOGRAPHERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR 
VIDEOGRAPHERS.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL TV 
MARCHERS WHO MARCHED WITH US AND
THE CARAVAN AND THE MEDIC CREWS 
WHO CAME ALONG WITH US.
LOVE YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. 
>> HOW YOU ALL DOING OUT THERE?
MY NAME IS FRANK NITTY.
ALL RIGHT.
THEY ONLY GAVE ME TWO MINUTES SO
I'M NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT MY 
JOURNEY.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I 
CAME TO TALK ABOUT.
CHECK IT OUT.
AS ACTIVISTS AROUND THE COUNTRY 
WE NEED TO GET ORGANIZED.
EVERY THREE MONTHS WHEN A BLACK 
PERSON GETS KILLED, IT SHOULDN'T
BE THE ONL TIME WE FIND OUT 
ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE GETTING 
KILLED BY THE POLICE.
WE NEED TO GET ORGANIZED 
TOGETHER AS A NATION OF 
ACTIVISTS SO WE CAN CALL ON EACH
OTHER WHENEVER WE NEED HELP.
WE NEED TO DEMAND CHANGE, NOT 
ASK FOR CHANGE.
THEY THINK IT IS A NEGOTIATION.
THIS IS NOT A NEGOTIATION.
I CAME HERE TO DEMAND CHANGE.
I'M TIRED! 
ARE Y'ALL TIRED?
BECAUSE I'M TIRED! 
MY GRANDSONS AIN'T GOING TO BE 
MARCHING FOR THE SAME STUFF MY 
GRANDDADDY MARCHED FOR.
THIS IS A REVOLUTION, ALL RIGHT.
WE JUST MARCHED 750 MILES FROM 
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, 24 DAYS TO
GET HERE, BECAUSE WE NOT GOING 
TO STOP UNTIL WE GET CHANGE.
THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IN THIS 
COUNTRY.
ALL OF YOU ALL THAT CAME TODAY, 
I KNOW YOU BEEN MARCHING IN YOUR
CITIES.
I KNOW Y'ALL BEEN MARCHING.
DON'T STOP MARCHING.
WE GOING TO ORGANIZE BECAUSE 
THEY DON'T EXPECT THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO COME TOGETHER 
BECAUSE THEY DON'T EXPECT THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO DEMAND CHANGE, 
BECAUSE THEY DON'T EXPECT THAT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE OUR KIDS
MARCHING.
THIS IS IT.
WE'VE BEEN MARCHING FOR THE SAME
STUFF FOR 60 YEARS.
BLACK PEOPLE SHOULDN'T BE 
MARCHING FOR THE SAME STUFF 
MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS MARCHING 
FOR.
I'M TIRED.
I'M TIRED.
AND I'M TIRED OF ASKING FOR 
JUSTICE.
I JUST WANT IT TO STOP.
WE DON'T WANT JUSTICE, THAT'S 
AFTER RACIST POLICE DO SOMETHING
TO US.
WE NEED THEM OUT OF THE POLICE.
WE NEED ALL OF THESE RACIST 
PEOPLE GONE.
WE NEED CHANGE AND WE CAN GET IT
BY VOTING.
WHILE WE MARCHED 750 MILES, 
EVERYBODY THAT CAME AND 
CHASTISED US, EVERYBODY THAT 
CAME WITH SHOTGUNS, EVERYONE 
THAT CAME MESSING WITH US HAD 
TRUMP SIGNS.
TRUMP 2020.
THAT'S THE NEW WAY THAT THEY DID
RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY AND HIDE 
BEHIND IT.
SO WE GOT TO VOTE TRUMP OUT OF 
OFFICE, ALL RIGHT.
SO WHEN IT IS TIME TO VOTE WE'RE
GOING TO VOTE.
IF Y'ALL SEE ME UP HERE, IF YOU 
ARE AN ACTIVIST STOP ME OUT 
THERE SO WE CAN ORGANIZE.
IT IS TIME.
THIS IS THE REVOLUTION.
THIS IS THE REVOLUTION! 
♪ 
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS DAVID 
CLOONEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF 
THE BLACK ECONOMIC ALLIANCE, THE
NATION'S ONLY COALITION OF 
BUSINESS LEADERS AND ALIGNED 
ADVOCATES COMMITTED TO ECONOMIC 
PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY IN THE 
BLACK COMMUNITY WITH A SPECIFIC 
FOCUS ON WORK, WAGES AND WEALTH.
BEFORE JOINING B.E.A. DAVID LED 
THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
RELATIONS TEAM AT MORGAN CHASE 
AND COMPANY.
HE IS A GRADUATE OF HOWARD 
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW WHERE 
HE WAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE 
LAW REVIEW AND THE UNIVERSITY OF
ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY OF 
NEW YORK AND SITS ON THE BOARD 
OF THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE.
PLEASE WELCOME DAVID G. CLUNY.
>> I'M DAVID CLUNY.
I LEAD THE BLACK ECONOMIC 
ALLIANCE, A GROUP OF BLACK 
BUSINESS LEADERS AND ALLIES 
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING WORK, 
WAGES AND WEALTH FOR BLACK 
PEOPLE.
WE KNOW THE 1963 MARCH ON 
WASHINGTON WAS A MARCH FOR JOBS 
AND FREEDOM, AND OVER 50 YEARS 
THE WEALTH GAP BETWEEN BLACK AND
WHITE AMERICANS HAS NOT CHANGED 
SIGNIFICANTLY.
IN FACT, BY SOME MEASURES IT IS 
EVEN WIDER TODAY.
BUT WE'RE AT AN INFLECTION 
POINT.
IT MAY HAVE TAKEN 400 YEARS PLUS
8 MINUTES AND 46 SECONDS TO GET 
HERE, BUT THERE IS AN INCREASING
RECOGNITION THAT SYSTEMIC RACISM
CONTINUES TO OPPRESS BLACK 
PEOPLE IN EVERY PART OF AMERICAN
LIFE.
SO WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS 
MOMENT?
OF COURSE WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO
FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, BUT WE
ALSO NEED TO FIGHT FOR ECONOMIC 
JUSTICE.
FROM OUR ELECTED LEADERS AND IN 
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WE NEED 
TO FIGHT FOR BETTER WORK, WAGES 
AND WEALTH FOR BLACK PEOPLE.
THAT'S SKILLS TRAINING FOR THE 
FUTURE OF WORK, CLOSING THE 
BLACK/WHITE PAY GAP AND BUILDING
GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR BLACK 
FAMILIES.
RIGHT NOW WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO 
VOTE.
CONGRESS SHOULD PASS THE JOHN 
LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS ACT TO 
ENSURE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS 
AND JUST LIKE WE'RE SHOWING UP 
TO MARCH ACROSS AMERICA, WE HAVE
TO SHOW UP AND VOTE.
OVER 40 STATES WILL ALLOW EARLY 
VOTING THIS YEAR, SO VOTE EARLY 
IF YOU CAN.
MAKE A PLAN AND MAKE SURE YOUR 
VOTE IS COUNTED WELL BEFORE 
ELECTION DAY.
WE OWE IT TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS 
GIANTS WHO MARCHED, BLED AND 
DIED FOR US.
WE OWE IT TO THE FAMILIES OF 
COUNTLESS BLACK PEOPLE LOST TO 
UNCHECKED INSTITUTIONAL RACISM.
WE OWE IT TO AMERICA TO HELP HER
KEEP HER PROMISE TO ALL OF US.
I AM SO INSPIRED BY THE DEMAND 
FOR JUSTICE THAT'S EMANATING 
FROM EVERY CORNER OF AMERICA 
RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THIS MARCH 
ON EVERY PLATFORM WE HAVE.
IN THE STREETS, IN THE HALLS OF 
CONGRESS, IN THE CORPORATE BOARD
ROOMS AND WITH OUR VOTE SO WE 
CAN FINALLY ACHIEVE SOCIAL AND 
ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
THANK YOU.
♪ 
>> COMING TO THE STAGE IS PORSHA
TAYLOR.
SHE IS A BRAND BUILDER, MUSIC 
LOVER, SPORTS BIKE RIDER.
PORSHA TAYLOR IS THE FOUNDER OF 
BLACK GIRLS RIDE, A MAGAZINE AND
COMMUNITY ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED AS
A PLACE FOR WOMEN OF COLOR WHO 
RIDE, WHICH HAS SINCE GROWN TO 
INCLUDE ALL WOMEN.
WHAT INSPIRED HER TO LAUNCH 
"BLACK GIRLS RIDE" WAS THE LACK 
OF REPRESENTATION THAT SHE SAW 
WHEN SHE STARTED RIDING, 
ESPECIALLY LONG DISTANCE.
WHEN NOT DEVELOPING BRAND 
CAMPAIGNS, SPENDING AT THE 
HOTTEST PARTIES OR ON HER WAY UP
TO, QUOTE, OCCUPY THE GYM, 
PORSHA CAN BE FOUND ROLLING IN 
HER PINK HABAYA -- I KNOW I SAID
THAT WRONG.
I DON'T EVEN RIDE.
ALWAYS LIVING HER BEST LIFE.
PLEASE WELCOME PORSHA TAYLOR.
 >> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M PORSHA TAYLOR AND I'M HERE 
AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF "BLACK 
GIRLS RIDE."
MORE THAN A MAGAZINE, WE ARE A 
MOVEMENT OF WOMEN PASSIONATE 
ABOUT MOTORSPORTS.
OVER 100 WOMEN RODE ACROSS 
AMERICA TO BE WITH YOU HERE 
TODAY.
WE ARE OUR ANCESTORS' WILDEST 
DREAMS! 
WOMEN OF COLOR ON GROUND 
TRAVELING ACROSS THE LAND OF THE
FREE.
WE ARE YOUR MOTHERS, YOUR 
GRANDMOTHERS, YOUR AUNTS, YOUR 
SISTERS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS.
OUR RIDE STARTED MONDAY IN LONG 
BEACH, CALIFORNIA.
AS WE RODE THROUGH TEXAS, I 
THOUGHT ABOUT MY -- AND HOW A 
SIMPLE TRAFFIC STOP ENDED IN HER
DEATH.
WE ALL WITNESSED GEORGE FLOYD'S 
DEATH AS HE CRIED FOR HELP, THE 
HEARTBREAKING DEATH OF BREONNA 
TAYLOR AS SHE SLEPT IN HER HOME.
LESS THAN A WEEK AGO, JACOB 
BLAKE WAS SHOT SEVEN TIMES IN 
THE BACK AND PARALYSED.
WITH EACH ACT OF SENSELESS 
VIOLENCE WE FEEL A STIRRING IN 
OUR COLLECTIVE SOUL.
WHEN A CALL TO MARCH WAS ISSUED,
WE KNEW IT WAS TIME TO MOUNT UP.
WE PACKED UP OUR BIKES AND 
ROLAND THOUSANDS OF MILES IN 
PROTEST AGAINST POLICE 
BRUTALITY.
WE RIDE UNAPOLOGETICALLY FOR 
BLACK LIVES, AND WE RAISE OUR 
THROTTLE HAND IN SUPPORT OF 
THOSE ON THE FRONT LINE OF OUR 
STRUGGLE.
WE RIDE TO ENSURE THE FREEDOM OF
OUR FUTURE LEADERS.
WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY, BUT OUR
JOURNEY IS NOT OVER.
IN NOVEMBER "BLACK GIRLS RIDE" 
WILL REV OUR ENGINES, LEAD THE 
RIDE TO THE POLLS AND FUEL THE 
BALLOT BOX OF THE NATION TO 
SHOOT A LEADER THAT WILL PROVIDE
THE UNITY OUR COUNTRY 
DESPERATELY NEEDS.
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN IN THIS 
AND VOTE LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS 
ON IT.
THANK YOU.
♪
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER NEEDS NO 
INTRODUCTION AND STAYS ON THE 
FRONT LINE, CONGRESSWOMAN AYANNA
PRESSLEY.
SHE IS AN ACTIVIST, A 
LEGISLATOR, A SURVIVOR AND THE 
FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR TO BE 
ELECTED TO CONGRESS FROM THE 
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
THROUGHOUT HER CAREER AS A 
PUBLIC SERVANT, CONGRESSWOMAN 
PRESSLEY HAS FOUGHT TO ENSURE 
THOSE CLOSEST TO THE PAIN ARE 
CLOSEST TO THE POWER, DRIVING 
AND ENFORMING POLICY MAKING.
PRIOR TO HER BEING ELECTED TO 
CONGRESS SHE SERVED ON BOSTON 
CITY COUNCIL FOR EIGHT YEARS AND
WAS THE FIRST WOMAN OF COLOR 
ELECTED TO THE COUNCIL IN ITS 
100-YEAR HISTORY.
PLEASE WELCOME CONGRESSWOMAN 
AYA
AYANNA -- AYANNA PRESLEY. 
>> GOOD MORNING, BELOVED.
TODAY I AM THINKING OF THE 
ANCESTORS, NOT JUST THE ONES 
RECORDED IN OUR HISTORY BOOKS 
BUT THE ONES OMITTED FROM THOSE 
PAGES, THE JUSTICE SEEKERS, THE 
FREEDOM RIDERS, THE ORGANIZERS, 
THE COMMUNITY BUILDERS, EVERY 
LOVED ONE THAT PACKS A BROWN BAG
LUNCH, LED A FREEDOM SONG, 
RISKED THEIR LIFE AND 
LIVELIHOOD, THAT SENT UP A 
PRAYER.
THEIR SACRIFICE AND 
SELF-DETERMINATION SHAPED 
HISTORY AND BROUGHT US TO THIS 
MOMENT.
THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS WE 
ARE BECAUSE OF THEM.
WE ARE BLACK WITH A CAPITAL "B",
WE ARE THE MANIFESTATION OF THE 
MOVEMENT, WE ARE A SYMBOL OF 
SOCIAL, POLITICAL AND CULTURAL 
PROGRESS.
IF MY GRANDDADDY, THE REVEREND 
E. JAMES ECHOLS, WERE HERE, HE 
WOULD WHISPER IN MY EAR AND SAY,
GRANDBABY, MAKE IT PLAY.
I INTEND TO DO JUST THAT, MAKE 
IT PLAIN.
WE ARE IN UNPRECEDENTED, 
UNCERTAIN TIMES.
WE ARE CHALLENGED BY THE STATE 
OF THE NATION AND THE CRISIS WE 
FACE, BUT THE STATE OF OUR 
MOVEMENTS, IT IS STRONG.
ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE.
YES, IT IS POSSIBLE TO LEGISLATE
JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
PEOPLE OVER PROFITS, JOY OVER 
TRAUMA, FREEDOM OVER FEAR.
YES, IT IS POSSIBLE TO WRITE 
BUDGETS THAT ACTUALLY VALUE 
BLACK LIVES.
IF IT FEELS UNFAMILIAR, THAT'S 
BECAUSE IT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE 
IN AMERICA.
WE WILL MEET THE MOMENT.
WE WILL WORK TOWARDS HEALING, 
JUSTICE AND COLLECTIVE 
LIBERATION LIKE OUR LIVES DEPEND
ON IT, BECAUSE THEY DO.
WE WILL MARCH ON, CLEAR IN OUR 
CONVICTION, ROOTED IN OUR FAITH,
GROUNDED IN OUR HISTORY, 
INTENTIONAL AS WE BUILD.
LET ME MAKE IT PLAIN.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
♪ 
>> OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS 
REPRESENTATIVE ADRIANO ESPIAT 
WHO REPRESENTS NEW YORK'S 13th 
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
HE IS SERVING HIS SECOND TERM IN
CONGRESS WHERE HE SERVES AS A 
MEMBER OF THE INFLUENTIAL U.S. 
HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE,
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON 
TRANSPORTATION AND 
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE HOUSE 
SMALL BUSINESSES COMMITTEE.
THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE, CAREER 
AND PUBLIC SERVICE, THE 
CONGRESSMAN HAS BEEN A VOCAL 
ADVOCATE FOR PROTECTING TENANTS,
IMPROVING SCHOOLS AND MAKING 
SERIOUS, CHASMART INVESTMENT IN 
ECONOMIC PROTECTION.
PRIOR TO COMING TO CONGRESS HE 
REPRESENTED THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF
MARBLE HILL, INWOOD, WASHINGTON 
HEIGHTS, WEST HARLEM, UPPER WEST
SIDE, HELL'S KITCHEN, CLINTON 
AND JESSE.
PLEASE WELCOME U.S. 
REPRESENTATIVE ADRIANO ESPIAT.
>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, REVEREND AL SHARPTON.
THANK YOU, NATIONAL ACTION 
NETWORK.
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE ON 
THIS GREAT MORNING.
I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM 
HARLEM, THE CAPITAL OF THE 
AFRICAN AMERICAN DIASPORA IN THE
WORLD, FROM EAST HARLEM, THE 
LAUNCHING PAD OF THE LATINO 
EXPERIENCE IN NEW YORK STATE, 
FROM IMMIGRANT WASHINGTON 
HEIGHTS, HAMILTON HEIGHTS, 
EDWARD AND WORKING-CLASS 
NORTHWEST BRONX.
OVER 50 YEARS AGO THE GREAT 
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AND JOHN 
LEWIS STOOD HERE AND SHARED 
THEIR DREAMS WITH ALL OF YOU.
TODAY AS THE FIRST FORMALLY 
UNDOCUMENTED MEMBER OF CONGRESS,
I STAND HERE WITH YOU TODAY TO 
SAY THAT, YES, I AM A MAN, THAT,
YES, WE SHALL OVERCOME, THAT, 
YES -- THAT, YES, BLACK LIVES 
MATTER AND THAT, YES, WITHOUT NO
JUSTICE THERE WILL BE NO PEACE.
WE COME HERE TODAY BEARING THE 
SCARS AND THE WOUNDS OF 
400 YEARS OF STRUGGLE TO SAY 
THAT WHETHER YOUR ANCESTORS 
PICKED COTTON OR WHETHER THEY 
CUT SUGAR CANE, WE'RE ALL IN THE
SAME BOAT RIGHT NOW.
WE MUST PASS LEGISLATION TO 
ENSURE THAT THERE IS POLICE 
REFORM.
WE MUST PASS THE PIECES OF 
LEGISLATION HIGHLIGHTED IN THE 
HARLEM MANIFESTO AGAINST POLICE 
BRUTALITY THAT ARE ALL INCLUDED 
IN THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN 
POLICING ACT.
LET'S GET RID OF THE CHOKE HOLD!
LET'S GET RID OF THE KNEE! 
WE ALSO MUST PASS THE JOHN LEWIS
VOTERS' RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT 
TO ENSURE THAT WE ALL WILL BE 
ABLE TO VOTE.
WE MUST ENACT CRIMINAL JUSTICE 
REFORM.
LET'S DO AWAY WITH THE DEATH 
PENALTY.
LET'S DO AWAY WITH SOLITARY 
CONFINEMENT.
LET'S DO AWAY WITH MANDATORY 
MINIMUMS.
I AM A MAN.
WE SHALL OVERCOME.
[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ]. 
>> NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE, AND 
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP THE FACE.
 >> UP NEXT IS REPRESENTATIVE 
CHARLES BOOKER, A 36-YEAR-OLD 
STATE LEGISLATOR BORN IN 
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.
HE SUCCESSFULLY RAN FOR STATE 
HOUSE IN KENTUCKY IN 2018, 
BECOMING THE YOUNGEST 
AFRICAN AMERICAN IN THE HOUSE IN
MORE THAN 90 YEARS, WHERE HE 
FOUGHT FOR COMMON SENSE GUN 
SAFETY REFORM, PRESCRIPTION DRUG
COST RELIEF, VOTER PROTECTION 
AND RESTORATION, IN SUPPORT OF 
LABOR UNIONS, FOR ECONOMIC 
JUSTICE AGAINST RACIAL INJUSTICE
AND MORE.
REPRESENTATIVE BOOKER RECENTLY 
FOUNDED HOOD TO THE HOLLER, A 
501C4 TO CAPTURE THE ENERGY AND 
INFRASTRUCTURE HE BUILT IN HIS 
RUN TO CONTINUE TO BUILD POWER, 
WORK ON VOTER LEGISLATION AND 
MORE, AND TO HELP POSITIVELY 
TRANSFORM OUR FUTURE.
PLEASE WELCOME REPRESENTATIVE 
CHARLES BOOKER.
>> WE STAND HERE IN THE LEGACY 
OF THE DREAM, THE DREAM THAT 
DR. KING LIFTED UP, THAT WHITNEY
YOUNG PUSHED FOR, THAT MADDIE 
JONES FOUGHT FOR, THAT MY 
GRANDDAD LIZZIE E. HEARN SR. 
DEMANDED.
WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE 
KNOW THAT DREAM IS NOT DONE.
BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THEY MARCHED 
FOR US THEN, THE CRIES WE ARE 
HEARING ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT
NOW FROM KENOSHA TO KENTUCKY, 
FROM THE HOOD WHERE I'M FROM TO 
THE HOLLERS IN APPALACHIA TO 
EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN, THOSE 
CRIES LET US KNOW WE HAVE MORE 
MARCHING TO DO.
IT IS IN THIS MOMENT WHERE WE 
MUST RISE UP TOGETHER BECAUSE, 
LISTEN, WE ARE BUILT FOR THIS 
MOMENT.
WE ARE ON THE SHOULDERS OF 
GIANTS, BUT WE MUST STEP OFF OF 
THOSE SHOULDERS AND LEAD 
OURSELVES.
WE ARE THE DREAM, BUT WE MUST 
TURN THAT DREAM INTO DEMANDS, 
DEMANDS FOR REAL JUSTICE, 
DEMANDS FOR HUMANITY, DEMANDS 
FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, DEMANDS FOR 
AN END TO POVERTY, DEMANDS FOR 
AN END TO RACISM, AND I AM A 
LIVING WITNESS AS THE YOUNGEST 
BLACK STATE LEGISLATOR IN 
KENTUCKY SINCE THE FIRST ONE 
AND, YES, I DID STAND UP TO RUN 
AGAINST MITCH McCONNELL.
I AM A PERSONAL WITNESS THAT WE 
ARE READY FOR THIS MOMENT.
WE ARE BUILT FOR THE WORK WE 
MUST DO, AND IF WE COME 
TOGETHER, ALL OF US, IF WE STAND
UNITED, IF WE MARCH TOGETHER, IF
WE BEND THAT ARC, TOGETHER THERE
IS NOTHING WE CAN'T DO.
THERE IS NO MOUNTAIN WE CAN'T 
MOVE, AND THERE IS NO ROOT OF 
RACISM WE CANNOT PULL UP.
SO WE GOT TO DO IT RIGHT NOW.
WE GOT TO DO IT YESTERDAY, SO WE
DEFINITELY GOT TO DO IT NOW.
I STAND HERE AS A YOUNG MAN IN 
THE LEGACY OF A GIANT, 
CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS, WHO SAID
57 YEARS AGO SOME WORDS THAT 
STILL RING TRUE RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE TO LIFT OUR VOICES 
TOGETHER AND SAY TO AMERICA, 
WAKE UP.
WAKE UP, AMERICA, BECAUSE WE 
CAN'T STOP.
WE CANNOT QUIT AND WE CANNOT BE 
PATIENT.
LET'S WIN TOGETHER.
LET'S FIGHT TOGETHER.
LET'S TRANSFORM OUR FUTURE.
BREONNA, I'M REPRESENTING YOU 
RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU ALL.
>> NEXT WE HAVE TYLIK McMILLAN, 
SERVES AS NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF 
YOUTH AND COLLEGE ENGAGEMENT AND
IS A POLICY ADVISOR FOR THE 
NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK, A 
RECENT GRADUATE OF NORTH 
CAROLINA A & T STATE UNIVERSITY.
TALIK IS A PROUD MEMBER OF PHI 
BETA SIGMA FRATERNITY, THE 80 
CHAPTER, AND HOPES TO ONE DAY 
SERVE AS A LEGISLATOR ON THE 
HILL.
PLEASE WELCOME TYLIK McMILLAN.
>> I GIVE HONOR TO THE 
CONVENORS, MY BOSS AND MENTOR, 
REVEREND AL SHARPTON, AND MARTIN
LUTHER KING III.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE 
YOUNG LEADER STANDING BEHIND ME 
FROM YOUTH HUDDLE AND 
COLLEGIATE.
WE FIND OURSELVES HERE IN THE 
SPIRIT OF JOHN LEWIS, MAKING 
GOOD TROUBLE, NECESSARY TROUBLE,
BECAUSE OF THE SOUL OF OUR 
DEMOCRACY IS DEPENDING ON IT.
WE ARE NOT HERE TO ASK FOR 
JUSTICE.
WE ARE NOT HERE TO NEGOTIATE 
JUSTICE, BUT WE ARE HERE TO 
DEMAND JUSTICE! 
FAR TOO MANY TIMES WE HAVE BEEN 
CUT OUT.
FAR TOO MANY TIMES WE HAVE BEEN 
BUDGETED OUT, COUNTED OUT, 
RESOURCED OUT.
IT IS TIME FOR LEGISLATORS TO 
INVEST IN EDUCATION.
IT IS TIME FOR LEGISLATORS TO 
INVEST IN MENTAL HEALTH 
SERVICES.
IT IS TIME TO INVEST IN 
COMMUNITIES, AND I LOVE MY 1891.
IT IS TIME TO INVEST IN 
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND 
UNIVERSITIES! 
BECAUSE WE DESERVE -- WE DON'T 
DESERVE JUST A HALF A DOLLAR.
WE DON'T JUST DESERVE THE 
QUARTER OF THE DOLLAR, BUT WE 
DESERVE THE WHOLE DOLLAR.
DR. KING SPOKE ABOUT THE CHECK 
THAT BOUNCED IN THE BANK OF 
JUSTICE, AND WE HAVE COME TO LET
THE TELLER KNOW AT THE BANK THAT
THIS CHECK BETTER NOT BOUNCE 
BECAUSE WE WILL MARCH AND WE 
WILL FIGHT, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT 
WE DESERVE.
IN THE WORDS OF DR. KING IN 
CLOSING, AND, AGAIN WE COME TO 
CASH THE CHECK, A CHECK THAT IS 
WILLING TO DEMAND THE RICHES OF 
FREEDOM AND SECURITY OF JUSTICE.
THANK YOU.
NO JUSTICE. 
>> NO PEACE! 
>> I HEAR YOU BACK THERE.
NO JUSTICE!
>> NO PEACE!
>> NO JUSTICE!
>> NO PEACE!
>> THAT'S JUST TO ECHO YOU.
NEXT UP WE HAVE JANET MORIEGA, 
AS SOMEONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED 
THE PROMISE OF THE AMERICAN 
DREAM FIRSTHAND, JANET HAS 
DEVOTED HER CAREER IN PUBLIC 
SERVICE TO OPENING THE DOOR TO 
THAT DREAM TO MILLIONS OF 
AMERICAN FAMILIES.
AS A KEY FIGURE IN THE LATINO 
COMMUNITY, SHE CONTINUES THIS 
MISSION AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF 
UNITE US U.S., A LARGE NATIONAL 
HISPANIC CIVIL RIGHTS AND 
ADVOCATE ORGANIZATION IN THE 
U.S.
WELCOME HER TO THE STAGE.
>> HELLO.
HOLA.
MY NAME IS JANET MERGEA AND I'M 
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNIDOS 
U.S., THE LARGEST LATINO CIVIL 
RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION
IN THE COUNTRY.
I WANT TO TELL YOU WHY I AM 
HERE.
I AM HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE STOOD 
AND ALWAYS WILL STAND WITH 
REVEREND SHARPTON AND MARTIN 
LUTHER KING III AND OUR BROTHERS
AND SISTERS IN THE BLACK 
COMMUNITY UNTIL SYSTEMIC AND 
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IN OUR 
SOCIETY IS ERADICATED.
I AM HERE BECAUSE 25% OF MY 
COMMUNITY IS AFRO/LATINO.
SO WE DON'T JUST EMPATHIZE, WE 
IDENTIFY WITH THE BLACK 
COMMUNITY.
I AM HERE BECAUSE WE NEED LAW 
ENFORCEMENT TO GET THEIR KNEES 
OFF THE NECKS OF OUR BLACK AND 
LATIN X YOUNG MEN.
I AM HERE BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE 
SEEN IN KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, THIS
WEEK, A MAN SHOT IN THE BACK AND
PARALYSED, PEACEFUL PROTESTERS 
SHOT AND KILLED BY WHITE 
NATIONALIST VIGILANTES, AS THE 
POLICE HAVE TURNED A BLIND EYE 
AND SILENCE FROM THE MAN WHO 
HOLDS THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE 
LAND, THAT IS IMMORAL AND 
UNACCEPTABLE.
I AM HERE BECAUSE OUR 
COMMUNITIES ARE BEARING THE 
BRUNT OF A PANDEMIC, BOTH IN 
LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS, HA THAT  
ONLY GETTING WORSE YET.
I AM HERE BECAUSE WE HAVE IN 
COMMON WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON, 
IS FAR GREATER THAN WHAT DIVIDES
US.
AS DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. 
WROTE TO CESAR CHAVEZ IN 1966, 
"OUR SEPARATE STRUGGLES ARE 
REALLY ONE, A STRUGGLE FOR 
FREEDOM, FOR DIGNITY AND 
HUMANITY."
I AM HERE BECAUSE WE MUST 
SUPPORT THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF 
EVERY BACKGROUND HERE AS THEY 
RISE UP.
MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AND TELL
THOSE OF THEIR GENERATION ABOUT 
THE AMERICA THAT THEY WANT TO 
SEE, BECAUSE WE MUST REJECT 
BIGOTRY AND HATE AND INSIST THAT
OUR COUNTRY LIVE UP TO ITS 
IDEALS AND THE VALUES THAT WE 
SHARE.
I AM HERE BECAUSE I AM STANDING 
ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS LIKE 
CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS TO SAY, 
YOUR FIGHT IS MY FIGHT.
[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ] 
I AM HERE BECAUSE BLACK LIVES 
MATTER.
[ SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH ]. 
>> UP NEXT WE HAVE REVEREND 
DR. RICHARDSON, WHO SERVED ON 
THE BOARD OF SEVERAL 
CORPORATIONS AND NATIONAL 
ORGANIZATIONS AND IS CURRENTLY 
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD FOR THE 
NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK.
REVEREND DR. W. FRANKLIN 
RICHARDSON IS PASTOR OF THE 
HISTORIC GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH IN
MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK.
HE LEADS THE LARGEST 
AFRICAN AMERICAN CHURCH IN 
WESTCHESTER COUNTY WITH A 
MEMBERSHIP BASE OF OVER 3,000 
PARISHIONERS.
DESPITE THE INTERACTION WITH 
U.S. PRESIDENTS AND HEADS OF 
STATE, HE HAS MADE SURE TO USE 
THE POWER OF THE PULPIT TO LIFT 
UP ISSUES IN THE LOCAL MOUNT 
VERNON AREA AND NATIONWIDE.
DR. RICHARDSON BELIEVES GRACE 
MUST BE AT THE VANGUARD OF 
LIBERATION AND EMPOWERMENT OF 
AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE THROUGH 
OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH.
PLEASE WELCOME REVEREND DR. W. 
FRANKLIN RICHARDSON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC, IN
THE MIDST OF ALL THAT IS GOING 
ON, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US.
WE LAY OURSELVES ON THE LINE 
BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT.
ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE 
BOARD OF NATIONAL ACTION 
NETWORK, I WANT TO THANK ALL OF 
THE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS WHO 
HAVE COLLABORATED WITH US TO 
BRING THIS TO PASS.
WE CELEBRATE THE GREAT 
LEADERSHIP OF OUR PRESIDENT, 
REVEREND AL SHARPTON, AND MARTIN
LUTHER KING III, HAVING CONVENED
US TOGETHER.
OUR COMING TOGETHER FOR THE 
SPEECHES AND RHETORIC OF THE 
MOMENT WILL BE MEANINGLESS IF WE
DO NOT LEAVE HERE AND ACTIVATE 
AND GET INVOLVED AND FIGHT THE 
FIGHT AND VOTE AND ENCOURAGE 
THOSE WHO ARE NOT.
WE ARE AT A CROSSROADS IN 
AMERICAN HISTORY.
>> WE ARE AT A MOMENT WHEN ALL 
WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR, ALL THAT OUR
FOREFATHERS AND MOTHERS HAVE 
DIED FOR IS AT RISK OF BEING 
LOST.
BLOOD HAS BEEN SHARED AND OUR 
FREEDOM IS ON THE LINE AND WE 
CANNOT PARISH.
WE MUST FIGHT, ENGAGE AND EVERY 
RESOURCE THAT WE HAVE.
WE STILL BELIEVE IN AMERICA'S 
PROMISE.
NOT ONLY WHY WE ARE ON THE 
PRECIPICE OF PERISHING BUT ON 
THE PRECIPICE OF REALIZING THE 
PROMISE.
THE PROMISE IS A NATION WHERE 
EVERY PERSON, EVERY PERSON, 
BLACK OR WHITE, YELLOW, RED, 
MALE, FEMALE, LGBT, EVERY 
DIMENSION OF OUR HUMANITY IS IN 
THE PROMISE OF A GREAT AMERICA.
SO I CHALLENGE US ALL TO BELIEVE
IN A BETTER DAY, TO MAKE THE 
SACRIFICES, TO MAKE SURE WE GO 
BACK TO OUR CITIES AND KNOCK ON 
DOORS AND CALL OUR FRIENDS, 
BECAUSE THIS WILL BE A SHAM IF 
WE FAIL TO BRING OUT THE VOTE ON
NOVEMBER 3RD.
THIS WILL BE MOCKERY IF WE DO 
NOT DELIVER OURSELVES TO THE 
POLLS.
THIS WILL BE A DISGRACE IF WE 
FAIL TO ENGAGE OUR RESOURCES TO 
DELIVER ON OUR OWN BEHALF AND 
OUR FOREFATHERS AND MOTHERS WHO 
LAY IN THE CEMETERIES WILL WANT 
TO TURN OVER IN THEIR GRAVES IF 
WE FAIL TO DELIVER IN THIS 
MOMENT AND GRASP WHAT THEY 
FOUGHT FOR.
GOD BLESS YOU! 
LET'S GO.
LET'S GET THIS DONE.
WE ARE ABLE, WE ARE PROUDFUL.
USE OUR CODE ON THE SCREEN THAT 
TALKS ABOUT THE BLACK CHURCH.
75 VOTE 75.
ALL OF US MUST BE ENGAGED.
GOOD BLESS YOU AND I LOOK TO SEE
YOU IN THE NEAR FUTURE AT THE 
VICTORY CELEBRATION.
GOO
GOD BLESS YOU.
 >> NEXT UP, PLEASE WELCOME 
CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST MAYA 
BERRY.
SHE IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE
ARAB AMERICAN INSTITUTE.
PLEASE WELCOME MAYA BERRY.
>> YOU GUYS LOOK AMAZING! 
REVEREND AL SHARPTON, MARTIN 
LUTHER KING III, THANK YOU FOR 
YOUR LEADERSHIP.
TO THE NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK, 
THANK YOU FOR CONVENING US 
TODAY.
TO THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE LOST 
LOVED ONES TO RACIST VIOLENCE, I
AM SO SORRY FOR THE PAIN YOU 
HAVE BEEN FORCED TO ENDURE.
I AM HUMBLED TO STAND AND MARCH 
ALONGSIDE YOU TODAY AND EVERY 
DAY.
MY NAME IS MAYA BERRY AND I AM 
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 
ARAB/AMERICAN INSTITUTE.
ON BEHALF OF 3.7 MILLION ARAB 
AMERICANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, I 
STAND HERE TODAY WITH YOU IN 
DEFENSE OF BLACK LIVES.
WE DO SO BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT 
AND, REGRETTABLY, BECAUSE IT IS 
NECESSARY TO DECLARE THAT BLACK 
LIVES MATTER.
WE DO SO BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND 
THAT UNTIL THE KILLING OF BLACK 
MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN STOPS, 
UNTIL SYSTEMATIC RACISM AND 
ANTI-BLACKNESS IS ADDRESSED, THE
AMERICA WE ALL DESIRE CANNOT BE 
REALIZED.
FOR EACH LIFE TAKEN, EACH FAMILY
DESTROYED, EACH NEIGHBORHOOD 
BRUTALLY PATROLLED, AND FOR EACH
PROTESTER TAKING TO THE STREETS 
TO DEMAND THAT ALL THIS STOP, 
TARGETED BY THE SAME SYSTEM OF 
POLICING, JUSTICE WILL NOT BE 
SERVED BY REFORMING TACTICS OR 
TRAININGS.
HERE IS A SIMPLE TRUTH.
IT HAS BEEN 168 DAYS SINCE 
BREONNA TAYLOR WAS KILLED IN HER
OWN HOME.
NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED.
THE SYSTEM IS NOT BROKEN.
IT IS WORKING AS IT WAS 
DESIGNED, AND WE MUST CHANGE IT.
TODAY WE MUST RECOMMIT TO DEFEND
BLACK LIVES, TO END POLICE 
BRUTALITY, AND THE RACIST SYSTEM
THAT UPHOLDS IT.
WE MUST RECOMMIT TO FIGHT VOTER 
SUPPRESSION AND THE IMPACT OF 
POLITICIZED CENSUS AS WE HAVE 
NEVER SEEN.
JUST AS THE 1960 MARCH AND THE 
CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND THE VOTING 
RIGHTS ACT, WE MUST NOT STOP 
UNTIL WE HAVE SECURED THE 
PASSAGE OF THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING
RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT, THE 
HEATHER
HEATHER HEYER NO HATE ACT AND 
THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN 
POLICING ACT.
JUST AS MATTER IS THE MINIMUM, 
THESE IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE 
PRIORITIES MUST BE WHERE WE 
START.
THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE 
DR. JAMAL BRYANT.
HE IS A VISIONARY, CIVIL RIGHTS 
ACTIVIST, COMMUNITY ORGANIZER.
DR. JAMAL HARRIS BRYANT COMBINED
SOUND BIBLICAL TEACHING, 
BUSINESS ACUMEN AND POLITICAL 
INSIGHT TO PROPEL THE BODY OF 
CHRIST TO ACTION AND GREATER 
LEVELS OF FAITH.
HIS ABILITY TO REACH ACROSS 
SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL 
BARRIERS HAS HELPED PEOPLE NOT 
ONLY EXPERIENCE THE 
LIFE-CHANGING GOSPEL OF JESUS 
CHRIST BUT TO ACTIVATE SUCCESS 
IN THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES.
HIS MINISTRY HAS BECOME AN 
INCUBATOR FOR ENTREPRENEURS, 
HOMEOWNERS, AND LIKE DR. BRYANT,
IS A SENIOR PRACTITIONER OF NEW 
BIRTH BAPTIST CHURCH IN GEORGIA,
PLEASE WELCOME DR. JAMAL BRYANT.
♪ 
>> TO OUR CONVENER, ORGANIZER 
AND VISIONARY, THE MAN WHO GOD 
HAS ANOINTED FOR THIS HOUR, 
REVEREND AL SHARPTON, WE THANK 
HIM FOR HIS COURAGE AND FOR HIS 
FAITH AND FOR HIS DISTINCTION AS
WELL AS HIS COMMITMENT TO CIVIL 
RIGHTS DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS.
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, NOT SINCE 
44-BC WITH MARCUS AURELIUS 
BRUTOUS LED 15 ACCOMPLICES TO 
STAB JULIUS CESAR IN THE BACK 
HAS THERE BEEN SUCH A HEINOUS 
CRIME AS THE SLAYING OF JACOB 
BLAKE.
SEVEN TIMES THEY SHOT HIM IN THE
BACK, AND TODAY WHILE IT IS THAT
YOU STAND JACOB FINDS HIMSELF 
PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN.
NOT FROM THESE STEPS, BUT 
DR. KING SAID THAT WE AS A 
PEOPLE SHOULD NOT FIND OURSELVES
CAUGHT IN THE PARALYSIS OF 
ANALYSIS.
IN OTHER WORDS OUR COMING 
TOGETHER IS IN VAIN IF WE JUST 
TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS BUT 
DON'T CHART A COURSE TOWARDS THE
SOLUTION.
TUBMAN, WHO SAID, I FREED 
THOUSANDS OF SLAVES BUT I WOULD 
HAVE FREED HUNDREDS MORE HAD 
THEY KNOWN THEY WERE SLAVES.
I ONLY THOUGHT ABOUT THAT WHEN I
SAW THE SLAVES ON TV THIS 
WEEK
WEEK ENDORSING DONALD TRUMP.
I SAID, IF ONLY THEY KNEW THEY 
WERE SLAVES THEY COULD HAVE BEEN
RENDERED FREE.
WE CANNOT REMAIN PARALYSED.
WE CAN'T BE PARALYSED, WONDERING
WHETHER OR NOT WE ARE GOING TO 
SUPPORT THE VERY FIRST BLACK 
FEMALE VICE PRESIDENT IN THE 
UNITED STATES.
DON'T TELL ME ABOUT WHAT IT IS 
THAT SHE DID IN THE PAST AND YOU
NOT TALK ABOUT WHAT SHE WANTS TO
DO IN AMERICA IN THE FUTURE.
SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE 
GET RID OF PRIVATIZED PRISONS, 
THAT THERE ARE NO MORE MANDATORY
MINIMUMS AND MARIJUANA IS NO 
LONGER AN ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE.
WE CANNOT BE PARALYSED, KNOWING 
THAT SHE GRADUATED JUST A FEW 
MILES FROM HERE, FROM THE 
ORIGINAL HU, AND THOSE OF US WHO
ARE PRODUCTS OF HBCUs, YOU OUGHT
TO BE MAKING SOME NOISE RIGHT 
NOW KNOWING WHAT IT CAN DEVELOP 
AND WHAT IT CAN DELIVER.
WE CANNOT BE PARALYSED.
WE CANNOT ALLOW WHITE 
EVANGELICALS TO PARALYZE US, 
SAYING THAT THEY CANNOT SUPPORT 
OUR AGENDA BECAUSE THEY'RE FOR 
PRO LIFE.
DON'T TELL ME YOU ARE FOR PRO 
LIFE AND WHITE EVANGELICALS ARE 
SILENT WHEN BLACK PEOPLE ARE 
DYING IN THE STREET LIKE DOGS.
WE CANNOT BE PARALYSED.
THE BLACK CHURCH, YOU CANNOT BE 
PARALYSED, SAYING THAT YOU ARE 
NOT GOING TO SUPPORT BLACK LIVES
MATTER BECAUSE OF THREE FEARLESS
BLACK SISTERS WHO HAPPEN TO BE 
LESBIAN.
WE HAVE TO LOVE OUR LGBTQ 
COMMUNITY, REALIZING THAT THOSE 
ARE OUR SONS AND THOSE ARE OUR 
DAUGHTERS.
WE CANNOT BE PARALYZED.
WE CANNOT BE PARALYZED INTO 
BELIEVING MR. JONES WATER IS 
COLDER.
THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE 
THE SUPPORT BLACK BUSINESSES 
BECAUSE TOO MANY OF THEM ARE 
CLOSING DOWN BECAUSE OF COVID.
NOT BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE 
ADEQUATE SERVICE BUT BECAUSE 
THEY DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE 
SUPPORT.
WHAT AMERICA HAS TO KNOW ABOUT 
THE TENACITY OF BLACK PEOPLE IS 
THAT EVEN WHEN YOU RENDER US 
PARALYZED, WE STILL KNOW HOW TO 
CRAWL.
ON NOVEMBER 3RD, NO MATTER WHAT 
YOU DO, WE GOING TO CRAWL TO THE
POLLS.
IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE MAILBOX, WE
STILL GOING TO CRAWL.
IF YOU TAKE AWAY THE POLLING 
STATIONS, AWAY FROM OUR 
COMMUNITY, WE STILL GOING TO 
CRAWL.
WE ARE GOING TO SING THE 
ORIGINAL GANGSTER RAP MUSIC, 
"BEFORE I BE A SLAVE I'LL BE BAD
IN MY GRAVE AND GO ON TO MY LORD
AND BE FREE."
WE STILL GOING TO CRAWL! 
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT US THAT
UNDERSTANDS THAT WE STAND TODAY 
WITH OUR BROTHER JACOB, 
REALIZING THAT EVEN IF WE FIND 
OURSELVES PARALYZED AND YOU 
FORCE US TO CRAWL, WE ARE LIKE 
BUTTERFLIES BECAUSE BUTTERFLIES 
ONLY HAVE TWO OPTIONS, THEY 
CRAWL AND THEN THEY FLY.
WE UNDERSTAND IN THIS HOUR, THIS
IS THE HOUR FOR BLACK PEOPLE TO 
FLY.
MAYA ANGELOU SAID, "YOU CAN 
WRITE ME DOWN IN HISTORY WITH 
YOUR BITTER, TWISTED LIES, BUT 
STILL LIKE DUST WE RISE, WE 
RISE, WE RISE."
AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW MAYA 
ANGELOU, THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS
KNOW AMIGOS AND BLACK PEOPLE 
FROM HERE UNTIL NOVEMBER 3RD, WE
GOT TO WALK IT LIKE WE TALK IT.
WE GOT TO KEEP MOVING UNTIL OUR 
GENERATION TAKES THE BATON, 
CHANGES THE COUNTRY AND MAKES 
AMERICA GREAT FOR THE VERY FIRST
TIME.
BLACK PEOPLE, RISE UP AND 
ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU WILL! 
♪
♪ 
>> ALL RIGHT.
I WAS JUST TOLD THAT WE HAVE A 
BIG GROUP OF MOTHERS FROM 
GEORGIA.
ARE YOU IN THE HOUSE?
GEORGIA CAME.
ALL RIGHT.
NEXT UP, PLEASE WELCOME 
CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA 
JACKSON-LEE.
SHE IS SERVING HER 13th TERM AS 
A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
SHE SERVES THE 18th 
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS,
CENTERED IN HOUSTON, THE ENERGY 
CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, AND SITS 
ON THREE CONGRESSIONAL 
COMMITTEES, THE HOUSE COMMITTEE,
THE JUDICIARY AND HOMELAND 
SECURITY COMMITTEE, AND THE 
CRUCIAL BUDGET COMMITTEE.
SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF THE 
EMANCIPATION NATIONAL HISTORIC 
TRAIL STUDY ACT AND THE LEAD 
SPONSOR FOR HR-40, THE 
COMMISSION TO STUDY AND DEVELOP 
PREPARATION PROPOSALS FOR 
AFRICAN AMERICANS.
PLEASE WELCOME CONGRESSWOMAN 
SHEILA JACKSON-LEE.
>> I AM A BLACK MOTHER WHO 
HAPPENS TO BE A CONGRESSWOMAN.
I AM A BLACK MOTHER WHO HAPPENS 
TO UNDERSTAND THAT BLACK LIVES 
DO MATTER EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY
LIFE.
STANDING ON THESE HISTORIC 
STEPS, GRABBING ON TO THE 
HISTORY OF WHAT THE LINCOLN 
MONUMENT MEANS TO ALL OF US WHO 
HAVE A BIRTHRIGHT IN THIS NATION
TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN DIGNITY, I
UNDERSTAND THE WORDS OF 
DR. MADR.
DR. MADR.
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING WHO SAID 
THAT THE BLACK HAVE BEEN GIVEN A
CHECK, A BAD CHECK THAT HAS BEEN
MARKED WITH INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.
WE HAVE TO STOP THE INSUFFICIENT
FUNDS AND PUT MONEY IN THE BANK 
TO HEAL THE NATION.
SO I SAY TO YOU WHY WE CAN'T 
WAIT, WHY WE CAN'T WAIT WHEN 
THOSE ASSIGNED TO PROTECT AND 
SERVE ARE ABLE TO GRAB THE TEE 
SHIRT OF A BLACK MAN NAMED JACOB
AND POINT A GUN IN HIS BLACK 
SKIN AND SHOOT SEVEN TIMES.
WHY WE CAN'T WAIT.
WHY WE CAN'T WAIT WHEN THOSE WHO
ARE ASSIGNED TO PROTECT AND 
SERVE CAN TAKE BIG FLOYD, PUT A 
KNEE ON HIS NECK AND SAY, "I 
CAN'T BREATHE."
AND THEN WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO
CHANGE THIS NATION WHEN WE HAVE 
BREONNA TAYLOR, AHMAUD ARBERY, 
TRAYVON AND MICHAEL BROWN AND 
MANY OTHERS.
TODAY WE KUKCOME TO ACKNOWLEDGE 
THAT WE ASK AMERICA NOT TO FEAR 
US, WHEN WE ASK YOU NOT TO SEND 
TWEETS WE ARE ATTACKING YOU 
BECAUSE THE MILITIA WALKS AROUND
FREELY AND SHOOTS US WITHOUT 
ANYONE'S CONCERN.
WE ARE STANDING HERE TO SAY WHY 
WE CAN'T WAIT.
WE WANT AN AMERICA THAT WILL 
STOMP OUT THE DIVISIVENESS, THE 
INTIMIDATION, THE THREAT.
WE WANT A WHITE HOUSE WHO STANDS
AS A HEALER IN CHIEF, WHO 
UNDERSTANDS BLACK MOTHERS' PAIN 
AND UNDERSTANDS YOUR PAIN.
THEN, OF COURSE, WE WANT TO MAKE
SU
SURE -- AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THAT AS WE DO THIS WE KNOW THAT 
HR-40 IS INTERTWINED WITH A BILL
I HELPED RIGHT, WHICH IS HR -- 
THE BILL OF GEORGE FLOYD, 
JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT.
SO HERE WE ARE TODAY ASKING THE 
QUESTION, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
BECAUSE OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM.
I AM HERE TO TELL YOU THAT WE 
MUST HAVE THE COMMISSION TO 
STUDY AND DEVELOP, AS MY 
BROTHERS AND SISTERS HAVE SAID, 
REPARATION PROPOSALS.
WE MUST ANSWER THE CALL OF 
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM.
WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT 
THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, 
PSYCHOLOGICAL, EDUCATIONAL 
GOVERNMENT SANCTION OF 
INSTITUTIONAL RACISM STOPS RIGHT
NOW.
AS I TOLD A 12-YEAR OLD AS I 
WALKED AND TOLD MARTIN LUTHER 
KING'S THIRD DAUGHTER, THAT NOW 
TODAY THIS ATTACK ON US AS 
PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO DIED ON THE 
BATTLES OF WARFARE, WHO DIED ON 
THE STREETS FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, IT
WILL STOP TODAY.
THANK YOU, REVEREND SHARPTON AND
THE NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK FOR 
UNDERSTANDING THE RESPONSE OF 
THE CONGRESS WITH OVER 150 
CO-SPONSORS IN THE HOUSE PASSING
HR-40.
WE WILL HEAL THE NATION BUT WE 
WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THE NATION 
KNOWS BLACK LIVES MATTER AND 
REPARATIONS ARE PASSED AS THE 
MOST SIGNIFICANT CIVIL RIGHTS 
LEGISLATION OF THE 21st CENTURY.
NOW IS THE TIME.
WHY WE CAN'T WAIT! 
♪ 
>> REPARATIONS NOW! 
LET'S HEAR IT FOR CONGRESSWOMAN 
SHEILA JACKSON-LEE.
REPARATIONS NOW! 
OUR NEXT SPEAKER, FROM OHIO, IS 
A POWERHOUSE WHO STANDS WITH THE
PEOPLE, SERVING AS VICE CHAIR OF
THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS 
AND FIRST-EVER CHAIR OF THE 
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION 
SUBCOMMITTEE.
A SOUGHT-AFTER PUBLIC SPEAKER 
AND PREVIOUSLY RECOGNIZED AS ONE
OF "EBONY" MAGAZINE'S 150 MOST 
POWERFUL AFRICAN AMERICANS IN 
THE UNITED STATES.
SHE HAS WRITTEN 93 PIECES OF 
LEGISLATION AND CO-SPONSORED 
OVER 1,600 BILLS.
SHE IS CALLING ON CONGRESS TO 
RECOGNIZE RACISM AS A NATIONAL 
CRISIS.
WE HAVE A DELTA UP HERE, DELTA 
SIGMA THETA SORORITY.
ANY DELTAS HERE?
SHE IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE 
LINKS.
PLEASE WELCOME CONGRESSWOMAN 
JOYCE BEATTY!
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
I AM JOINED BY MEMBERS OF THE 
POWERFUL CONGRESSIONAL BLACK 
CAUCUS.
WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE PEOPLE
DIED AND WERE DENIED CIVIL AND 
ECONOMIC RIGHTS.
WE ARE HERE TODAY BECAUSE 
57 YEARS AGO PEOPLE MARCHED FOR 
JOBS AND FREEDOM AND STOOD HERE 
WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND 
MARTIN LUTHER KING.
WE ARE HEAR TODAY BECAUSE GEORGE
FLOYD HAD A KNEE ON HIS NECK, 
8 MINUTES, 46 SECONDS.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
WE ARE HERE AND I STAND 
REPRESENTING THE CONGRESSIONAL 
BLACK CAUCUS, 54 MEMBERS STRONG,
WHO UNDERSTAND SILENCE IS NOT AN
OPTION BECAUSE BLACK PEOPLE FACE
A SYMBOLIC CHOKEHOLD EVERY TIME 
WE WALK, SPEAK UP, SHOP, JOG, 
DRIVE AND, YES, BREATHE.
SO WE MUST TEAR DOWN THE WALLS 
OF INJUSTICE.
I AM STANDING HERE AND SAYING, 
AS MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SAID, 
IN AMERICA A RIOT IS THE 
LANGUAGE OF UNHEARD PEOPLE.
AND WHAT IS IT THAT AMERICA HAS 
FAILED TO HEAR?
PROMISES AND FREEDOM AND JUSTICE
FOR ALL.
SAY THEIR NAMES.
AHMAUD, BREONNA, GEORGE, JACOB, 
AND THE LIST GOES ON.
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
SO LET US PASS THE GEORGE FLOYD 
JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT.
NO MORE IMMUNITY FOR OFFICERS 
WHO LOOKED BOLDLY INTO CELLPHONE
CAMERAS AS THEY KILL OUR 
BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
MANDATORY DATABASES.
TAMAR RICE WOULD HAVE LIVED TO 
SEE HIS 18th BIRTHDAY.
A BAN ON CHOKE-HOLDS AND 
NO-KNOCK WARRANTS.
GA
ERIC GARNER AND BREONNA TAYLOR 
WOULD STILL BE ALIVE TODAY.
WE ARE PUSHING TO RECOGNIZE 
RIC
RACISM AS A NATIONAL CRISIS.
WE ARE FIGHTING FOR JOBS, 
HOUSING RELIEF, ACCESS TO 
CAPITAL AND A REPARATIONS BILL.
KNOW IT IT WAS THE BLACK MEN, 
THE BROTHERS OF THE 
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS WHO 
WROTE THE FIRST STEP ACT.
KNOW IT IS A POWERFUL BLACK MAN 
IN LEADERSHIP WHO LEADS THE JOHN
LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS LEGISLATION.
DEMAND, DEMAND, DEMAND THE 
SENATE TO PASS THE JOHN LEWIS 
VOTING RIGHTS ACT THAT RESTORES 
JUSTICE, DIGNITY AND EQUAL 
ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX.
I SAY TO YOU, STAND WITH US AND 
STAND WITH THE REVEREND AL 
SHARPTON AND THE NATIONAL ACTION
NETWORK FOR THIS MARCH AND 
DEMANDING THAT WE GET PEOPLE 
REGISTERED TO VOTE AND THAT WE 
VOTE, THAT WE COMPLETE OUR 
CENSUS.
SAY IT WITH ME.
GO VOTE! 
GO VOTE! 
GO VOTE! 
GO VOTE! 
AND LET ME SAY, TELL THEM TO GET
THEIR KNEES OFF OF OUR NECKS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
YES, I'M CONGRESSWOMAN JOYCE 
BEATTY AND I APPROVE THIS 
MESSAGE.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU TO CONGRESSWOMAN 
BEATTY.
AS WE SAID BEFORE, GOING BACK TO
1963 ORGANIZED LABOR HAS BEEN A 
PART OF THIS.
HERE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE 
1.7 MILLION MEMBER AMERICAN 
FEDERATION OF TEACHERS AFL/CIO, 
WHICH REPRESENTS TEACHERS, 
PARAPROFESSIONALS, 
SCHOOL-RELATED PERSONNEL, HIGHER
EDUCATION FACULTY AND STAFF, 
NURSES AND OTHER HEALTH CARE 
PROFESSIONALS,OCAL STATE AND 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS.
PLEASE WELCOME THE PRESIDENT OF 
THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF 
TEACHERS, RANDI WINEGEARTEN, 
JOINED ON-STAGE BY EDWARD KELLY 
AND OUR BROTHER KEN FROM THE 
INTERNATIONAL UNION.
[ INAUDIBLE ] OF THE 
INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ALLIED 
TRAINER.
ORGANIZED LABOR.
YOU ALL GIVE THEM A ROUND OF 
APPLAUSE. 
>> GOOD EVENING, BROTHERS AND 
SISTERS.
I WANT TO THANK NAN AND REVEREND
AL SHARPTON, MARTIN LUTHER KING 
III FOR CONVENING THIS MARCH.
I AM HERE TODAY TO REPRESENT 
700,000 MEN AND WOMEN MAKING UP 
AFGE, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF 
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.
IT IS AN HONOR TO BE HERE.
WE ARE A DIVERSE UNION.
WE ARE FROM ALL ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, ALL AGES, ALL 
ABILITIES.
WE PROVIDE EVERY SINGLE TYPE OF 
SERVICE TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.
WHAT UNITES US?
WELL, WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER IS
ONE BIG LABOR UNION.
AFGE, WE BELIEVE IN FAIRNESS.
WE BELIEVE IN DUE PROCESS.
AFGE BELIEVES THAT EVERY 
AMERICAN DESERVES A GOOD JOB AND
EVERY AMERICAN DESERVES DECENT 
PAY AND FULL BENEFITS.
EVERY SINGLE PERSON DESERVES 
THAT.
AFGE BELIEVES THAT UNIVERSAL 
HEALTH CARE, WE BELIEVE IN 
UNIVERSAL HOUSING, UNIVERSAL 
EDUCATION, UNIVERSAL AND EQUAL 
JUSTICE UNDER THE LAW.
WE BELIEVE IN THE VA SYSTEM, 
SOCIAL SECURITY AND ALL OF THE 
PROGRAMS OF THE FEDERAL 
GOVERNMENT THAT MAKE PEOPLE LIVE
BETTER.
WE BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT 
SHOULD BE A FORCE FOR GOOD, THAT
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROTECT US
AND NOT SCARE US, NOT SUPPRESS 
US.
SO WE ARE HERE TODAY TO LET YOU 
KNOW THAT WE WILL STAND WITH 
YOU.
CAN WE DO THIS TOGETHER?
CAN WE DO THIS TOGETHER?
IF WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER, LET 
ME HEAR YOU SAY, TOGETHER."
>> TOGETHER!
>> WHEN I WAS A LITTLE BOY I 
USED TO HEAR MY GRANDMOTHER SAY,
I DON'T FEEL IN NO WAYS TIRED.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT THEN BUT 
I UNDERSTAND IT NOW.
I DON'T FEEL TIRED.
I'M READY TO MARCH.
I'M READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
LET'S CHANGE THIS COUNTRY.
THANK YOU.
>> -- FROM IUPAT. 
>> IUPAT IS IN THE HOUSE! 
WHERE YOU AT?
SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING.
I'M KEN RICKMAN, GENERAL 
PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL 
UNION OF PAINTERS AND LAALLIED 
TRADES.
WE ARE A BUILDING TRADES UNION.
YOU MAY THINK IT IS UNUSUAL TO 
BE HERE, BUT WITH ME GROWING UP 
WITH A FATHER, WITH A MOTHER WHO
LOOKED LIKE ME, BLACK LIVES 
MATTER.
DON'T THEY?
BLACK LIVES MATTER! 
BLACK LIVES MATTER.
I STAND ON THE SHOULDERS OF MY 
FATHER AND ALL BLACK TRADESMEN 
WHO FOUGHT FOR BETTER WAGES AND 
CONDITIONS.
WITHOUT THEIR FIGHT I WOULDN'T 
BE HERE TODAY.
RECENTLY WE CELEBRATED THE 100th
ANNIVERSARY OF IUPAT LOCAL 1332.
YOU MAY NOT THINK MUCH ABOUT 
THAT.
THAT'S ONE OF OUR UNIONS THAT 
WAS A TRADITIONAL 
AFRICAN AMERICAN UNION, FORMED 
OVER 100 YEARS AGO BECAUSE THEY 
COULDN'T BE IN THE REGULAR 
UNION.
BUT 100 YEARS LATER, STILL UP 
AND FIGHTING AND A PART OF OUR 
ORGANIZATION.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US 
BECAUSE WHEN I SEE THE STREET, I
DON'T JUST SEE PEOPLE WHO LOOK 
LIKE ME, I SEE AMERICA.
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO GO 
FORWARD AND OUR OPPORTUNITY TO 
GROW AND OUR OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE
THE COUNTRY THAT HAS THE VISION 
THAT WE HAVE.
ALL LIVES MATTER, BUT BLACK 
LIVES MATTER ON TOP.
BLACK LIVES MATTER FIRST.
SOMEBODY SAY IT.
IT IS EASY.
BLACK LIVES MATTER! 
>>SEVEN BULLETS IN A MAN'S BACK 
AT POINT RANGE.
A KNEE PRESSED INTO A MAN'S NECK
FOR EIGHT MINUTES.
HOW MUCH PAIN MUST BLACK PEOPLE 
ENDURE?
WHEN WILL JUSTICE PREVAIL?
WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH?
THERE IS PAIN IN THIS COUNTRY.
IN LOUISIANA AND TEXAS, YOU HAVE
TO ANSWER YET ANOTHER HURRICANE.
IN CALIFORNIA IN THE MIDST OF 
RAGING FIRES, ACROSS THE 
COUNTRY, DONALD TRUMP WITH 
180,000 PEOPLE DEAD FROM COVID, 
AND IN SO MANY FAMILIES' HEARTS 
OVER THE SHOOTING OF JACOB 
BLAKE, THERE IS PAIN.
SO, REVEREND SHARPTON, HOW MANY 
TIMES OVER HOW MANY DECADES HAVE
I AND MY UNION JOINED IN THIS 
JOURNEY FOR JUSTICE?
THE '63 MARCH STARTED AS A LABOR
MARCH FOR JOBS AND JUSTICE.
A. PHILIP RANDOLPH AND BYRON 
RU
RUSTEN INVITED MARTIN LUTHER 
KING JR. TO SPEAK THAT DAY AND 
KING SAID, WE'VE COME TO 
DRAMATIZE A SHAMEFUL CONDITION.
THAT SHAMEFUL CONDITION, 
PREJUDICE, DISCRIMINATION, 
ECONOMIC INEQUALITY, HAS NOT 
BEEN CURED.
IT HAS BEEN METASTASIZED.
UNDER BORDER SUPPRESSION, 
SUBSTANDARD HOUSING AND 
TRANSPORTATION, INSUFFICIENT 
WAGES, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, 
DISCRIMINATORY POLICING, MASS 
INCARCERATION, BLACK AMERICANS 
WHO WHETHER FROM THEIR HIGHER 
RATE OF DEATHS FROM ASTHMA OR 
FROM COVID HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING 
TO BREATHE LONG BEFORE ERIC 
GARNER AND GEORGE FLOYD WERE 
SUFFOCATED AT THE HANDS OF 
AUTHORITIES.
JUSTICE AND FREEDOM MUST APPLY 
TO ALL! 
THE FIGHT FOR OPPORTUNITY AND 
FREEDOM MUST BE ALL OF OUR 
FIGHTS.
AND THOSE OF US WHO ARE WHITE, 
WE NEED TO BE REAL ALLIES, REAL 
LISTENERS AND REAL SUPPORTERS.
MY SYNAGOGUE'S CREDO IS THE 
PSALM AND I QUOTE, "THAT THE 
STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS 
REJECTED HAS BECOME THE 
CORNERSTONE."
THERE IS ROOM FOR ALL OF US, BUT
WE MUST CALL OUT THOSE WHO CLING
SO TIGHTLY TO THEIR PRIVILEGE 
THAT IS AN OPPRESSIVE TOOL 
AGAINST EQUALITY.
SO, MY FRIENDS, MY COLLEAGUES, 
NOVEMBER 3RD IS COMING.
WE NEED TO GET IN GOOD TROUBLE.
WE NEED TO VOTE.
WE NEED TO HAVE HOPE.
WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO WILL 
SIGN THE BILLS THAT THE HOUSE 
HAS PASSED TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY 
MORE FAIR, MORE JUST, MORE 
EQUAL.
THAT IS OUR JOB THIS DAY AND 
EVERY DAY.
THANK YOU.
AND THEN, ALSO, AS YOU ALL KNOW 
I NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE POSTAL 
WORKERS UNION.
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK 
YOU.
ALL RIGHT.
♪ 
>> LET'S HEAR IT FOR ORGANIZED 
LABOR.
GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
NO TIME FOR THEM TO SPEAK, BUT 
THE POSTAL WORKERS UNION IS IN 
THE HOUSE.
PRAY FOR OUR POSTAL WORKERS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IN THE OBAMA 
ADMINISTRATION SERVED AS 
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR 
CIVIL RIGHTS, SECRETARY OF LABOR
AND NOW TODAY HE IS THE CHAIR OF
THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL 
COMMITTEE, OUR FRIEND AND 
BROTHER.
PLEASE WELCOME TOM PERES. 
>> ALL RIGHT! 
GOOD AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU, REVEREND SHARPTON AND
MARTIN LUTHER KING III FOR YOUR 
EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU TO THE NATIONAL ACCESS
NETWORK.
FOLKS, I LIVE IN MARYLAND.
WE LOST A REMARKABLE PERSON LAST
YEAR WHEN MY FELLOW MARYLANDER 
AND MENTOR ELIJAH CUMMINGS 
PASSED AWAY.
BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY, HE 
REMINDED US ALL OF OUR CIVIC 
DUTY.
HE SAID, WHEN WE ARE DANCING 
WITH THE ANGELS THE QUESTION 
WILL BE ASKED, WHAT DID WE DO TO
MAKE SURE WE KEPT OUR DEMOCRACY 
INTACT?
DID WE STAND ON THE SIDELINES 
AND SAY NOTHING OR DID WE FIGHT 
BACK?
DID WE FIGHT BACK FOR JUSTICE?
DID WE FIGHT BACK FOR EQUALITY?
DID WE FIGHT BACK FOR BLACK 
LIVES?
BY BEING HERE TODAY YOU ARE 
ANSWERING ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS
WITH A RESOUNDING YES.
WE ARE ALL FIGHTING BACK, BUT 
OUR FIGHT CANNOT END HERE.
JUST AS WE MARCHED TO THIS MALL 
WE MUST MARCH TO CONGRESS, TO 
THE UNITED STATES SENATE IN 
PARTICULAR, TO DEMAND PASSAGE OF
THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS 
ADVANCEMENT ACT AND THE GEORGE 
FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT.
JUST AS WE MARCHED TO THIS MALL,
WE MUST MARCH TO THE BALLOT BOX 
OR THE MAILBOX TO DEMAND THE 
LEADERSHIP WE DESERVE.
WE MUST EXERCISE THE RIGHT THAT 
PROTECTS ALL OTHERS, THE RIGHT 
TO VOTE.
AS YOU WELL KNOW, OUR NATION IS 
HURTING RIGHT NOW.
OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES
ARE HURTING.
WE ARE HURTING FROM A PANDEMIC 
THAT HAS TAKEN 180,000 LIVES, 
HURTING FROM AN ECONOMIC CRISIS 
THAT HAS COST MILLIONS OF JOBS, 
FROM A CLIMATE EMERGENCY THAT 
THREATENS THE AIR WE BREATHE AND
THE WATER WE DRINK.
HURTING FROM AN EPIDEMIC OF 
VIOLENCE AND RACISM, A CANCER OF
THE SOUL.
WE ARE HURTING FROM A KNEE ON 
THEIR NECK, A BULLET IN THEIR 
BACK, HURTING FROM LEADERSHIP 
THAT TREATS THEM LIKE THEIR 
LIVES DON'T MATTER.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN, YOU WOULD NOT
RECOGNIZE TODAY'S REPUBLICAN 
PARTY.
OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN BROTHERS 
AND SISTERS ARE NOT ALONE.
DR. KING SPOKE OF THE 
INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF 
MUTUALITY.
IN THIS MOMENT OF CRISIS, SO 
MANY AMERICANS ARE BOUND 
TOGETHER IN THE MUTUAL STRUGGLE 
FOR JUSTICE, DIGNITY AND 
OPPORTUNITY, FROM THE NATIVE 
AMERICAN TRIBES CONFRONTING THE 
SCOURGE OF COVID AND THE DELAY 
OF THEIR STIMULUS FUNDING TO 
LATIN X CHILDREN BEING SEPARATED
FROM THEIR PARENTS AT THE BORDER
TO ASIAN AMERICANS FACING 
HATE-FILLED ATTACKS, TO WORKING 
FAMILIES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY 
STRUGGLING WITH POVERTY.
WE CAN CHANGE ALL OF THIS.
WITH THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP WE CAN
HEAL ALL OF OUR WOUNDS, WE CAN 
TURN HARDSHIP INTO HOPE, DESPAIR
INTO DREAMS.
WE CAN ADVANCE RACIAL EQUALITY 
AND RESTORE THE SOUL OF OUR 
NATION, BUT ONLY IF WE DO IT 
TOGETHER.
MOVEMENTS ARE BUILT BY THE MANY,
NOT THE FEW.
THEY ARE BUILT BY THE HARD AND 
UNGLAMOROUS WORK OF GRASSROOTS 
ORGANIZING.
THEY ARE BUILT, IN THE WORDS OF 
THE LATE, GREAT JULIAN BOND, BY 
THE MARCHERS WHOSE FEET HAVE 
GROWN TIRED, WHOSE VOICES HAVE 
GONE HOARSE, WHOSE SHIRTS ARE 
STAINED WITH SWEAT, DIRT AND 
BLOOD.
JOHN LEWIS AS YOU KNOW LEFT US 
WITH THESE MARCHING ORDERS, GO 
TO IWILLVOTE.com, CHECK YOUR 
REGISTRATION STATUS, TELL YOUR 
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO
MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE.
REMEMBER, NOVEMBER 3RD IS THE 
LAST DAY TO VOTE BUT IT IS NOT 
THE FIRST DAY TO VOTE.
MAKE A PLAN.
GET OUT THERE.
DO NOT LET YOUR VOICE GO 
UNHEARD.
DO NOT LET YOUR VOICE GO 
UNCOUNTED.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT 
ELECTION OF OUR LIFETIME.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, YOU HAVE THE 
POWER TO DECIDE THE OUTCOME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>>> TODAY WE COMMEMORATE THE 
57th ANNIVERSARY OF THE HISTORIC
MARCH ON WASHINGTON FOR JOBS AND
FREEDOM.
I WAS BORN INTO AN ACTIVIST 
FAMILY WITH MY PARENTS, MY AUNTS
AND UNCLES PUSHING ME IN A 
STROLLER THROUGH BAY AREA 
STREETS MARCHING FOR JUSTICE IN 
THE YEARS FOLLOWING THE MARCH ON
WASHINGTON.
THIS MOMENT IS A REMINDER THAT 
WE MUST ALWAYS HONOR THE 
SACRIFICE OF THE LEADERS WHO 
MADE THAT MARCH HAPPEN, FROM THE
NAMES WE KNOW LIKE RANDOLPH AND 
FARMER, YOUNG AND KING, TO 
EVERYONE WHO WORKED BEHIND THE 
SCENES AND SACRIFICED QUIETLY 
BUT PROFOUNDLY, FAR FROM THE 
LIGHTS OF HISTORY.
I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT IF THEY 
WERE WITH US TODAY THEY WOULD 
SHARE IN OUR ANGER AND 
FRUSTRATION AS WE CONTINUE TO 
SEE BLACK MEN AND WOMEN SLAIN IN
OUR STREETS AND LEFT BEHIND BY 
AN ECONOMY AND JUSTICE SYSTEM 
THAT HAVE TOO OFTEN DENIED BLACK
FOLKS OUR DIGNITY AND RIGHTS.
THEY WOULD SHARE OUR ANGER AND 
PAIN, BUT NO DOUBT THEY WOULD 
TURN IT INTO FUEL.
THEY WOULD BE LACING UP THEIR 
SHOES, LOCKING ARMS AND 
CONTINUING RIGHT ALONGSIDE US TO
CONTINUE IN THIS ONGOING FIGHT 
FOR JUSTICE.
THANKFULLY, WE DON'T HAVE TO 
WONDER IF WE ARE MAKING THEM 
PROUD BECAUSE A GIANT FROM THAT 
MARCH AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA 
OF THAT DAY, JOHN LEWIS, HE 
LIVED TO TELL US HOW WE'RE 
DOING.
IN HIS PARTING ESSAY, HE WROTE 
TO ALL OF US WHO HOPE TO CARRY 
HIS LEGACY, QUOTE, "IN THE LAST 
DAYS AND HOURS OF MY LIFE, YOU 
INSPIRED ME, YOU FILLED ME WITH 
HOPE ABOUT THE NEXT CHAPTER OF 
THE GREAT AMERICAN STORY WHEN 
YOU USED YOUR POWER TO MAKE A 
DIFFERENCE IN OUR SOCIETY."
FOR CONGRESSMAN LEWIS THE BRUTAL
MURDER OF EMMET TILL IS WHAT 
SHOOK LOOSE THE ACTIVIST INSIDE 
HIM.
IT WAS THE START OF A LIFELONG 
JOURNEY TOWARDS SERVICE AND 
DRIVING CHANGE, THE SAME JOURNEY
THAT COUNTLESS YOUNG LEADERS ARE
BUILDING UPON AS WE SPEAK.
AS JOHN PUT IT, EMMET TILL WAS 
MY GEORGE FLOYD.
HE WAS MIRY RAYSHARD BROOKS, 
SANDRA BLAND AND BREONNA TAYLOR.
THE ROAD AHEAD, IT IS NOT GOING 
TO BE EASY.
BUT IF WE WORK TOGETHER TO 
CHALLENGE EVERY INSTINCT OUR 
NATION HAS TO RETURN TO THE 
STATUS QUO AND COMBINE THE 
WISDOM OF LONG-TIME WARRIORS FOR
JUSTICE WITH THE CREATIVE ENERGY
OF THE YOUNG LEADERS TODAY, WE 
HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE 
HISTORY RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT 
NOW.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR 
INVITING ME TO CELEBRATE WITH 
YOU.
LET'S MARCH ON IN THE NAME OF 
OUR ANCESTORS AND IN THE NAME OF
OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
THANK YOU.
>> LET'S HEAR IT FOR SENATOR 
KAMALA HARRIS.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS ONE OF THE 
LEGACY ORIGINAL ORGANIZATIONS 
THAT WAS HERE IN 1963 IN THE 
PERSON OF WHITNEY YOUNG.
PLEASE WELCOME THE FORMER MAYOR 
OF NEW ORLEANS, THE PRESIDENT 
AND CEO OF THE NATIONAL URBAN 
LEAGUE, MARK MORRELL! 
>> BLACK LIVES MATTER! 
I WANT TO THANK REVEREND AL 
SHARPTON AND THE NATIONAL ACTION
NETWORK, MY FRIEND AND BROTHER 
AS WELL AS MARTIN LUTHER KING 
III, FOR ASSEMBLING US HERE ON 
AUGUST 28TH IN THE YEAR 2020.
IN 1963 COURAGEOUS MEN AND WOMEN
DESCENDED ON THIS SITE, LED BY 
SIX LEGACY CIVIL RIGHTS 
ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE 
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE.
AT THAT TIME THE NATIONAL URBAN 
LEAGUE WAS LED BY ONE OF THE 
GREAT AMERICANS OF THE 20th 
CENTURY, WHITNEY M. YOUNG JR.
HE STATED FROM THIS VERY PLACE 
AT THAT TIME AND ON THAT DAY ON 
AUGUST 28, 1963, THAT OUR CIVIL 
RIGHTS, OUR VOTING RIGHTS, OUR 
RIGHTS TO HUMAN DIGNITY WERE NOT
NEGOTIABLE.
WE HAVE COME BACK ON AUGUST 28TH
IN THE YEAR OF 2020, IN THIS 
21st CENTURY TO SAY TODAY THAT 
OUR FIGHT FOR RACIAL JUSTICE IS 
NOT NEGOTIABLE.
WE ARE HERE TODAY TO SAY THAT 
TRANSFORMING OUR CRIMINAL 
JUSTICE SYSTEM AND PURGING IT OF
MASS INCARCERATION AND SYSTEMIC 
RACISM IS NOT NEGOTIABLE, THAT 
PROTECTING OUR SACRED RIGHT TO 
VOTE FROM SUPPRESSORS, BE THEY 
LEGISLATORS, BE THEY PRESIDENTS,
BE THEY RUSSIANS, IS NOT 
NEGOTIABLE.
THAT DEFENDING OUR RIGHT TO A 
LIVING WAGE SO THAT EVERY 
AMERICAN CAN LIVE IN DIGNITY IS 
NOT NEGOTIABLE.
THAT DISLODGING STRUCTURAL 
RACISM THAT INFECTS EVERY 
INSTITUTION IN AMERICAN LIFE IS 
NOT NEGOTIABLE.
THAT EQUITABLY FUNDING ALL OF 
OUR SCHOOLS SO ALL OF OUR 
CHILDREN CAN LEARN AND PROVIDING
THEM WITH COMPUTERS AND 
BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY AND THEY 
CAN LIVE AND THRIVE WITH THEIR 
GOD-GIVEN TALENT IS NOT 
NEGOTIABLE.
THAT A FAIR AND ACCURATE CENSUS 
SO THAT ALL OF US ARE COUNTED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSTITUTION
IS NOT IN 2020 NEGOTIABLE.
THAT ELIMINATING THE STRUCTURAL 
AND SHAMEFUL DISPARATE IMPACT OF
COVID-19 IN 2020 IS NOT 
NEGOTIABLE.
THAT REFORMING POLICE, BOTH 
POLICE POLICIES AND POLICE 
CULTURE, AND RE-ALLOCATING 
FUNDING TO SUMMER JOBS FOR 
YOUTH, TO MENTAL HEALTH 
SERVICES, TO HOMELESS SERVICES, 
AND TO END THE VIOLENCE AGAINST 
OUR BLACK MEN IS NOT NEGOTIABLE.
HANDS UP! 
I CAN'T BREATHE.
HANDS UP.
DON'T SHOOT.
IN 1963 WHEN THEY GATHERED ON 
THIS SITE, BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THEY 
GATHERED THIS GREAT CIVIL RIGHTS
LEADER METGER EDWARDS WAS 
ASSASSINATED ON THE FRONT LAWN 
OF HIS HOME IN JACKSON, 
MISSISSIPPI.
AT THAT TIME THEY WERE FIGHTING 
A POLL TAX, A LITERACY TAX.
A LITERACY TEST, I SHOULD SAY, 
THAT DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO 
PREVENT US FROM VOTING.
IN 2020 WE COME HERE WHEN THE 
VERY SUCCESS OF 1963, THE VOTING
RIGHTS ACT, HAS BEEN GUTTED BY 
THE SUPREME COURT.
WE COME IN 2020 WHERE JACOB 
BLAKE AND GEORGE FLOYD AND ERIC 
GARNER AND TAKMIRA RICE AND 
TRAYVON MARTIN AND TOO MANY 
BLACK MEN AND WOMEN, BREONNA 
TAYLOR, HAVE DIED AND BEEN 
DISABLED AT THE HANDS OF POLICE.
SO WE ARE HERE TO MAKE SOME 
DEMAND.
NUMBER ONE, WE WANT THE GEORGE 
FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT TO
PASS NOW, NOT TOMORROW, NOT NEXT
WEEK, NOT NEXT YEAR.
SAY IT! 
PASS THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN
POLICING ACT.
NUMBER TWO -- NUMBER TWO, WE 
WANT TO PASS THE HEROES ACT.
NUMBER THREE, WE WANT TO PASS 
THE JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS 
ADVANCEMENT ACT.
NUMBER FOUR, WE WANT TO PASS 
HR-40 TO LOOK AT REPARATIONS IN 
THIS COUNTRY.
NUMBER 3 -- 
♪ 
>> -- IF WE HAVE TO WALK, IF WE 
HAVE TO RUN, IF WE HAVE TO, WE 
WILL VOTE.
 ♪ 
>> LET'S HEAR IT FOR OUR BROTHER
MARK AND THE URBAN LEAGUE.
NUL.org.
ALL RIGHT.
HERE TO INTRODUCE THE MAN WHO IS
THE NAMESAKE OF THE PERSON WHO 
SPOKE HERE AUGUST 28, 1963, TO 
INTRODUCE ONE OF OUR MEN OF THE 
HOUR, MARTIN LUTHER KING III, IS
NONE OTHER THAN THE CONGRESSMAN 
REPRESENTING THE 9th 
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF TEXAS,
CONGRESSMAN AL GREEN! 
>>THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.
IT IS NOW MY HONOR TO INTRODUCE 
A MAN WHOSE NAME IS SYNONYMOUS 
WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS/HUMAN 
RIGHTS MOVEMENT, A MAN WHOSE 
FATHER STOOD HERE 57 YEARS AGO, 
A MAN WHO FOLLOWED HIS FATHER'S 
FOOTSTEPS -- AND I WAS THERE 
WITH HIM -- TO INDIA WHERE HE 
TRACED THE STEPS OF GANDHI, A 
MAN WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS IS
A FULL-TIME JOB.
HE IS NOT A PART-TIME FREEDOM 
FIGHTER.
HE IS NOT AN EVERYDAY FREEDOM 
FIGHTER.
HE IS AN ALL-THE-TIME FREEDOM 
FIGHTER.
I AM HERE TO INTRODUCE A MAN WHO
IS A MOREHOUSE GRADUATE, A MAN 
WHO KNOWS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO 
SUFFER THE PAINS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
WHEN HE LOST HIS FATHER AT THE 
AGE OF 10, HE COULD HAVE GIVEN 
UP BUT HE DIDN'T.
HE STAYED IN AND HE HAS FOUGHT 
THE GOOD FIGHT.
I AM HERE TO INTRODUCE THE 
HONORABLE MARTIN LUTHER KING 
III! 
WOULD YOU SHOW HIM SOME LOVE, 
PLEASE! 
IF YOU BELIEVE IN LIBERTY AND 
JUSTICE FOR ALL, STAND UP AND 
SHOW HIM SOME LOVE.
IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOVERNMENT OF 
THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, STAND
UP AND SHOW HIM SOME LOVE.
SHOW MARTIN SOME LOVE.
SHOW HIS FATHER SOME LOVE, HIS 
MOTHER SOME LOVE, HIS WIFE 
ANDREA SOME LOVE, HIS DAUGHTER 
YOLANDA SOME LOVE.
SHOW HIM SOME LOVE.
GOD BLESS YOU.
GOD BLESS THE KING FAMILY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I AM SO HONORED TO BE HERE.
BUT BEFORE I SAY SOMETHING, I 
WANT YOU TO HEAR FROM THE FUTURE
OF OUR NATION, THE ONLY 
GRANDDAUGHTER OF MARTIN LUTHER 
KING JR. AND CORETTA SCOTT KING,
MY DAUGHTER AND ANDREA'S 
DAUGHTER, YOLANDA RENEE KING.
>> SOME OF YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT
TWO YEARS AT THE MARCH FOR OUR 
LIFTS I SAID, SPREAD THE WORD.
HAVE YOU HEARD?
ALL ACROSS THE NATION, WE ARE 
GOING TO BE A GREAT GENERATION.
THAT WAS IN 2018.
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HIT US 
IN 2020, A PANDEMIC THAT SHUT 
OUR SCHOOLS AND PUT OUR YOUNG 
LIVES ON HOLD, MORE KILLINGS OF 
UNARMED BLACK PEOPLE BY POLICE, 
ATTACKS ON OUR RIGHT TO VOTE.
MORE KILLING -- WAIT.
THE WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS SINCE 
THE GREAT DEPRESSION THAT WE 
LEARNED ABOUT IN SCHOOL, AND 
MORE EXTREME WEATHER THAN EVER 
BEFORE.
BUT GREAT CHALLENGES PRODUCE 
GREAT LEADERS! 
WE HAVE MASTERED THE SELFIE AND 
TIKTOK.
NOW WE MUST MASTER OURSELVES.
LESS THAN A YEAR BEFORE HE WAS 
ASSASSINATED, MY GRANDFATHER 
PREDICTED THIS VERY MOMENT.
HE SAID THAT WE WERE MOVING INTO
A NEW PHASE OF THE STRUGGLE.
THE FIRST PHASE WAS THE CIVIL 
RIGHTS, AND THE NEW FACE IS 
GENUINE EQUALITY! 
GENUINE EQUALITY IS WHY WE ARE 
HERE TODAY AND WHY PEOPLE ARE 
COMING TOGETHER ALL ACROSS THE 
WORLD, FROM NEW ZEALAND TO NEW 
JERSEY.
HE SAID THAT WE MUST NOT FORGET 
THE DAYS OF MONTGOMERIEY, WE MU 
NOT FORGET THE FREEDOM RIGHT, 
THE BIRMINGHAM MOVEMENT AND 
SELMA.
PAPA KING, WE WON'T! 
MY GENERATION HAS ALREADY TAKEN 
TO THE STREETS PEACEFULLY AND 
WITH MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCED 
TO PROTEST RACISM.
I WANT TO ASK THE YOUNG PEOPLE 
HERE TO JOIN ME IN PLEDGING THAT
WE HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT
AND THAT WE WILL BE THE 
GENERATION THAT MOVES FROM ME TO
WE.
WE ARE GOING TO BE THE 
GENERATION THAT DISMANTLES 
SYSTEMIC RACISM ONCE AND FOR 
ALL, NOW AND FOREVER.
WE ARE GOING TO BE THE 
GENERATION THAT CALLS A HALT TO 
POLICE BRUTALITY AND GUN 
VIOLENCE NOW AND FOREVER.
WE ARE GOING TO BE THE 
GENERATION THAT REVERSES CLIMATE
CHANGE AND SAVES OUR PLANET, 
ONCE AND FOR ALL, NOW AND 
FOREVER.
WE ARE GOING TO BE THE 
GENERATION THAT ENDS POVERTY 
HERE IN AMERICA, THE WEALTHIEST 
NATION ON EARTH.
ONCE AND FOR ALL, NOW AND 
FOREVER.
WE ARE THE GREAT GEMS OF OUR 
GRANDPARENTS, GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
AND ALL OF OUR ANCESTORS.
WE STAND AND MARCH FOR LOVE AND 
WE WILL FULFILL MY GRANDFATHER'S
DREAM.
SO SHOW ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS 
LIKE.
THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS 
LIKE.
SHOW ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS 
LIKE.
>> THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS 
LIKE. 
>> SHOW ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS 
LIKE. 
>> THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS 
LIKE.
>> ONE LAST TIME, SHOW ME WHAT 
DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE. 
>> THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS 
LIKE.
>> OKAY.
THEN LET'S SHOW THEM.
>> A PROUD DAD.
LET ME THANK GOD THAT WE HAVE 
BEEN ABLE TO ASSEMBLE TODAY AND 
TO THANK REVEREND SHARPTON AND 
THE NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK AND 
ALL OF THE CONVENERS THAT 
ACTUALLY ARE HERE TODAY AND, 
MOST OF ALL, THESE FAMILIES THAT
HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY POLICE 
BRUTALITY AND MISCONDUCT.
SO WE'VE COME TO BEAR WITNESS, 
TO REMAIN AWAKE, TO REMEMBER 
FROM WHERE WE HAVE COME AND TO 
CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHERE WE ARE 
GOING.
WHETHER YOU ARE HERE IN PERSON, 
ONLINE OR WATCHING ON MSNBC AND 
OTHER NETWORKS, THANK YOU FOR 
JOINING US FOR THIS MARCH ON 
WASHINGTON.
TOGETHER WE ARE TAKING A STAND 
AND WE ARE TAKING A GIANT STEP 
FORWARD.
LET ME ALSO THANK AL GREEN FOR 
THE VERY WARM INTRODUCTION, MY 
DEAR FRIEND.
WE ARE TAKING A STEP FORWARD ON 
AMERICA'S ROCKY BUT RIGHTEOUS 
JOURNEY TOWARDS JUSTICE.
AUGUST 28TH IS A DAY TO REMEMBER
THE TRIUMPHS AND TRAGEDIES THAT 
HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN OUR HISTORIC
STRUGGLE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.
 TODAY WE COMMEMORATE THE MARCH 
ON WASHINGTON TO JOBS AND 
FREEDOM IN 1963 WHERE MY FATHER 
DECLARED HIS DREAM, BUT WE MUST 
NEVER FORGET THE AMERICAN 
NIGHTMARE OF RACIST VIOLENCE, 
EXEMPLIFIED WHEN EMMET TILL WAS 
MURDERED ON THIS DAY IN 1955 AND
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 
FAILED TO CONVICT HIS KILLERS.
65 YEARS LATER WE STILL STRUGGLE
FOR JUSTICE.
DEMILITARIZING THE POLICE, 
DISMANTLING MASS INCARCERATION 
AND DECLARING AND DETERMINEDLY 
AS WE CAN THAT BLACK LIVES 
MATTER.
IN OUR STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE, 
THERE ARE NO PERMANENT 
VICTORIES, FOR ON THIS DAY 
12 YEARS AGO I WAS HONORED TO 
ADDRESS THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL 
CONVENTION IN DENVER.
ON THAT NIGHT IN THAT EVENING IN
THE BOWELS OF OUR CITY, OUR 
SPIRITS WERE SOARING AS THE 
DEMOCRATS NOMINATED BARACK 
OBAMA, WHO WOULD GO ON TO BECOME
THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN 
PRESIDENT OF THESE UNITED 
STATES.
BUT THE PROGRESS WE CELEBRATED 
THEN IS IMPERILLED YET AGAIN, 
AND NOW WE MUST MARCH TO THE 
BALLOT BOX AND THE MAILBOXES TO 
DEFEND THE FREEDOMS THAT EARLIER
GENERATIONS WORKED SO HARD TO 
WIN.
IN SO MANY WAYS WE STAND 
TOGETHER TODAY IN THE SYMBOLIC 
SHADOW OF HISTORY, BUT WE ARE 
MAKING HISTORY TOGETHER RIGHT 
NOW.
WE ARE MARCHING WITH THE LARGEST
AND MOST ACTIVE, 
MULTI-GENERATIONAL, MULTI-RACIAL
MOVEMENT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS SINCE 
THE 1960s.
FROM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO 
SENIOR CITIZENS, BLACK AS WELL 
AS RIGHT, LATINO, ASIAN 
AMERICAN, NATIVE AMERICAN, 
PACIFIC ISLANDERS, AMERICANS ARE
MARCHING TOGETHER, MANY FOR THE 
FIRST TIME.
WE ARE DEMANDING REAL, LASTING 
STRUCTURAL CHANGE.
WE ARE MARCHING TOGETHER FOR 
TIME-HONORED GOALS AND IN TIMELY
WAYS.
WE ARE COURAGEOUS, BUT CONSCIOUS
OF OUR HEALTH.
WE ARE SOCIALLY DISTANT BUT 
SPIRITUALLY UNITED.
WE ARE MASKING OUR FACES BUT NOT
OUR FAITH IN FREEDOM, AND WE ARE
TAKING OUR STRUGGLE TO THE 
STREETS AND TO SOCIAL MEDIA.
THE NATION HAS NEVER SEEN SUCH A
MIGHTY MOVEMENT IN MODERN DAY IN
COMBINATION WITH WHAT MY FATHER 
CALLED THE COALITION OF 
CONSCIENCE.
IF WE MOVE FORWARD WITH PURPOSE 
AND PASSION, WE WILL COMPLETE 
THE WORK SO BOLDLY BEGAN IN THE 
1960s.
WE ARE MARCHING TO OVERCOME WHAT
MY FATHER CALLED WAS THE TRIPLE 
EVILS OF POVERTY, RACISM AND 
VIOLENCE, AND TODAY THOSE EVILS 
HAVE EXACERBATED FOUR MAJOR 
CHALLENGES THAT CURRENTLY FACE 
OUR COUNTRY.
FIRST, COVID-19 TRAGICALLY HAS 
KILLED MORE THAN 175,000 
AMERICANS, DISPROPORTIONATELY 
AFRICAN AMERICAN, LATINO PEOPLE 
AND LOW INCOME PEOPLE IN EVERY 
BACKGROUND.
SECOND, MORE THAN 30 MILLION 
AMERICANS ARE UNEMPLOYED AGAIN, 
DISPROPORTIONATELY PEOPLE OF 
COLOR.
COVID-19 HAS LAID BARE THE 
STRUCTURAL AND RACIAL 
INEQUALITIES IN OUR ECONOMY THAT
KEPT TOO MANY PEOPLE TRAPPED IN 
THE DEBT AND POVERTY.
THIRD, POLICE BRUTALITY AND GUN 
VIOLENCE ARE KILLING SO MANY 
UNARMED AFRICAN AMERICANS.
TODAY WE MARCH WITH THEIR 
FAMILIES AND WE SAY THEIR NAMES.
GEORGE FLOYD, BREONNA TAYLOR, 
ERIC GARNER, MICHAEL BROWN, 
TAMIRA RICE, USEF RICHARDSON, 
TERRANCE CRUTCHER, TRAYVON 
MARTIN, AHMAUD ARBERY, ELIJAH 
McCLAIN, AND SO MANY OTHERS.
FOURTH, OUR VOTING RIGHTS ARE 
UNDER ATTACK.
WE MUST VIGOROUSLY DEFEND OUR 
RIGHT TO VOTE, BECAUSE THOSE 
RIGHTS WERE PAID FOR WITH THE 
BLOOD OF THOSE LYNCHED FOR 
SEEKING TO EXERCISE THEIR 
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
THEY WERE PAID FOR WITH THE 
BLOOD OF CIVIL RIGHTS WORKERS 
SUCH AS SAMMY YOUNG JR., 
GOODMAN, SQUIRTY AND CHENEY, 
JANET LEE JACKSON, VIOLA, JAMES 
REID.
THOSE RIGHTS WERE PAID FOR BY 
THE SACRIFICES MADE BY HEROES 
SUCH AS C.T. VIVIAN, FANNY LIEU 
HAMER, JOSE WILLIAMS AND JOHN 
LEWIS.
SINCE THE UNITED STATES SENATE 
HAS FAILED TO RENEW THE VOTING 
RIGHTS ACT, WE HAVE HAD TO 
OVERCOME A NEW TRICK BAG OF 
TACTICS TO SUPPRESS OUR VOTES.
DISCRIMINATORY VOTER ID 
REQUIREMENTS, CUTBACKS IN EARLY 
VOTING AND VOTE BY MAIL, VOTER 
PURGES TARGETING THOSE WHO 
MISSED SEVERAL ELECTIONS AND 
DISENFRANCHISING THOSE WHO 
SERVED THEIR TIME AND PAID THEIR
DEBT TO SOCIETY.
NOW COVID-19 IS MAKING ITS 
DANGEROUS, EVEN DEADLY TO STAND 
IN LINE AT POLLING PLACES.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO RISK OUR 
LIVES TO CAST OUR VOTES.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO WHAT 
PRESIDENT TRUMP DOES, VOTE 
SAFELY BY MAIL.
NOW WE ARE STRUGGLING TO 
OVERCOME THE DISMANTLING OF THE 
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE FOR THE 
EXPRESS PURPOSE OF SUPPRESSING 
OUR VOTE.
WITH ALL OF THESE THREATS TO OUR
LIVES AND LIBERTIES, OUR 
CHALLENGE IS TO USE THIS MOMENT 
TO EXPAND THIS MOVEMENT, A 
MOVEMENT THAT NOT ONLY RAISES 
ITS VOICE BUT CASTS ITS VOTES, 
PURSUES ITS VISION AND MAKES 
LASTING CHANGE.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "WHERE THERE
IS NO VISION THE PEOPLE PERISH."
OUR VISION IS BEST EXPRESSED BY 
A PHRASE WE MUST NEVER FORGET.
THAT IS THE BELOVED COMMUNITY.
WITH THOSE WORDS, MY FATHER, 
JOHN LEWIS, ELEVATED ROSA PARKS 
AND SO MANY OTHER HISTORIC WOMEN
AND MEN IN VISION IN AMERICA 
WHOSE DRAMATIC PRACTICE IS AS 
GOOD AS ITS PRACTICE.
AND AMERICA WHERE THE TRIPLE Es 
WILL BE REPLACED BY PEACE, 
JUSTICE AND SHARED ABUNDANCE AND
WHERE HATE AND FEAR FINALLY GIVE
WAY TO HELP AND LOVE.
TO ACHIEVE THAT AMERICA, WE NEED
TO RAISE OUR VOICES AND CAST OUR
VOTES OVER THE WEEKS AHEAD 
CULMINATING ON ELECTION DAY.
WE NEED TO VOTE AS IF OUR LIVES 
AND OUR LIVELIHOODS, OUR 
LIBERTIES DEPEND ON IT, BECAUSE 
THEY DO! 
NO PERSON, NO PEOPLE ARE MORE 
KEENLY AWARE OF THE RISK OF JUST
ENFRANCHISEMENT THAN THOSE WHO 
SUFFERED FROM IT.
THERE IS A KNEE UPON THE NECK OF
DEMOCRACY, AND OUR NATION CAN 
ONLY LIVE SO LONG WITHOUT THE 
OXYGEN OF FREEDOM.
THE STRENGTH MUST BE EXERCISED 
BY MORE THAN RHETORIC AND MORE 
THAN MARCHING.
THE SIMPLE CHALLENGE BEFORE US 
IS THAT EVERYONE CAN CAST A 
BALLOT AND EVERYONE WHO CAN MUST
CAST A BALLOT.
THAT BALLOT THAT IS CAST MUST BE
COUNTED, AND THE RESULT MUST BE 
TRANSPARENT AND KNOWN TO THE 
WHOLE WORLD.
SO TODAY I CAN CALL ON EVERYONE 
WITH THE MEANS TO DRIVE PEOPLE 
TO THE POLLS, TO MAKE A PLAN FOR
YOURSELF, FOR YOUR FAMILY AND 
YOUR NEIGHBOR, FOR THOSE 
ORGANIZATIONS AND COMPANIES THAT
CARE ABOUT DEMOCRACY, I CALL ON 
YOU TODAY TO OFFER YOUR 
RESOURCES AND YOUR CAPACITY TO 
MAKE SURE EVERY BALLOT IS 
COUNTED.
IF OUR FOREFATHERS WERE WILLING 
TO DIE FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE WE 
CAN WORK FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE, 
AND I WILL CONTINUE TO CALL ON 
YOU TO ACT IN THE COMING DAYS.
YOU KNOW, MY FATHER WAS 
ASSASSINATED IN MEMPHIS, 
TENNESSEE, WHILE STANDING IN 
SOLIDARITY WITH POOR, WORKING 
PEOPLE, SANITATION WORKERS WHOSE
SLOGAN "I AM A MAN" WAS A 
STATEMENT THAT THEY WERE HUMAN 
BEINGS WITH RIGHTS THAT SHOULD 
BE RESPECTED AND ACKNOWLEDGED.
THEY WERE ASKING FOR SAFE 
WORKING CONDITIONS, FOR A LIVING
WAGE, FOR RECOGNITION OF THEIR 
UNION AND FOR HUMAN DIGNITY.
THEY SUMMED UP THEIR STRUGGLE 
WITH THOSE FOUR WORDS, "I AM A 
MAN."
THAT SIMPLE BY POWERFUL SLOGAN 
EMPOWERS MOVEMENTS TODAY FROM 
BLACK LIVES MATTER TO FIGHT FOR 
15 AND TO THE ME TOO STRUGGLE 
AGAINST SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND 
ABUSE.
MOVEMENTS OF MARGINALIZED 
AMERICANS ARE STILL TRYING TO 
CLAIM THE DIGNITY THEY'VE BEEN 
DENIED.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. FOUGHT 
FOR THE DIGNITY OF WORK, AND 
THAT FIGHT IS NEVER ENDING.
IN 1963 THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON 
DEMANDED JOBS AND FREEDOMS.
IN 1968 THE MEMPHIS SANITATION 
STRIKE WORKERS DEMANDED, AND THE
POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN INSISTED 
THAT WORKING PEOPLE SHOULD NOT 
LIVE AND LABOR IN POVERTY.
THOSE FIGHTS FORESHADOWED OUR 
STRUGGLE TODAY TO MAKE THE 
MINIMUM WAGE A LIVING WAGE, NOT 
A POVERTY WAGE.
AND WE ARE FIGHTING ALONGSIDE 
THE FRONT LINE WORKERS, 
SANITATION WORKERS, HEALTH CARE 
WORKERS, GROCERY WORKERS, 
TRANSPORT WORKERS, FOOD SERVICE 
WORKERS AND SO MANY MORE.
THEY ARE PRAISED FOR BEING 
ESSENTIAL, BUT THEY ARE TREATED 
AS IF THEY ARE EXPENDABLE.
WHILE STANDING WITH SANITATION 
WORKERS IN MEMPHIS, DAD SAID SO 
OFTEN WE OVERLOOK THE WORK AND 
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THOSE WHO 
ARE NOT IN PROFESSION JOBS, OF 
THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN SO-CALLED 
BIG JOBS.
LET ME SAY TO YOU TONIGHT THAT 
WHENEVER YOU ARE ENGAGED IN WORK
THAT SERVES HUMANITY AND IT IS 
FOR THE BUILDING OF HUMANITY, IT
HAS DIGNITY IN WORK.
NOW WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO 
CONFESSES GREATNESS WITH 
GRANDIOSITY BUT MY FATHER KNEW 
BETTER.
EVERYONE, HE SAID, CAN BE GREAT 
BECAUSE EVERYONE CAN SERVE.
HE UNDERSTOOD THE HUMAN YEARNING
FOR RECOGNITION.
IN HIS FAMOUS SPEECH HE 
EXPLAINED THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO
BE A DRUM MAJOR, THE LEADER OF 
THE MARCHING BAND, AND HE 
CHALLENGED US TO CHANNEL OUR 
DRUM MAJOR INSTINCT INTO 
BECOMING DRUM MAJORS FOR 
JUSTICE.
WHILE WE HONOR OUR HISTORY, WE 
MUST BE LIVING -- A LIVING 
MOVEMENT, NOT A MONUMENT.
IF DAD WERE HERE TODAY, I'M SURE
HE WOULD IMPLORE US NOT TO DEIFY
HIM OR SELECTIVELY QUOTE HIM 
WHEN CONVENIENT.
HE WOULD WANT US TO BE DRAMA 
MAJORS FOR JUSTICE, TO CHAMPION 
THE IDEALS HE PROMOTED, RACIAL 
JUSTICE, SOCIAL EQUALITY AND 
PEACE, AND HE WOULD GENTLY BUT 
INTENTLY CHALLENGE US NOT TO 
DWELL UPON THE PAST BUT TO LIVE 
AND LABOR IN WHAT HE CALLED THE 
FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW.
SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A 
SAVIOR, GET UP AND FIND A 
MIRROR.
WE MUST BECOME THE HEROES OF THE
HIS TORE WE ARE MAKING.
US MEANS ALL OF US.
IN 1963 AFTER MY FATHER SPOKE, 
THE ARCHITECT OF THE MARCH ASKED
PARTICIPANTS TO JOIN IN 
DEMANDING THAT CONGRESS PASS 
STRONG CIVIL RIGHTS AND VOTING 
RIGHTS LAWS.
MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY LATER 
WE MUST DEMAND THAT THE UNITED 
STATES SENATE STOP BLOCKING 
PASSAGE OF THE GEORGE FLOYD 
JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT AND THE 
JOHN LEWIS VOTING RIGHTS 
RESTORATION ACT.
SO WHEN WE CONCLUDE TODAY, LET'S
REMEMBER THAT THIS IS THE 
COMMITMENT MARCH.
IN THE SPIRIT OF 1963, I ASK YOU
TO JOIN ME IN PLEDGING TO ACT IN
THREE WAYS.
FIRST, BECAUSE OUR CIVIL AND 
HUMAN RIGHTS ARE AT STAKE IN 
THIS ELECTION, I ASK YOU NOT 
ONLY TO REGISTER AND VOTE BUT TO
MAKE SURE AT LEAST ONE OTHER 
PERSON REGISTERS AND VOTES.
SECOND, I ASK YOU TO COMMIT TO 
SERVICE AND STRUGGLE IN YOUR 
COMMUNITY, FROM VOTER 
REGISTRATION TO RAISING THE 
MINIMUM WAGE TO DEMILITARIZING 
THE POLICE.
GET INVOLVED WITH ONE OR MORE OF
MANY WORTH WHILE STRUGGLES IN 
YOUR COMMUNITY.
THIRD, I ASK YOU TO PLEDGE AS MY
FATHER AND JOHN LEWIS DID TO GET
INTO GOOD TROUBLE AND DO IT 
NONVIOLENTLY.
REMEMBER THAT IN THE FIGHT 
AGAINST INJUSTICE NONVIOLENCE 
DOESN'T MEAN PASSIVE ACCEPTANCE.
IT MEANS PEACEFUL RESISTANCE.
WE MUST COME TOGETHER AND JOIN 
WITH THE BLACK LIVES MOVEMENT TO
RAISE OUR VOICES AND SAY ENOUGH 
IS ENOUGH! 
WE MUST COME WITH THE POOR 
PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN, THE CLIMATE 
CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
MOVEMENT, THE WOMEN'S MARCH AND 
ME TOO MOVEMENT, THE PARKLAND 
STUDENTS AND MARCH FOR OUR 
LIVES, AND SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. FAMOUSLY 
SAID THAT THE MORAL ARC OF THE 
UNIVERSE IS LONG BUT BENT TOWARD
JUSTICE, BUT HE WAS ALSO THE 
FIRST TO SAY IT DOESN'T BEND ON 
ITS OWN.
WE MUST DO SOME WORK OURSELVES.
IN THE FINAL YEAR OF HIS LIFE, 
HE WROTE IN HIS LAST BOOK, 
"WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE,
WELL, MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS, 
IN THE DEFINING MOMENT FOR OUR 
HISTORY AND OUR COUNTRY WE MUST 
ANSWER DR. KING'S QUESTION.
WILL OUR ANSWER BE CHAOS OR 
COMMUNITY?
I BELIEVE SOME HAVE CHOSEN CHAOS
INCLUDING THE CURRENT OCCUPANT 
OF THE WHITE HOUSE TODAY.
BUT THOSE WHO BELIEVE MUST 
CHOOSE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE CAN 
AVOID WATCHING THE DREAM TURN 
INTO A PERMANENT NIGHTMARE.
IF WE CHOOSE COMMUNITY, 50 YEARS
FROM NOW, PEOPLE WILL SAY THAT 
WE WERE ABLE TO REDEEM THE SOUL 
OF AMERICA.
AND BEGAN TO FULFILL THE PROMISE
OF DEMOCRACY BY SYSTEMATICALLY 
ELIMINATING SYSTEMIC RACISM AND 
EXPLOITATION.
MY FRIENDS,IF WE CHOOSE 
COMMUNITY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO 
ANSWER IN THE AFFIRMATIVE TO THE
SCRIPTURE.
HERE COMES THAT DREAMER.
COME, LET'S SLAY HIM AND WE 
SHALL SEE WHAT WILL BECOME OF 
HIS DREAM.
FINALLY, THIS AFTERNOON, I WANT 
TO SAY TO YOU NOT ONLY DO I COME
AS A PROTESTER, BUT I COME AS A 
VICTIM.
MY DADDY WAS KILLED WHEN I WAS 
10 YEARS OLD.
GUNNED DOWN, YOU KNOW THAT BY AN
ASSASSIN'S BULLET.
SOME OF YOU KNOW BUT MAY NOT 
KNOW, SIX YEARS LATER, MY 
GRANDMOTHER WAS GUNNED DOWN IN 
THE CHURCH WHILE PRAYING THE 
LORD'S PRAYER.
SO I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO
LOSE A LOVED ONE.
BUT I WAS SO THANKFUL THAT MY 
GRANDFATHER AND MY MOTHER AND MY
AUNTS AND UNCLES TAUGHT ME ABOUT
LOVE BECAUSE GRANDDADDY USED TO 
SAY I REFUSE TO ALLOW ANY PERSON
TO REDUCE ME TO HATRED.
THE MAN THAT KILLED MY LOVELY 
WIFE AND THE MAN THAT KILLED MY 
SON, I REFUSE TO ALLOW THEM EVEN
TO REDUCE ME TO HATRED.
I LOVE EVERYBODY.
IF WE'RE GOING TO RESOLVE THESE 
ISSUES IN AMERICA, WE HAVE GOT 
TO COME TOGETHER.
DAD TALKED ABOUT IT IN THAT 
SERMON LEVELS OF LOVE.
HE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THEM, I'M
ONLY GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE 
HIGHEST LEVEL OF LOVE.
THAT LOVE THAT SEEKS NOTHING IN 
RETURN.
THAT LOVE THAT IS TOTALLY 
UNSELFISH.
YOU LOVE SOMEONE IF THEY'RE 
YOUNG, YOU LOVE THEM IF THEY'RE 
OLD.
YOU LOVE THEM IF THEY'RE BLACK 
OR WHITE.
YOU LOVE THEM IF THEY'RE NATIVE 
AMERICAN.
YOU LOVE THEM IF THEY'RE 
HISPANIC OR LATINO-AMERICAN.
YOU LOVE THEM BECAUSE YOU KNOW 
THAT GOD CALLS YOU TO DO THAT.
AND IF WE'RE GOING TO RESOLVE 
ALL OF THESE CONFLICTS AND 
QUESTIONS IN AMERICA, WE'VE GOT 
TO FIND WAY TO DO IT IN LOVE.
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU AND 
LET'S KEEP ON KEEPING ON.
>> HELLO, 57th MARCH ON 
WASHINGTON.
I'M JOY-ANN REID WITH MSNBC.
I WISH I COULD BE THERE WITH YOU
TODAY AS REVEREND AL SHARPTON IS
MY COLLEAGUE, MY FRIEND, MY 
AUTHOR AND MY BIG BROTHER.
I ARRIVED IN NEW YORK IN 1986 AT
AGE 18 HAVING LEFT WHEN I WAS 2.
IT WAS AN ERA WHEN BLACK LIVES 
MATTER MEANT MICHAEL GRIFFITHS, 
SEAN BELL, PATRICK -- AND GAVIN 
KATO.
IT MEANT THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE 
AND GIULIANI TIME.
AND REVEREND AL SHARPTON WHO 
CARED ENOUGH TO DO IT.
A GENERATION EARLIER IT WAS 
JESSE JACKSON AND BEFORE HIM DR.
KING.
BUT FOR MY GENERATION IT WAS 
REVEREND AL.
LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT MANY 
YEARS LATER I WOULD GET TO KNOW 
REV AS A LOCAL PRODUCER AND HOST
ON RADIO ONE WHEN OUR BIG 
NATIONAL HOST AND THAT HE WOULD 
BECOME MY COLLEAGUE AT MSNBC AND
A GREAT MENTOR, SUPPORTER AND 
FRIEND.
MEANWHILE THE NATIONAL ACTION 
NETWORK HAS NEVER STOPPED 
WORKING EVEN AS THE NAMES HAVE 
CHANGED TO TRAYVON MARTIN, 
MICHAEL BROWN, ERIC GARNER, 
SANDRA BLAND, TAMIR RIGHT, 
GEORGE FLOYD, BREONNA TAYLOR AND
JACOB BLAKE.
I MARCH WITH REV IN SELMA WHEN 
HE PULLED ME TO THE FRONT OF THE
LINE AND I COULD WITNESS HISTORY
AND JOHN LEWIS' SECOND TO LAST 
APPEARANCE IN PUBLIC.
HE'S MARCHED ON PRESIDENTS AND 
HAD PRESIDENTS CONFIDE IN HIM.
HES INSPIRED ME TO USE ANY GIFTS
TO MAKE REAL CHANGE AND HE HAS 
BEEN OUR BACK STOP AND OUR 
DEFENDER IN DARK TIMES.
WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE CALL HIM HE
WILL DO SOMETHING AND CAUSE 
SOMETHING TO BE DONE.
57th ANNIVERSARY OF MARCH ON 
WASHINGTON, PLEASE JOIN ME IN 
SALUTING THE DEFENDER AND MY BIG
BROTHER, REVEREND AL SHARPTON.
