Transcripts For CSPAN March On The Polls Womens March 20180121

[chatter] we will not bow down. We will not bow down to injustice we will not bow down to exploitation stand, i am going to stand no will not obey, no, racism we will not obey, exploitation staaand i cannot tolerate, races and racism. I cannot tolerate injustice i cannot tolerate exploitation. I am going to stand, i am going to stand [applause] i am going to stand what are you going to do . I am going to stand [applause] how are we doing today d. C. . Let me hear you, how are we doing today [applause] you all are great today. Rise. Song we use our music to is buyer action through song and to remind us where we have been and where we are going together. [applause] we hope that these next songs inspire you today to keep marching, to keep singing, to keep voting, to keep running for office, and to keep your mind on freedom [applause] i woke up this morning with my mind standing on freedom morning on up this freedom you know, i woke up this morning with my mind standing on freedom, hallelujah, hallelujah walking and talking with my mind on freedom. Walking and talking with my mind, on freedom say i am walking and talking with my mind, on freedom, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah walk,n and walk, walk, walk, on freedom coming, walking on freedom come on and walk, walk come on and talk, talk come on and walk, walk with your mind on freedom oh, hallelujah there a no harm in speaking your mind aint no harm on keeping your mind on freedom keeping it on freedom hallelujah, hallelujah [applause] woohoo nobodynt going to let turned me around, turned me around turned me around i ghana let nobody aint going to let nobody turned me around, i am going to keep on walking yeah keep on marching. Gohead marching onto freedom land. Turned me around, turned me around, turned me around aint going to let nobody turned me around. Going to keep on walking, keep on marching, marching up to freedom land turned me around, turned me around, and going to let nobody tell me to turn around, im going to keep on walking, keep on talking, marching up to freedom land. England and let no person turn noaround, turned me around, turned me around. Going to keep on walking, going to keep on marching, going to keep on marching up to freedom land eight ghana let no president , turned me around eight going to let no president , turned me around, going to keep on walking, keep on talking, keep on marching up to freedom land turnedoing to let nobody me around, turned me around, turned me around aint going to let nobody, turned me around, going to keep on walking, keep on talking, marching up to freedom land [applause] thank you. Thank you all. On walking, keep on talking, marching up to freedom hello, my sisters, my nevertheless we will persisters my name is emily patton, i am one of the coorganizers of todays event and i am beyond thrilled to see all of you here. Of my to give my shutout arlington democrats, where are you . [applause] last year, we saw the single largest protest in u. S. History. [applause] start. S just the women have been at the heart of the resistance at every single turn. We have raised our voices, told our stories and we have marched. We have come out for health care, the environment, sciencebased information, and racialave come out for justice. [applause] and today, we are standing racil justice. [applause] with d. R. E. A. M. E. R. S. , right now, while their lives are on the line [applause] this year is going to be 0. Istance 2. Women and their allies are watching what is happening on washington, and we will not let up. [applause] we will make our message heard at the polls this fall, which is why we are urging people to get registered to vote today [applause] , is about showing that we are not tired, and that the resistance works. We are absolutely thrilled to see so many women running for office in 2018, and we will keep having marches until our government looks like us and actually represents our rights [applause] we are not tired, we are just getting started. And to get this rally started, it is my pleasure to introduce the newlycrowned miss district of columbia, bryce armstrong. [applause] hello. Good morning. So, my name is bryce armstrong, i am the newly crowned miss district of columbia, usa. I am really proud to be here. We are so excited to have you good morning. Here, we want everyone to have a fun day and be safe. We ask everyone to please stay off the ice, i hope they can hear me back there. And to please stay on the sidewalks. We thank everyone for being here. We now have representative higher . Ier representative much. Nk you, very happy anniversary, mr. President one year, and we have that trump shutdown my grandmother was a suffragette. She buyer she marched marched in berkeley, but you was 28 years old before she had the chance to vote. She was a suffragette. She was 28 years old, before she had the chance to vote. Among the greatest tragedies of history is mans suppression of the junius and power and creativity of women. The genius, the power and creativity of women. I have three daughters, one wife, and they are the smartest, sunniest, most kick as persons i know. I have Three Sisters who changed the lives of every person they and i am extremely fortunate to serve in the house of representatives, with 89 women. I am pretty sure that if mr. Mcconnell were a woman, if paul ryan were a woman, if our president was a woman, we would not be in the middle of a trump shutdown right now. [applause] looks, and politics, we say, if you do not run, you cannot win. Well, to all the women of america, ice it, if you dont lead. Ou cannot lead. You cannot be in charge, you cannot change the world and all the most important ways. So please, run. Run scared, run smart, run hard and run for every woman throughout history, who was denied the opportunity to use all of her potential to make this world a better place thank you keith marching [applause] keep marching. [applause] now we have a virginia date delegate Virginia State delegate here to speak to us. [indiscernible] [crowd yelling] [applause] last year, i marched, then i , then i won. [applause] fowler i am proud to introduce myself. I am kelly fowler, the representative from the 21st district in virginia. [applause] where are all my virginia friends who helped me . [applause] we did this together. Before last year, i never imagined i would run for office. But i brought my daughter to the womens march last year, to lift her. It was her birth day on inauguration day. Today, she is nine years old. Happy birth day she was born on obamas inauguration day, a great day her,s really hard to tell but she would not get the first woman president on her eighth birthday so we brought her to the march, and we marched. Time,not realize at the that it was not just for her ,hat i came, it was also for me and to lift my spirit, to get me to the place i needed to be, to take my seat at the table. Just about winning a few seats, it is about changing a tone at a country, in our country, in our world, and our lives. Yes, we are changing the world every day, every one of us, the way we march. When we run for office, woman volunteer, when we vote just[applause] when we speak out. So let us continue doing that, keep doing it thank you [applause] happy birthday to you happy birthday to you [crowd singing] [applause] happy birth day. Now we have the Founding Member noble west,le of and she is also known as nasty grandma. [applause] speaker hi everybody. I am a street fighter from the bronx [applause] but you mommies and then and ants, cousins, and uncles, friends, neighbors, you are the resistance. Give yourselves a bit hand [applause] tell me what democracy looks like . [crowd] this is what democracy looks like [chanting] this resistance brought common sense to politics. We did not follow the rules, we made them up as he went. This is our power, we think of the box. We try things and if they work, we do more. We here in virginia, showed everyone that the resistance can in fact vote them out of office [applause] we turned our cause into Campaign Offices so that we could canvas for multiple candidates at the same time. We canvassed in red districts. Did it works, dam sure it did we elected eight candidates in transfer in county in Prince William county. We defeated voldemort. We elected candidates in Kelly Stewart back ground. Ldemort. Backyard. We show the campaigns that there is so much more between canvassing and phone calls and we do not let them push us around. We made ourselves more efficient. Moreve our voters much information and we campaigned for everyone at the same time, not just the top of the ticket. We made it up as we went, we did what made sense to us. We got commuters to vote absentee. At the end, we started to get calls from the campaign about going to a commuter lots and less lots, and we led the way bus lots. 2018 is much bigger, we need to get more people out to vote [applause] we have to register more people. Canvas in the red precincts, it works. We have double the number of people who voted in one red precinct. Ismon sense says that it silly to go to the same house five times. You should ask them to send you into a red district to canvas. The votes that you find in a red district will not turn it blue, but every vote counts, and we know only too well, what that means. We cannot allow any of the elections to be close, when they are, theyre cheating works thieeir cheating works. The young organizers do not live in these neighborhoods. Some of them have experience. Guide them. But perhaps, the most important thing, is that we found each other. In our communities, and our states, and across the state [applause] s i love you. Fired up [applause] now we have Judy Gearhart are you ready to continue this resistance . Continue every day for many years to come. There are three big reasons. That we need to stand up for the women to want to claim their voice at the ballot box. We have to stand up for women that want to fight Sexual Harassment on the street or in their home. That i third reason stand here today is because we need to stop Sexual Violence in the workplace. We need to stop all forms of Sexual Harassment, all forms of abuse and all forms of the use of power to make women do what they do not want to do. Here for all of the women we work with from the garment factories in los angeles to the garment factories in bangladesh to the fields of tobacco growing women in malawi and North Carolina. There are women around the world who are working and flailing and do not have the voice to defend their rights at work. This resistance, if we want equality, it has got to trickle all the way down to every worker and every woman. Thank you and keep up the fight thee are so excited to have senator of connecticut, senator blumenthal. Senator blumenthal i bring you greetings from the great state of connecticut. Proud toso proud, so be a u. S. Senator from connecticut here, today on this Beautiful Day with from again, i was here last year, some of the best fighters and activists and advocates in the whole country. You are here today to send a message. What democracy looks like. Activismhat citizen looks like and engagement. And we are going into the next anction to turn around administration that has nothing ,ut contempt for womens rights workers rights, and equal rights for all americans. We are going to put a stop to all of this. That it is more than going to a march, as important as that is. It is about engagement at every level. The grassroots level. It is about voter registration. And women are marching and showing us the way, forging new paths. They are not only marching, they are running, running for office. And we need more of them. We need more of them in the u. S. Senate and in every state capital across the country. For being the conscience of america. Know, for many, many years, i was in law enforcement. I was a federal prosecutor. And then the attorney general our state in connecticut. And i know how important, how fundamental the role of law is in this country. You are here upholding basic rights. We need to keep fighting. We need to keep working. We need to keep marching so that we can uphold what makes america truly great. Our rights. Our liberties. Our freedom. We will never give up. Thank you for being here today. Thank you for showing us what democracy looks like. I look forward to marching, running, and fighting with you. Thank you so much. God bless our great country. Thank you. Thank you, senator. Now, we have a lease ryan. Clue. The president of thank you, clean. Good morning, family. Bring you greetings and salutations on behalf of the members of the coalition of labor union women, clue. I am a union woman just as strong as i can be i do not like the bosses and the bosses do not like me which side are you on . Nevermind, that is a rhetorical question. I know which side you are on. You are on the side of equal equals. You are on the side of the dreamers. You are the resistance that says metoo. Time is up. The marchersby est yelled basta basta. Sisters are not afraid of power. Stop a sexualo harassment and a in our workplace, in our schools, on our college campuses, in our homes and in our unions. Women met in chicago to envision and demand equal opportunity for women in unions and to organize the unorganized. I stand on the shoulders of old , of of joyce of olga joyce miller and all of the founding mothers of clue who taught me that a womans place is in her union. Let me add to that, a womans place is in the house of representatives. A womans place is in the senate. A womans place is in the white house and we are coming for it. Are you with me . That the who think time of unions is over, let me ask you this. What is the first line of the u. S. Constitution . Form, people, in order to a more perfect what . A more perfect what . Union. They did not say organization or club. They said union. And look it this union of people here today. Yes. Tell me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like. I am going to close with the words of sojourner truth. Yes. Born in 1851. Addressed to Womens Rights Convention in akron, ohio. And she said if the first woman that god made was able to turn this here world upside down all by herself, then these women here today, with our brothers, will be able to turn it right side up again. So, we shall march. We shall sing. We shall resist. And we shall overcome. I know that deep in my heart i do believe altogether day. All overcome some power to the women. Power to the people. So now, we have susan platt, president of platt consulting. Susan good morning. What a Beautiful Day to be outside in washington and marching. Let me start by saying they will tell you you are not qualified. You that itill tell is not your turn. You, you doill tell not understand the issues. And then, they will tell you, you cannot win. They tell you to smile more. Tell you to do something with your hair. They tell the you they do not like how you dress. And then they tell you you cannot win. And now, it seems that because the current resident of 1600 pennsylvania avenue constantly demeans women, his supporters think it is ok. They post a photo of you with a news noose over your head. They send out your home address and tell others to destroy your property. They call you derogatory and hurtful names that are meant to be little and scare you. Ok then they say it is because you cannot win anyway. You they doy tell not like the way you campaign as a woman, you ask them what or who you are supposed to Campaign Like . I will Campaign Like the woman because i am a woman. Today most particularly, women governed differently. Govern differently. Women have a different way of listening and compromising. They do not just get up from the table and tweet lies and insults. Or like the congressman from virginia seventh who says he will not meet with women because they were getting up in his grill. Let me tell every woman here a secret, you have already won. Why . You have found your motivation and you have empowered yourself and others. You are adding another crack in the glass ceiling. Women cracked that ceiling in november in virginia last november. Rome could donica not be elected to the house of delegates because she gender. But she won. Elizabethhannah, and two latinas could not be elected to the house of delegates, but they won. Aey said Jennifer Carroll for could not win because she was pregnant with twins who were born during the campaign. But guess what . She won. Women seven other strong who did not listen to all those that said they could not win. 15 new, 11 of the members of the Virginia House of delegates are women. When former Virginia Attorney general barry said. , the only woman in virginias history to win statewide office, and i started the first two organizations dedicated to recruiting, mentoring, and contributing to women ofdidates, women have 11 the seats in the house of delegates. Comprise 28 of the house of delegates. Women voters did that. You did that. You are we there yet . Are we done yet . The womens marches that took place around the world last year ignited something so organic, spontaneous, and powerful that our voices cannot and will not be stopped. 2017 was not the first womans march on washington. That happened in 1917. More than 100 years ago. When 10 women suffer just were prepared to be imprisoned for parading in front of the white house with signs that read mr. President , what will you do for womens suffrage . And how long must women wait for year,y question mark last more than one million men, women , and children who support them, r pink hats and marched on washington again for causes just as important as a womans right to vote. What Margaret Thatcher said you may have to fight a battle more than once to win it. Last year, we took our despair and disappointment and used them to harness our collective power. We worked our hearts out and proved that we can win and we did win in virginia. And last year, i did something i never thought i would ever do in my 62 years. I ran for office. Wow what an experience. I met people all over the commonwealth of virginia and was so energized by how many told me they had not done enough and they were getting more involved, many for the first time. Name willhis year my but that the ballot, does not mean that my job or uris is finished. Or your is finished. We found out this year how important one vote is. The winner was determined by picking one name out of a fishbowl. Republicans name was chosen. No race should ever have to be decided like that. Toave worked for decades increase womens participation in politics and i believe in that cause with every ounce of my being. But let us not forget the support for men that have always supported and empowered women like my friend senator tim kaine. Senator tim kaine, who stood. Roudly with Hillary Clinton who believes that women are capable of making their own decisions about their health and reproductive choices. Who believe that everywoman can have access to affordable contraception. Paychecknsored the fairness act because he knows that men and women must be paid equally for the same work. Colleagues tohis reauthorize the violence against women act and he has also fought to make sure that women who serve their country in the u. S. Armed forces are treated the same as their male counterparts. The republican likely to challenge senator tim kaine in november does not support any of those things. So now, i ask you, it is time we go fight that battle one more time. So, with that, will you welcome to the podium, the guy we are going to fight that battle for my good friend, senator tim kaine from the commonwealth of virginia. Kaine hey womens march 2018, you look great. Today, i want to talk about three anniversaries. The First Anniversary of the Trump Administration is a chaotic Government Shutdown that the trump shutdown. The First Anniversary of the womens march is this fantastic gathering that is happening all over the country to show what democracy really looks like. Anniversary well, i will get to that in just a couple of minutes. We are in the middle of a trump shutdown. Last night, the trump shutdown it is due to the inability of the Republican Party to do basic governing like making a budget. Something everyone does at their own house. Just like the republican effort to repeal health care, to take millions of Peoples Health care a way or do tax cuts that benefit the few and not the many, or cut medicaid and take medicaid away from millions of people this prompt shutdown trumput this shutdown is about hurting people. Four months into the fiscal year with all of the levers they cannot even get a budget dumb. Told republicans last forcing atead of shutdown, here is a novel idea. Why dont we just stay at the and negotiate a budget deal that is good for education, good for health care, or texas our dreamers, use hurricane relief, and is good for defense. Why dont we do that instead . But, when my democratic colleagues made motion, let us not shut down the government but stay open to get the good deal, the republicans shut the motions down and shut the government because, guess what . Has is what President Trump asked. He has been talking and tweeting about a good shutdown and that is why we are here in the trump shutdown. But i make this pledge to you along with my democratic colleagues. Want to walk away, we will stay at the table to find a fix. President trump may have to cancel it to maralago. He may have to reschedule his judging off to his jetting but wedavos, switzerland will find a solution with your help. For ourdreamers, teachers, for our health care, we will find a solution. Here for the happier anniversary. I am here for this anniversary one year ago, many millions of women and the men and children that have their backs, marched with the message heard,men deserve to be respected, and to lead. Honor for meendous to be the running mate for the first woman nominated for president by a Major Political party, Hillary Rodham clinton. Hillary clinton would have been a marvelous president. So much better than the alternative president we have now. But let me be serious. This is. Ow tragic the facts are plain. In a nation that does so many things so well, we have a terrible track record when it comes to electing women to national office. We know that we have never had a woman president but we also know that the u. S. Ranks poorly in the world when it comes to women serving in a elected positions. In 1997, 20 years ago, the u. S. Was 52nd to the world in the percentage of women serving in National Legislative bodies. In the we are 104th world, behind the global average. Have a higher percentage of women serving in elected office than in the u. S. We have to do better. The march last year and marches haved this nation you inspired a great awakening. Women were dismayed when a qualified woman won the popular vote for president but lost an election to an unprepared and immature man who bragged about assaulting women. To add anare dismays administration said on reversing gains for educational equity, Sexual Assault enforcement, basic acceptance of science and so many other areas. But, women are stepping up to lead and leading this nation to a great awakening and a great revival. We see it in a powerful cultural change inspired by the me too movement. Women, and increasingly all people, are joining together refusing to tolerate an unacceptable culture of Sexual Harassment and assault. We are not there yet to the day when women no longer have to for fearuse in silence of being ignored, belittled, intimidated, or fired. Powerful figures have been toppled off of their bogus pedestals and revealed for who they are because women are speaking up. And, we are seeing a powerful movement of new Women Political leaders. Voters, volunteers, organizers, and candidates. Some work in huddle or indivisible groups. Some on their own. Churches and nonprofits and some through political parties. The energy and strength of this new generation of engaged Women Leaders is obvious. It is working. It is working. In virginia, in virginia, the energetic activism of women helped us deliver a historic sweep of our statewide offices in november and our new governor installed a majority women cabinet for the first time in the history of the commonwealth because he recognized who put him in office. Even more impressive 15 democratic newcomers, and you have heard from some today, defeated republican incumbents in our state legislative races. 11 of the 15 were women. Firsttime candidates. Women of color. Immigrant women. Lgbtq women. I was so glad that they won and so proud to campaign with them. You know that a month later in alabama, we unelected my friend dest jones in one of the red states in america in his victory dog bypublican candidate horrific stories of child molestation. Participation of women, especially women of color, sealed the deal, carried the victory, and was seen by all. We are nowre trends seeing all over this country. Women stepping up to vote. Women stepping up to work to run. Women stepping up to win and women stepping up to lead. And sayust conclude this. As i stand here and look at you, and as i think about the last year, the pains and the challenges but the activism too, i think 2018 can be a breakthrough year for american democracy. Women achieve equal representation in our government, it will transform our policies and transform our politics. For women candidates in november will set the stage as we prepare for the third anniversary of want to talk about. The100th anniversary of 19th amendment in 2020 when we celebrate the centennial of women getting the right to vote. That is the third anniversary that i want to talk about. Imagine it. Years after women gained the right to vote, the progress in women representing us in government is still so very weak. But a change is coming. You are the change. And you have a weekend this nation. Rest,l not tire or standing in this place as hundreds of thousands throughout our history. We claim the equality of all women as our northstar and we pledge our efforts towards making our union more perfect by elevating women in every last corner of this country. Thank you and got and god bless the work you are doing. It is great to be with you today. Thank you so much, senator appeared before i introduce the next speaker, i want to say with everyone, please get off of the ice, the sun is shining and it will melt. Now we have representative Gerry Connolly of virginia. My fellow resistors night at last maralago, Donald Trumps fancy swills spent 300 each to wine. The rest of us came here to the Lincoln Memorial to remember that fateful day when year ago. One year ago. We stand at a place of history right here. This is where Mahalia Jackson came when she was denied access to an allwhite facility. Kingis where Martin Luther gave his i have a dream speech. For is where americans come right wrongs. The wrong you and i want to right lives in the white house. Chaos is not a substitute for governance. Isknow that foul perjure it joratives are not a substitute for immigration policy. Women, for the ltte community, for dreamers for the Lgbt Community, for dreamers. Fitting wayic but for donald trump to celebrate his first Year Anniversary than by shutting down the federal government. In november, we will shut you down, donald trump. [applause] Connolly America has a constitutional form of government, and in that government we have checks and balances. This november, you will be the check and balance. Are you ready for it . From every hill and dale, from the west coast to the midwest through the south to the east and the north, americans will be heard about this government, and the biggest check and balance ever delivered will be delivered. N election day americans will restore their sense of democracy, their sense of fair play, they are insistence on right to justice, because this is our country and our government. And leading the way, as they led recently in virginia, will be with who started it all the womens march a year ago tomorrow. And power unleashed on that day, and i was proud to stand with you then, has not abated. It has only grown. That is what gives me hope, i hope it get you hope. Donald trump and his ilk dont own this country. We are all americans, and we will be heard in november. Keep up the faith. Keep up the energy. And if you have a little time today, combine one of our offices and get one of these green cars and show yourself in the house gallery. My republican friends would love to see you. God bless you. [chanting] have the cochair of d. C. Metro adapt. Whats give her a warm welcome. [cheering] good morning thank you for being here today i personally want to thank you all for being here. Excited to see the motivation and enthusiasm come through from last year. Last years march was a bination of the efficacy the advocacy and Progress Women can make. He proud of yourself for that. Millions of us came out to support one another, not only in d. C. And in the u. S. , but worldwide. The march showed the globe that women demand to have their voices heard, to have their presence recognized and to demonstrate exactly what we are capable of. But the march was also a platform for other marginalized populations. Lester, the womens march was the largest gathering of people with disabilities in u. S. History. [applause] it was impactful to me personally not only because so many people with disabilities came out to support, but we were recognized and respected as a community, as part of society and as a body of people that can contribute to moving america forward. I am part of a National Grassroots Organization Called adapt, a group of disability rights advocates ready to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to ensure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom. Pastor,our efforts this we tried to ensure that he disability voice the disability voice was not only heard but relatable to the american people. We want the same things. Health care. Employment opportunities. A vote, a voice. We are still looking, however, for the same standard of living our freedom promised. People with disabilities still have higher rates of imprisonment, women with disabilities are at higher risk of rape and Sexual Assault. We are more likely to be abused and less likely to receive proper medical care. One in five americans has a disability, yet we are not reflected proportionally in the media, government, jobs, schools and society. That is a problem. Women are strong. We are powerful. We are creative, we are intelligent and we are active in our community. Look at everyone who is here today. As much as i would like to say this applies to many of us with disabilities, we continue to oppressed because of the boundaries and stereotypes placed on us. Please consider how your feminism is accessible, how your activism includes everyone. Intersection analogy intersectionality is a huge part of who we are as an american people, flowing together to create opportunities , hopefully for all of us. I ask others to look at how they support the disability community, how making your world accessible benefits us all. We are strongly encouraging everyone to support bills that healthy that supports the disability community, including bill that helps federal rights lost for those with disabilities. Senator kaine and those here, please help move this bill forward. I would ask you all to consciously and openly support the disability community. Do not forget that every, Single Person here is in a position of power. We all came together last year and we are all here this year. We have defined a moment in history. Voice, andwer, your help us move forward, a community of all women of all different identities. Get out and vote. Thank you all very much. [cheering] [chanting] now we have pamela lopez, the a film company and involved with equal is equal. Hi there, everybody it is a Beautiful Day for equal rights women in the United States do not have equal rights in the constitution, but we should. We must. Let me tell you how we could succeed at this in 2018. My name is pamela lopez, i am the executive director of equal equal, an organization focused on the ratification of the equal rights amendment or e. R. A. Since we were here at the march 1 year ago, there has been a Seismic Shift in the way women are dealing with the symptoms of pervasive gender bias, including the explosion of the metoo and timesup movements. But Sexual Harassment, sexual and rate, pregnancy discrimination, domestic violence, human sex trafficking, all of these ills are symptoms of a serious flaw in the underlying law upon which our systems and institutions are built. Until the explicit omission of andn in our foundational legal documents, the constitution is addressed and corrected, all of the energy of our new movement will dissipate without lasting and substantive change for american women and girls. A constitutional amendment is the only guarantee of our rights from one generation to the next. Had the e. R. A. , most of the fights that we and our allies have every single day would be completely unnecessary, as women would have the law on their side. Word e. R. A. San, 24 simply says equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Shouldnt seem like this be hard to get done, does it . Lets do it lets get it done this year the e. R. A. Would provide basic civil rights protection to women and girls should we must face the reality that the United States constitution, when written, deliberately excluded women. Hundreds of years later, in 2018, our culture has changed so much. 96 of americans believe men and women are equal, and 80 of us believe this equality is already guaranteed to the u. S. Constitution. The problem is, it isnt, and it really matters. The equal rights amendment remains to states short of ratification. E. R. A. Has been frozen at 35 ratified states. Then in march of this past year, a miracle happened. Nevada, thanks to senator pat the e. R. A. Atified and it is back on track and we are 95 of the way there. At equal means equal, we believe that once the 38 states are ratified, women will be fully equal under federal law. Lawyers and constitutional experts feel strongly that there is sufficient legal president to to put this into the preamble of the e. R. A. The 14 remaining on ratified states are holding the e. R. A. In committee, not allowing hearings or a vote. They have been doing this for decades. This is a few powerful men who chair important committees in their house of delegates in their state senates, and they are holding complete sway over basic human rights that affect more than half of the population , that affect 161 million americans. That is not right. Accept this or tolerated anymore. Tolerate it anymore. For us to not focus with complete intensity on the ratification of the original e. R. A. In the last two states is to waste our time and to possibly lose the one opportunity we have to push this over the finish line. This is an urgent call to action. Take out your phones right now and join equal means equal. Org so we can mobilize equality warriors across the country in the and ratified states. The on ratified states. Call the Virginia House of delegates, call them now. The fate of the e. R. A. Life in their hands. Theyre the ones who will not pull it out of committee. Call them, write to them, call your local paper and tell them about them and let them know that virginians want the e. R. A. Voted on immediately. We cannot allow a few individuals to continue to obstruct justice, fair pay and equal rights for women any longer. The legislative session in virginia only lasts 60 days. We only have 55 left. We have to act now. If we want to see e. R. A. Happen this year, we cannot afford to wait a single day longer. I am not joking. Take out your phone, join equal means equal. Org and let us keep you in the loop. There are strong campaigns in arizona, georgia, illinois, florida, and of course, virginia. Get involved. Now is the time to change the system, and lets start with the foundation. Thank you. [cheering] our next speaker, the director of united we dream. [applause] how are you doing this morning . You all look so beautiful. All of the amazing people here. I am undocumented, unafraid and here to stay. [cheering] we all know what happened last night, we saw the news and we know that trunk shut down the government. Becausethat he did that one, he is a racist. Two, he does not value the lives of children or immigrant young people like myself. Thingsre have been many that have unified us in the last couple of months, but one of the dream hast united we been carrying is the fight for the dream act. So brothers and sisters, politicians have to stay here and washington, d. C. Tonight, and they have to stay because we need to make sure we reopen the government and we win the dream act. And they need to hear from you right now. What do you want . Act eam wanted when do we want it . Now know, if you had told my that crossinglf the rio grande into the United States with my mom and dad, if you had told that 10yearold that i would one day be standing here in the place where Martin Luther king delivered his i have a dream speech, that you would be standing in the place of generations of Freedom Fighters that delivered the Civil Rights Movement to this country, i would not have believed me. But sisters and brothers, you and i, we are miracle. We have defied the odds of this administration. Who remembers where you were exactly when donald trump won . You remember that pit in your stomach . You remember the anger you felt . Knowear that you did not what was going to happen to our country . Here the day after his inauguration when we took over the streets . Do you remember how powerful we were . Brothers, you and i have resisted for one year now, and that is a miracle. You know, i remember being here one year ago when we showed the world that more people resist that hateful man can support him. Because every day of this past year, women have been forcing the country to see what we stand for. Last night, republicans shut down the government. They did it because of their allegiance to a madman. They did it the cousin of their allegiance to a madman with a that they havew been trying to force upon everyone of us. Crisis,d has a manmade and that mans name is donald trump. Last night, we the people refused to play their game. We said that we would not stand for one more time of our values, of our children, dreamers, immigrants being pushed back into the shadows. Sisters and brothers, we are in a moment of crisis. Republicans would want you to say or think that immigrant young people, that daca can wait until march, but that is not true. To speak with me, the names of immigrant young people who at this moment are in camps in this country. Repeat their names after me. Rosa maria. Rosa maria is a 10yearold girl whose family was stopped on the road by agents who followed them to the hospital, waiting for the sick girl to have surgery and then drag her to a Detention Camp from her hospital bed. This is in our america. Repeat after me, louise. She came to the u. S. At the age of five, but he is now sitting yelled forhere he help. Be attemptedd to by the dream act. His is a time to win sisters and brothers, im here people may beat plotting against us, i know i am not alone. I know we are ready to fight. Are you ready to win . Are you ready to fight . Are you ready to love . I know there will be hard times in front of us, but there is a sister, june jordan, a black immigrant poet, and she wrote these words just for us in moments like this. Sang than readr out loud, so you have to bear with my voice. I ask you to sing with me. Are you ready . Come too far aroundt turn flood the streets with justice are freedom bound raise the hands that are going to rebuild our democracy in this moment. Raise the hands that are ready to win. And sing loud after me, are you ready to sing again . Far ave come too we have come too far we wont turn around we wont turn around we will flood the streets with justice we will flood the streets with justice we are freedom bound we are freedom bound sisters and brothers, i see i love you, i am ready to win the freedom act by the end of this week. [applause] [chanting] garin, fromave dr. The alliance of democracy and justice. Good morning, resistors. My name is jean garin. The day before the last president ial election, my life was pretty ordinary. My kids were growing up. I exercise. I belonged to a book club, i worked here in d. C. Nothing in particular extraordinary. I was thinking of the next chapter of my life. Here is what i never thought i , a community activist, a rabblerouser, an expert on local political process, a passionate defender rights. s and human and then the election happened. And everything changed for me. I woke up to the fact that i could no longer hand off my responsibility to others and assume all would be fine. Pre2016 election mind set i was too busy, too tired to be involved. I also thought, what could possibly go wrong . This is the america i know. These convenient and naive assumptions were shattered, and i fell down the rabbit hole of despair. I was, as my kids might say, shook. I thought, what am i going to say to my children . How am i going to reassure them . But i also found Something Else inside of me that day, anger. And that anger would fuel action and lead me out of the rabbit hole. But how . Then, a memory tumbled out of my greatgrandmother, edith hooker. Edith hooker was one of the original suffragettes. [cheering] the day before president wilsons inauguration, she marched down pennsylvania avenue alongside her friend and 8000 others from all over the country. Sending a message to the new president that women were going to persist until they had the right to vote. [cheering] after the inauguration, she stood on soap boxes in downtown baltimore, arguing with people about the importance of women having the right to vote. Ew food at her, they jeered at her, and nevertheless, she persisted. [cheering] she believed if women could vote, laws would be passed to improve women and Childrens Health and wellbeing. Factory owners could no longer take advantage of them in the workplace. Women could have rights to property, custody of their children, and access to education. Most importantly to it if hooker, to edith hooker, with the vote, women could have access to Birth Control and needed sex education. Does this sound relevant to today . Crazy, right . Scarily relevant. To my greatgrandmother, the first step to liberating women was getting them the right to vote. What did this tell me . To get off my ass and do something. Become politically engaged. Realized, id, i knew i could be better educated about issues and candidates. I did not even know which Congressional District i lived in, much less who my local representatives were. I was at a loss of where to start. So what did i do . I. E. Males my book club. I emailed my book club. I talked to them about getting together to determine effective ways to take action. Little did i know, that was the day the womans alliance for democracy and justice was born. [cheering] dr. Gearon on november 15, 2016, 38 women showed up at my house. Mind you, my book club only had eight women. I knew then there was a thirst and need for action. I could see on the faces of these women that they were shook, too. No longer was i going to say to myself, i dont have time. Somebody else will do it. There was too much at stake. My great grandmother fought for my right to vote, and she , and byd until she won god, so would we. [cheering] dr. Gearon since that day, the Womens Alliance has grown to 355 members strong. Talking about everything we have done is a much longer conversation. What i would like to do is encourage you to engage and commit today to taking simple steps to become politically active. Here are three simple things i learned. One, actions count. Simply identify your elected officials at the local, state and federal levels. Educate yourself about them as well as your community. Email, call, visit, write postcards. Let them know what issues are important to you and how you want them to vote. They actually work for you. Votersined to register and go to immunity colleges and universities and other communities to register people. Join our group or your local indivisible group. Offer to help. What is really important to remember is number two. Humanity and the earth do not have time for you to be too busy and tired. Get up and do something. [cheering] dr. Gearon finally, be persistent. Do not put obstacles in front of yourself or others. People doubted me all the time. What is the goal of your group . Do you even know what you are doing . I didnt. I would tell them my goal was simple, to persist, to consistently bring women together and see what happens. After, all of you know, when women come together, great things can happen. Let your life speak. Thank you. [cheering] theur next speaker, we have associate director of Community Engagement at the Democratic National committee. Are you fired up . Fired up . Good afternoon, ladies and friends. It is indeed a pleasure to join you here this afternoon as we celebrate the oneyear when we sent a message to the world that women are here to stay, that we will not go quietly into the night, and that this is our time. My heart is so full at the site of the array of beauty out here today. 2016 was undeniably a check for us all. No one could have predicted the predicament we landed in. But i must say, no one had a more appropriate response and solution to the mess we are in than women. Year, millions of women organized, mobilized and marched. This year, the we are still marching, we have taken it a notch further and now we are running. [cheering] ms. Clanton we run so that womens rights are no longer on the negotiating table for trumps poker buddies and billionaire friends. We run because every child deserves clean water, healthy food, a safe environment, Quality Health care and a quality education. [cheering] ms. Clanton women across this world are putting their names on ballots and changing the course of this history. We have said that it is simply enough. Enough senseless Government Shutdown leaving our country defenseless because people do not want to do their job. Another over women being made to feel uncomfortable in the workplace, on the train, on the bus, on the airplane, down the street. Enough is enough. [cheering] ms. Clanton enough of families living in fear of separation and deportation. Politics withing peoples lives. Be unstable, but he is not unstoppable. [cheering] ms. Clanton now, i have the awesome honor of standing before you to introduce a man who has not only celebrated women, who has trusted and invested in them. Were who knows that if we ever able to some restore civility to this country, it will be women who will lead the way. Friends, without further do, the chairman of the Democratic National committee, tom perez. [applause] mr. Perez good afternoon, my friends house, she has game. Im also proud to be here with daughter, a senior in college. She is here. I want to Say Something about my friend here. Because she spent a lot of time out of the office in the past few months. In fact, she spent almost a month down in alabama helping doug jones become the United States senator from alabama. [cheering] mr. Perez and thanks to africanamerican women, 98 of whom voted for doug jones. The backbone of the Democratic Party. Doug jones is now senator doug jones. That, she was in virginia organizing upanddown virginia from Hampton Roads to northern virginia, helping people up and down the ticket. Up and down the ticket send a message to america that when we organize them up when we have great candidates and lead with our values, we win. That is what we did. So thank you for your work. I must tell you, it is a beautiful site to look out here today a beautiful sight to look out here today. One more thing, if the congress, the white house, the governorships across america, the legislators across america had more women like i see here today, we would be a much better america. There is no doubt about it. [cheering] president i asked trump and sean spicer to come over and count the crowd, but they did not want to come. No matter what they said, this is what an actual crowd looks like. [cheering] mr. Perez we are all here for the same reason. We understand that our democracy is at risk. Ago,derstand that a year donald trump and mike pence were sworn in, and immediately began turning the clock back on womens rights, workers rights, lgbt writes, immigrant rights, and the fundamental values of inclusion, opportunity and tolerance that have always made America Great. They nominated a Supreme Court justice who has repeatedly cited sided against women in Reproductive Health cases, against workers, they emboldened legislators in kentucky who are abortion on closing clinics and taking away a womans Constitutional Rights to make her own health decisions. They halted president obamas equal payroll. Companies that they halted the effort to make sure the Companies Involved in Sexual Harassment are held accountable. And they tried again and again to repeal the Affordable Care act. You know what, my friends, this does not simply affect women, it affects all of us. When a woman has to choose between her family and her job, that hurts all of us. When a single mom has to choose between paying for childcare and paying for rent, that hurts all of us. When a womans career suffers because she is your start of the workforce because of Sexual Harassment, that hurts all of us. Friends, women, everyone, that is why we must all fight to fix it. I am here to say thank you to the women across america who have led america back to its greatness. You responded by organizing, you responded by putting your name on the ballot, and as you know, more women are running for office than ever before. [cheering] mr. Perez in the great commonwealth of virginia, the pundits said we could not win ore than 45 seats four five seats in the state house of delegates, well we won 15 seats in the Virginia House of delegates. 15. And but for a coin flip, we would have won a 16th. Those 15 former house of delegates members in virginia womenl men replaced by 11 , a strong women, including the in virginiatinas history, the first asianamerican in virginia history, the first openly transgender woman in virginias history. Are our future, and for genia is not the only place where it has happened. And here is why it happened. Because you march, you spoke up, you spoke up to protect health care, including the rights of women to make their own choices about their bodies and health. You are fighting for dreamers and will continue to fight for dreamers every day. You are standing up against policies that make the rich richer while making the rest of us pay. And you are leading a powerful metoo andwith timesup. And i am here to say, time is up for republicans. [cheering] mr. Perez make no mistake about it, women will be the reason this administration ends on january 19, 2020. [cheering] mr. Perez the Founding Fathers a lot of credit, but it is the marching mothers and daughters that continue to make this country great. Thank you for doing that. I am so proud to be here with my daughter. You know what, it is absolutely time to end the practice of giving our sisters and my daughter and my other daughter less options than their dreams demand. Futures,ight for their we will continue to fight for their futures, and you know what . I want to to keep one number in mind as we move forward. 290. There are 290 days until the november election in 2018. That means there are 290 days until the democrats take over the house of representatives and the democrats take over the senate and the democrats win governors races across this country and the democrats win state legislative races across this country. 290 days, my friends. But you know what . The arc of the moral universe is indeed long and it doesnt bend toward justice, but it never ever ever since on its own. We must bend it together. We must bend it together by understanding that we are living in unprecedented times. What is going on as we speak right now is quite literally unprecedented in our nations history. Controlledne party the white house, the United States senate and the United States house of representatives. Representatives and then shut down the federal government. That is what just happened. , that isncompetence immoral and that is wrong. But that is what they did. But you know what, there is an equally important shut down that we must respond to, and that is this president and this toublican congress effort shut down basic American Values of opportunity for everyone, inclusion, making sure that every zip code counts, making sure that every child is gifted and talented and able to realize those gifts and talents. And how do we take back america . The same way we have always done it, we organize and we vote and we lead with our values. So my friends, i say to you this, if you believe that people who work a fulltime job can live a stressfree life and it should live a stressfree life, you should organize and vote for democrats. If you believe that anyone who works a fulltime job should not have to live in poverty, you should organize and mobilize and a vote with democrats. If you believe that a womans right to choose is a fundamental right that we should never interfere with, and it is part of womens economic empowerment, you should organize, mobilize and vote for democrats. If you believe that health care is a right for all and not a privilege for a few, you should organize, mobilize and vote for democrats. If you believe that the right to , andis our most sacred Voter Suppression is wrong, you should organize, mobilize and vote for democrats. If you believe our dreamers are every bit as american as my americanborn daughter, you should organize, mobilize and vote for democrats. If you believe that our toretary of education ought believe in public education, you should organize, mobilize and vote for democrats. If you believe that our epa administrator ought to get a tutorial on climate change, then you should organize, mobilize and vote for democrats. If you believe that every Single Person in this country should have access to safe drinking water, if you believe that we should build more schools and not more prisons, if you believe that every Single Person is entitled to a second chance, you should organize, mobilize and vote for democrats. If you believe that our first female president should not be mother russia, you should organize, mobilize and vote for democrats. That is what it is about, folks. We have got to take a page out playbook, and that is what we did in 2017, we caused good trouble, we mobilized and one elections in , in new jerseywa and virginia and alabama and elsewhere am a and in 2018, we will continue that blue wave, but only if we do it together. Do it together, lets caused good trouble together, lets pass the equal rights bendment together, lets victorious together. Thank you very much, keep up the good work and commit to vote in every single election, every single day. Thank you. [cheering] thank you, everyone, for being here. We are so excited and want everyone to have fun and stay safe. The sun is shining, so please stay off of the melting ice. Is a civileaker rights lawyer. [applause] thank you everybody from virginia. I am originally from Hampton Roads. In lgbt veteran, i joined the navy a long time ago back in 1998 from a high school in ic northam. Anybody from their . From there. I am here in d. C. , i am in the d. C. National guard, a great place to be. This is a great story, because it is about you. Doe. Re jane it is about how much power you have as jane doe and how much you can fight against two powerful administrations and how doe and can do as jane how much power you can have over to administrations. This is that story. When you are also a man or a woman and you also claim the title of jane doe, you can also have that power. When you do this, you can also be a transgender individual like myself. [cheering] ms. Mason and you conserve in the military now. [cheering] you can do that with dont ask, dont tell. That got turns down in 2010 during the prior administration. Now we get to serve with equality. Got tweeted bywe this administration, and jane for equalo stand up rights once again. And now, all of the men and women and transgender in the Lgbt Community have to stand up and fight against this administration and say no more. [cheering] ms. Mason we needed to make sure that we could stay in the military and make sure we were part of this fighting force in the navy, the marine corps, the air force, the coast guard. Because we deserve to serve. [cheering] ms. Mason the men and Women Deserve diversity in the armed forces. Ago, when i switched over and transitioned from the navy to the army [laughter] ms. Mason it was called blue to green. I went to a place called oklahoma. Oklahoma pride. There, i also went to fort benning and became an infantryman. Little did they know that i was actually transgender. There i learned how to become an infantryman, an and i knew it was not for me. I went over to Fort Campbell and became part of a soldiers girl, and inspirational story that allowed me to become more of who i was and where i needed to be. [cheering] ms. Mason went straight to afghanistan. Learned what combat was, day in and day out. Took idfs every day. Should women what combat was because we had women serving with us every day and i witnessed what they could do. [cheering] ms. Mason the battalion with this went on the same patrols we went on. I confided in then and told them i was transgendered. Got my hormones tested and they told me congratulations, you are pregnant. Came back, i could not even tell anybody look, i need help, because i could be outed. And thats because dont ask, dont tell ended without including transgender soldiers. [booing] ms. Mason yep. The Obama Administration failed transgender soldiers, it didnt include me until later on. Thats when i decided i needed i come home to virginia, but couldnt come home. There was no equality at home. D. C. E home to maryland and , where there was a quality. Was equality. That was not true, either. I got kicked out. I had to fight i got on nbc news, fought against the administration, got back in, and then it was like deja vu, july 26, first thing in the morning, donald j. Trump said we are doing you a great favor, we are kicking you out. [booing] ms. Mason celeste said to myself, that is not the happened to me or anybody else. You are not going to lose your home, your car, your daughter, your job. This is not what happened to anybody else, because it already happened to me, and it is not worth losing it all over again. , since he took office, it has been a civil rights war. First, he came after our immigrants, he came after our national origin, he came after lgbtolor, after the community, and then he came after me, and that is where the mistake happened. [cheering] so with that, no matter who you are and no matter what your name is, understand that when you stand here today, youare jane doe, and when empower other people, you can help others. And this is why it is worth running for office no matter what state youre in, he cares when you need to cross the pond, the monument, the mall, and can use more you votes and more power than the people in every state across this nation to do more good for more people everywhere else by using your vote now in this year, thats the power of you, the women at this womens march. Thank you. [applause] our next speaker is the president of the National Organization for women. [applause] afternoon, activists. [applause] rights. Rights are human [applause] yeah. And women have the right to be happy. And women have the right to be respected. We have the right to stay legal, affordable of portions affordable abortions. And we have the right to Birth Control. And we have the right to be free of violence in our homes, in the streets, and our workplaces and in our schools. This years elections are crucial. They will either signal a turnaround for Donald Trumps ability to spread his racist, sexist, and intolerant agenda. Or we will have another two years of the same. We are not going to let that happen. Women can determine the outcome in close elections. We need to build the excitement and enthusiasm right now. Out the massive vote we need in november, and we will do that. Thats why the National Organization for women is gearing up for an unprecedented year of political activism, strong feminist candidates are running like never before. Women will no longer be traded with be treated with disrespect. [applause] womentoday, there are 311 running and democratic primaries for the house of representatives. Yeah and 47 Democratic Women are running for the senate. Yeah areat least 79 women putting in runs for governor, potentially doubling a record for female candidates 1994. Yeah. And were going to get them elected. We are seeing chapters being confused with new energy, new members, and with new chapters being formed. Ourn recognize now advocates, their allies and partners in advancing the feminist majority. The special election in alabama showed us that trump and his allies can be defeated anywhere. Yeah. When women get out to vote. Look around you today look at this crowd. Feel the energy thats gathering here to make history in november. Do you remember that rightwing republican congressman dave brat saying the women are in my grill no matter where i go . Right. Amn re at it again today. If we dont stand up for our right, trump and his rightwing allies will take it away from us. Yesterday i joined allies with the Supreme Court to support abortion rights. [applause] there are a lot of us there. He looks forward to the end of roe v. Wade, the ash heap of history. So, what are we going to do . We are going to elect a u. S. Senate that will never again vote to confirm an antiabortion radical to the Supreme Court. We are going to vote for jacky rosen and we are going to work for her and make phone calls and write her checks. We are going to go there and knock on doors for her. And we are going to vote for Christian Cinema from arizona. We are going to flip the senate. [applause] we must work for those running for the house. We need to collect a house of representatives that wont pass a 20 week ban on abortions or heartbeat protection acts or any other unconstitutional measures republicans use to derive women of their rightful health care. One year ago, a woman in hawaii went online to start what became the largest single political demonstration in washington since the vietnam war. Yeah, the womens march change that narrative during trumps first week in office and hes never gotten over that. [applause] today, we are sending trump another message. Look out your window. [applause] cs. Hear us see us. Hear us. Feel our power. You cant stop us with your tweets. You cant stop us with your leading. And you cant your bullying. And you cant stop us with your hate speech. Mr. Trump, we are voting against you and yours. Women have the right to be finally free of you. March on [applause] our next speaker is the president of the Womens National democratic club. [applause] good afternoon. I am inspired. Im marching today and running for office tomorrow and so should you. [applause] im joining hundreds of women across the country who are doing the same thing. Taking the plunge. I am going to try to change the complexion of the maryland legislature. [applause] let me start by quoting Eleanor Roosevelt in inspiration to us all. You should say to yourself, i have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along. You must do the thing you think you cannot do. [applause] these words resonate today because we have lived through the horror of the november 2016 elections and we are still suffering the consequences of electing an antiwoman, antiminority, antiimmigrant president. The womens march was inspirational to say the least, making history. It was the thing women shared to do and it succeeded beyond everybodys wildest imaginations. [applause] what is the market about . The march about . It was the creation of a social movement for social progress and this title wave has woken up a Sleeping Giant and that is you. Thousands and thousands of women activists and hundreds of dress roots groups have erected a wall of resistance for the policies of this administration. We honor the legacies of movements before us, the separatists, the suffragists, the feminist movement, the American Indian movement, the occupy wall street movement. Marriage equality, black lives matter, and more. Solidarity with the 800,000 dreamers who are threatened in their homes today. The only home they have ever known. And wend with stand with planned parenthood. A shout out to planned parenthood. [applause] what is the source of this surgeon activism a year out . It is women. Women are just fed up. Women are fed up that we make up only 20 of congress. Women are fed up with Sexual Harassment. Women are fed up with donald trump. And women are fighting back. [applause] a festering wound of bigotry, misogyny, and exploitation lies exposed today. The healing can only happen if women take charge of their own destiny, if women occupy those same bastions of power from which they have been exploited. Time the u. S. Saw a surge in women running for office was 1992 in the wake of anita hills testimony. It was called the year of the woman because women were elected to the u. S. House and senate in record numbers. It is only when the power dynamic changes and women have a greater say and sway in politics and in the workplace that the explication of women will stop. Exploitation of women will stop. Go into iran to and iwon. We are seeing more women running, more women voting for women, more women turning out to vote. It makes women change agents. Lets say it. It makes women change agents. And a powerful part of the formula for 2018 races. The organization she should run announced in july that it was announcing a National Campaign to achieve gender parity among elected officials by the year 2030. Fills galvanizing women to 250,000 of the nations almost 500,000 elected positions. Let us resolve to make that happen. 1992 was the year of women. Beginninge 2018 the of the decade of women [applause] so now we have House Democratic leader nancy pelosi and the members of the house caucus. [applause] leader pelosi good afternoon everyone. Thank you. For being here and being there for the women of america and of the world. Here with myo be colleagues from the house of representatives, who you will shortly meet, but first i have a few words to say to you. When i was speaker and leader, people say to me, if you ruled the world, what one thing would you do . And that one thing i would do is educate women and girls. [applause] you, emily and other organizations of the march and everyone who turned out, for educating women and girls to know their power. [applause] last year, you came here in bigger numbers than those who came to see the new president of the United States, a much bigger number. [applause] and at that time, the women marched, and now they have run for office and some of them have already one for office. Won for office. Nothing is more wholesome to a government, to a country, to a society, then the increased participation of women in the leadership and in the rankandfile. We need womens participation. So its absolutely essential and you taught women to know their power and in so many respects by showing up. You transformed the world, transformed the world. By showing up not only on the day of the march last year, but in airports. And at town Hall Meetings and congressional offices and on the wall of the capital to speak your conscience, to speak your truth. And it your truth is never more important than now. [applause] more last it was year, little did we know the truth that immigrants are the wholesome invigoration of american, the dreamers make us dream again. [applause] that women in politics makes the wholesome different and the more we have, the better off our country will be. And thats the truth. [applause] and i will tell you one other truth. We just came from the capital. Where our republican colleagues have shut down government [booing] shut down government. [booing] and you know whats sad about it . They are hiding behind children. They are pretending they are hiding they are pretending they are trying to help children with the chip program even though they have voted against it in the past. They say they love the dreamers, but they really dont want to help them now. There are some. There is some bipartisan support, but you must help bring out the truth in those so they have the courage this isnt a budget fight. Its not just about the dreamers. Its about the investment in the future, fairness in the economy, so everyone enjoys the prosperity of america. And its about honoring our values. Our values of lgbt writes in our country. About the values of protecting gods creation, this beautiful planet, clean air, clean water. Its about reforming the criminal Justice System so its more fair. Its about protecting a womans right to choose. Its about fair immigration policy. Safety in our gun country. For economic justice. Last week, we observed Martin Luther king day and he talked about economic justice. He says he doesnt think god would contend a society where some would enjoy an inordinate wealth while others participated in abject poverty. Thats part of the fight we have and the truth is, our budget recommendations address just that. So while we have this president celebrating his oneYear Anniversary, lets give him an f for his performance. [applause] f minus. Leader pelosi he said the good shutdown is good for the country. Not so. One more thing, his director said on tv last night, i just learned im the one person who could shut down government. Mold and he said that. And he said, i think thats cool. Well, we dont think thats cool and we are going to make it too hot for them to handle. The way we are going to do that is with the truth. Rather than going into the agonies of the republicans, lets just say this. We dont agonize, we organize that leading the way to do are our House Democrats, for whom im so proud. Their unity and the unity of the Senate Democrats and the leadership of Chuck Schumer and dick durbin just show the world we are here for our values. And so, with your permission, c so theg to pass the mik members can say high. Their name and where they are from. Joe crowley. Blessings from new york. I wish i was there, but im glad im here. Congressman joyce beatty, the great state of ohio. Lois frankel, the Sunshine State of florida. [speaking spanish] davis, san diego, california. Julia brownley, ventura, california. [applause] norma torres, great state of california. [applause] Brenda Lawrence from detroit, michigan. Enough is enough , adams, the great state of North Carolina. [applause] val jennings, the great state of florida robin kelly, the city of chicago. Who rocks the world . Girls congresswoman terri sewell from alabama [applause] lee, houston,son texas wish i was there. Leader pelosi dont you love the beautiful diversity of the House Democrats . Minorities, and Lgbt Community members. Oakland and berkeley, where we will stay woke. From the great state of oregon. Frank pallone, new jersey. Sandy levin from michigan. We wont let it happen again, right . Norcross, new jersey. Mom, you are always with me. The free state of maryland. Judy chu oh, los angeles county, california rick nolan, the north star state of minnesota jackie spear from the golden state of california paul tonko from the Capital Region of new york. The great state of illinois and i am not from norway. [applause] [laughter] Carolyn Maloney from the great city of new york, new york. [applause] im proud to be here nancy pelosi of california. Year, i marched with my grandchildren. They are marching this year in san francisco. Wouldnt you love to see this group serve in the majority . This beautiful, diverse Democratic Party . Run,ouve marched, youve and now you must have your voices heard by voting. We have to turn out at the polls to make the difference. Are you ready to make that difference . One more. Ok. I am congress and mark takano from riverside, california, where my mother is marching in the riverside march. Leader pelosi ok, are we ready for a great victory for women . I thought so. We march, we run, we vote, we win. Thank you all very much. Perfect. Fire it up and ready to go. Woo, woo, woo [applause] our next speaker is senator gillibrand. [applause] gillibrand hello, everybody. When youre ago, the day President Trump gave that dark, dystopian speech when he was sworn into his office, something extraordinary happened. We saw the rebirth of the womens movement, when men and women came together across the country and the world for the single Largest Global protest in history. [applause] it was one of the most inspiring moments of my entire political career. It was so powerful because it was both intersectional and intergenerational. From allming together walks of life to make their voices heard. We saw people march for the first time in their lives. People who had been around the block, and everywhere in between. One year later, as we can see by this crowd, and the marches across the country, we did not just march and go home. You have not stopped because we will not stop. [applause] one year later, the Grassroots Energy is growing, not fading, and it is women who are holding our democracy together in these dangerous times. It is women who all across the country are taking their outrage and running for office, volunteering for campaigns, and in many cases, joining advocacy groups or taking action for the very first time. An historic number of women are running for office this year. Most of them are firsttime candidates and they are winning, women like danica rome in virginia, who beat the homophobe who introduced the transphobic bathroom bill. And Ashley Bennett in new jersey, who beat an incumbent who mocked the womens march by wondering whether the marchers would be home in time to cook dinner. [booing] to change the system, we need to change the players list by having more women at the table. So i urge everyone here to support women candidates at every level. Imagine, just imagine for one ifent what it would be like we had 51 of women in congress. Do you think we would still be fighting for Birth Control . No. Do you state still think we will be fighting to end the institutional biases to allow Sexual Assault to fester in the shadows and remain pervasive across this country . No. Do you believe it would be so hard to change the workplace rules that were born in the madman era by creating a national pay leave plan . No. And do you think we would allow dreamers to be used as political pawns in a manufactured Government Shutdown . No. Democracy hasour ever worked is when regular people just like you stand up and demand it. Do not wait for a white knight to march for washington or the party to solve the problem. You will be waiting forever. It is the grassroots. It is you who will create the message, who will launch the campaign, who will win the elections. The resistance is you, not politicians in washington. The only reason we dont have trumpcare today is because you, the grassroots, stood up, stood tall, fought back, and said no. Its because of you that we stop the defunding of planned parenthood. [applause] it is because of the huge turnout of black women in alabama that a credibly accused pedophile was kept out of the u. S. Senate. [applause] and so, for each of us, i think this is a moment where all of us individually are called to act. It is a time such as this that we are called to fight. Wherea time such as this all of us must fight for Economic Opportunity no matter what block you grow up on. Im asking you to fight, to level the playing field. If you care about equality for every man and every women no matter their race, their sexual identity,n, or gender i am asking you to spite to fight for social justice. Accesscare about womens to health care, please keep fighting for planned parenthood. About ending this systemic mass incarceration that robs to many of our young people of a future, i am asking you to fight for true criminal Justice Reform. [applause] if you care about getting money out of politics, i am asking you to fight to end Citizens United and ban corporate money. [applause] if you care about protecting our nown nos who have k other country that america as their home, then i am asking you, keep calling your representatives in congress. Demand that dreamers would not be used as political pawns just to fund an ineffective border wall that mexico was supposed to pay for. If you care about winning back the house, flipping the senate so that we can have a check on this president , i urge you to support Democratic Candidates all across this country. Whether the issue isnt that most important for you, each one of you is the agent for change. Each one of your voices is so important. Locally,art a movement nationally, at our companies, in our communities, on college campuses, or at our own kids schools. Its up to us. This is our moment to stand tall, to fight back, and to be heard [applause] our next speaker is the Vice President of National Outreach and training of emily blitz. [applause] good afternoon. Sisters. , sisters. N im the Vice President of National Outreach and training, the nations largest free core for progressive women. And a year ago today, like many of you, i was getting ready to march and i did. And then the next morning, i got up at 4 00 a. M. , kissed my still sleeping threeyearold and my husband goodbye. I was outfitted in my nasty women unite shirt and my pink , which in honor of this auspicious anniversary, i decided to make still. [applause] as a kenyan american, i was a little tempted to call it trump hasteel, but had enough with canyons. No need to inside a jealous rage , travel ban or something. But back to a year and two days ago, i drove in the dark and i felt the weight of what was in front of me. It is the weight that was and is my privilege to bear, my biggest fear in a day, i claimed that is privileged. That morning, it was due to the recognition of how important it was for me to not just train the 500 women who showed up that morning to learn how to run for up the but to also fire women who gathered to learn how to help a woman run for office. Risen earlyd also and kissed loved ones goodbye, perhaps several days prior. Many from out of town who had come by planes, trains, and automobiles. Many who had gathered, talking late into the night after the march, and still showed up. Early the next morning because nomatter what our distances, matter our differences, thank you intersection a womens march organizers, we were one in the hell no statement we came to make the day before and the community we found in the process. But it didnt end there. This group was ready to pick it further, to commit to a different level. They showed up because they were ready to do something about a fundamental truth we know was power. If you are not at the table, you are what . On the menu. Family, i work for emily blitz, an organization that has been helping to elect prochoice immigrant women for 33 years prochoice Democratic Women for 33 years. In 1992, it was part of what became known as the year of the woman. As my sister spoke of earlier, driven by the average women felt at professor anita hills treatment during the Clarence Thomas hearing. You know, outrage. Fury, i felt as a freshman at howard university, watching how professor hill was so crudely taken apart because they didnt believe her. That which is driven over 26,000 women, like many of you, to reach out to emilys list since the 2016 election. There are future state legislators, mayors, city counselors, members of congress, school board members, district attorneys, waterboard members, you name it. Women are coming for it. [applause] fact, do i have any women out here who are running today . Here who any folks out are going to help a woman to run . At emilys bliss, we know that women run for office because they are mad or because they want to fix something. And weve always said, watch out for the women for whom it is both. Not as usual, family. Weve got a whole lot of brilliant, diverse, dedicated folks learning how to run for office across this country and putting their names on the ballot. Who will become the entire future generation of transformational leaders. The transformation wont be complete in 2018 and it wont be complete in 2020. Its just getting started. In fact, construction has begun ahead of schedule. Mi correct, for 2017 victories . Minute too soon, here with ourit Government Shutdown . Experience the real consequences of this white house, this congress, and please, dear god, continued to keep watch over our progressiveness in the Supreme Court. So we must do more than stay woke. While this president works at a wall, weve and hard at work building movements. And we know this coalition of old and new will ensure the success of the organizations organizers who are leading victories from charlotte, North Carolina to Washington State to new jersey, down to texas, georgia where we will elect our first black woman governor to serve in this country, stacy abrams. [applause] we are going to make 2018 even better. And we will do this together. Because progress does not come easy. Weve got a lot of work ahead of it 2018 ahead. 2018 has already become the year of the woman, but just as last years march was more than a one day demonstration, this will stretch far beyond one year. This is not a waste. This is a change you are all a part of. My aunt alice and my uncle bob, who are here today have always said, if you dont do politics, you will have politics done to you. Thank you. [applause] our next speaker is the president of the feminist majority. How sweet this is [applause] as we are standing here in d. C. With tens of thousands of people, we are all over this nation with 250 marches and events. [applause] we are in los angeles and new , and in vegas maralago. [applause] today andre marching tens of thousands are marching here and they said we would be a oneday event. They have no idea that this movement has been for decades and is going to be for as long as it takes to get the full equality. [applause] the message that we are sending today is that we are not only marching, we are voting. We are running, and we are winning. [applause] wave thatsnk coming to the state legislatures , to the governors mansions, to congress, and we want to make sure that we keep our eyes on the prize. So we are going to introduce right now two of the feminist majoritys next wave that is coming in. And we have all generations up here. Mini, she. Nadya hush will be the first afghan ,merican to run for congress and shes going to change the image of afghanistan. [applause] shes a pediatrician who is doctors and rightwing ones in congress trying to deny womens rights to reproductive rights. Here alisonhave up friedman, who is running in virginia against rightwing barbara constantine. [applause] i want to share my time with the future so the first afghan woman afghanistan,g for not only in the congress, but speaking for Womens Health in shmini. S, dr. Nadya ha [applause] d. C. Adya hello, it is a pleasure to look out at the Nations Capital and seek ong. K pink str [applause] i attended this march last year out of outrage. Physicians, fellow ready to demand change. And this year, i stand in front of this crowd as a candidate, because ive decided, like so many of you, that enough is enough, and if we are the majority, then we should look like it. [applause] 2018, i, who, descendent of afghans, a country that could be classified as one of those bleep hole countries, stand before you as a physician. And im ready to make this year year where we can have the last of the first because we have reached a time where we shouldnt still be rooting out the first woman to do this and the first woman to do that. [applause] our time is now. Vote with your feet. Vote with your signs, vote with your wallets. And please, vote at the polls. [applause] my name is Allison Friedman and im a firsttime candidate running for congress in virginias 10th district. [applause] and standing in front of this icon of unity, i think about our president and i think about the founders and i think about and i think they knew that at some point, we would have an unfit tyrant in the white house. What they didnt count on was a Congress Without the courage to hold him accountable. [applause] but i look at here and i see courage. I see courage and the silence , inkers and the dreamers the moms who demand, in the black lives that matter. [applause] and deliver alabama. [applause] and courage that says to congress, if this job is too hard, and if this president is too scary to take on, we will take your place. [applause] ready to fight for a government that doesnt shut down, and understands that you cant incentivize work if Childcare Costs more than your page. We are ready to make more than youre paid. We are ready to make health care more accessible and affordable. We are ready to deal with science and ethics and integrity. And we are ready to run because the only thing scarier than stepping into this ring is seeing what happens when we dont. Thank you. [applause] yes, theres going to be a pink wave, a blue wave, and theres going to be feminists marching until we have full inequality for all. [applause] and now, some of our allies in congress didnt quite make the first wave, but they are here now. We got to know we have good friends in congress fighting every day and we intend to increase their numbers. And so, the Wasserman Schultz just came and i want to introduce her and thank her for fighting every day. Thank you so much. Thank you for fighting the good fight for nearly my entire life with the feminist majority. Importantncredibly that we continue to send a message as women and men who ,lign with us that donald trump we will not roll over, we will not give in. Im representing the great state of florida, sending a shutout to my sisters in miami who i would love to be with tomorrow, but instead we are going to fight for the sisters and for the women and for my daughters from generation to generation to ensure we will have a quality and equity and be able to make sure that we dont need anymore me too or times of movements. Thank you for being here, thank you for standing with us. Its my privilege to introduce my colleagues. Hello washington, d. C. Im from seattle, washington, and proud to be the first indianamerican woman in the u. S. House of representatives. [applause] democrats tell you, are standing strong for our values and our principles. We are going to fight for dreamers, for kids who need health insurance. We are going to fight to put funding into the opioid crisis. We are going to fight for what every working americans deserve in this country, and women are going to lead the way. And now its my great honor to introduce, from the great state of tennessee, steve collins. [applause] thank you. America, this is a beautiful picture. Im from memphis, the blue star in a red state, where thousands of women met today in a march rally for womens rights. [applause] here as one stand of the sponsors, along with rep is a bit of jayapal and several of her colleagues who filed to impeach donald j. Trump. [applause] he has violated the clause, disrupted justice, he has stood waysd waved at the in that the judiciary would never see. This is the biggest, most tremendous crowd in the history of washington will gather here to see the election and inauguration of the next resident of the United States, somebody who believes in justice, freedom, and democracy. Join me here. I bring on rep presented of jimmy gomez from california. Representative jimmy gomez from california. Thank you so much. My name is jimmy gomez, im from los angeles, the home of the resistance. Im the first democrat elected to congress in the trunk era and we are going to in the trunk era, and we are going to make it the shortest president seat in history. No matter the color of your skin, no matter the god you worship, if you come here and believe in our country, the ideals that all men and women are created equal, that you deserve a place here in the United States of america. ,nd i like to say thank you because the resistance is not just in the halls of congress or the city hall chambers or the statehouses. Its in the streets. Its in the homes, its in planned parenthood clinics. Women will be treated fairly and get equal health care. I want to say thank you, keep up the fight, because this fight continues. The struggle endures and the dream will live on. [applause] our next speaker is sela how, the executive director of the National Black womens reproductive justice addendum. [applause] good morning. Or actually, his afternoon now. Good afternoon, everybody. And yes, we are going to march soon. Ago, millions of women and men came out to protest the election of a racist, xenophobic, homophobic, sexual predator. [booing] while the protests were very energetic and found all caps of actions throughout the country, we still have donald trump in the white house. And we still have a Republicancontrolled Congress that is unwilling to stand up for these antiwoman, antiblack, antimuslim, antipoor policies. But i dont really want to talk about donald trump today. I want to tell a different story, a much more visionary story. On december 12, an unlikely scenario developed. Voted in theoters special election in alabama. [applause] 229,289 black women voted. [applause] votes for98 of their former federal prosecutor who supported the Affordable Care additionalposed restrictions to abortion rights, and who prosecuted the two klansmen who were responsible for the bombing of a church that murdered for young black women. Four young black women. [applause] day, 418 white women voted. 34 of them voted for the former voted for abut 63 conservative, evangelical, antiabortion pedophile. [booing] year, march every single but the best way to stop the rightwing policies coming out of the Trump Administration is to change the people who make the decisions. [applause] and women have the power to make that change. Black women have consistently voted for candidates who support voting rights, womens rights, civil rights, the rise of lgbt people, workers rights. But we need all women as our partners. [applause] right after the president ial election last year, i sat down and had coffee with a friend. She was white. And she told me that she had voted for Hillary Clinton. But that her mother, her two sisters, and her sisterinlaw had voted for donald trump. [booing] i asked her why. And she said, i didnt ask. Next nine months, our task is very simple. Mothers, your sisters, your sister in law, your nieces, your cousins, your friends. Have those family flights family fights over politics that you dont really want to have. [applause] yeah, you know those Holiday Family fights. Only this time, make it about who they are going to vote for. [applause] because those are the kind of discussions that are critical to changing the toxic environment we now live in. We have thousands of women who are stepping up to run for office. But they will not win without womens votes. 2018 will be the year when women become the decisions makers. [applause] so, march, take to the street, but of all things, vote. [applause] are the ones weve been waiting for. Thank you. [applause] hey, guys. Hey, everyone. Thanks for your patience. We have just a few more speakers and then we will be marching shortly. Please give the speakers your attention because we are happy to have them and their message is important. Bear with us for 20 or 30 minutes. This is very important. [booing] 10 minutes. Can you give me 10 minutes please . Thank you, because our speakers, we are really excited to have them. So just 10 more minutes, ok . Our next speaker is terrell davis, a musician, actor, and author. Thank you. Well, good afternoon. I want to thank emily and all the organizers for the womens march to have all the speakers delivering this great message. Right now, weve done the talk and in 10 minutes or so, it will be time to walk the walk. [applause] makeknow, we keep hearing America Great again. Well, i think we better start with making America Great, period. And there is no greatness without equality. And i know about equality. Ive worked the last 32, 33 years bringing sense to people who had joined organizations, such as the ku klux klan and neonazi movements, and ive had a great deal of success. But discrimination does not start or end with color or race. There is all kinds of discrimination, and today we are going to fight against discrimination against women. And there is no way that anybody here can tell me that they exist without a woman involved. It, in the 21st century, women are still making . 79 to my dollar for the same amount of work . And we call ourselves the greatest nation on the face of this earth. Dont get me wrong, i love my country, i am very patriotic. But i do have some issues with that statement. Perhaps we are the greatest technologically. We put a man on the moon. And while Neil Armstrong was Walking Around talking about one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind, we were able to talk with him live via satellite radio phone all the way to the moon. We invented that technology. Everybody here has a cell phone. Everybody here has email. Hit send a,mbers, and you are talking to people next door in virginia, maryland, california, africa, australia. Anywhere on the face of this earth. We invented that technology. That we have a country, and there are countries around the world that somebody referred to as blank hole countries that have female president s, female prime ministers, etc. That before we can call ourselves the greatest nation on the face of this earth, perhaps our ideology needs to catch up to our technology. Brag about can truly how great we are. March your cells to the po march yourself to the polls. It will take men as well. Up to the plates, talk to your brothers, your sons, your fathers, your coworkers. We need to support these women. Say behind every good man, there is a good woman. A good mans time for to stand behind these good women. [cheering] them and must support give them a safe place that will notw them to speak out and like the lady the other day, i wont call her name, but you know who she is, that they will not have to strip themselves of their dignity and integrity and lie under oath in order to protect their mailbox and keep their protect their male boss and keep their job. We want women to have the same safe space as we do and we want women to have equal pay for equal work, and we are going to make that happen this year. Thank you all very much. [cheers and applause] our next speaker is not thadia hassan. Of the Young Leaders institute. [cheering] peace be upon all of you. Learned of the outcome of the election last year, there was a sweeping fear among children that sparked national attention. As the school kids expressed their fear of wanting to go to school under the new administration. Never before have i seen such a National Outcry from the most vulnerable members of our country, our children. This brought me to tears, and i felt helpless. And i had no idea how i can help our youngsters. At that moment, i heard the my late father, whose voice rang in my ears as he said, helpless . Nonsense, that is rubbish, no such thing. Had he been alive, that would have prompted a threeday lecture and he would have told me how as a child he had to walk to school in the snow uphill both ways with holes in his shoes. And then he would have told me about how he had to lead his family at such a young age to join the United States marines and to serve our country proudly , and how the army made a man out of him. In my household, there was no room for helpless. And at that time, i knew that things were about to get ugly and that nothing was going to change without a fight. And so i turned to the only inspiration that i knew, and that was the holy koran, the word of god that was given to prophet muhammad. Koranhe koran, the same that Thomas Jefferson used as a reference when he authored the declaration of independence. [cheering] and if you have not seen that is in display at the library of congress, and i encourage you all to go see it there. Jefferson was a champion for Civil Liberties and freedom, and lets not forget that it was jefferson who was the main promoter of the bill of rights, as he saw a need for additional protections and liberties and freedoms for americans beyond what the constitution offered at that time. Youso, is it surprising to that our First Amendment right, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, read him of the press freedom of the press, rejoice and free will were all liberties that were awarded to the community by god in the koran 1400 years ago . And is it also surprising to know that the carron that the koran is an avid supporter of womens rights . Womens rights. And get this, the koran gave womens rights equal to that of man. Equal, really equal. And women in the seventh century enjoyed liberties that many women do not have today. Wonder i cannot help but , is it taking us forward or backward . Right now, i was like to share to sources of information two sources of information that helped me at this moment when i was feeling helpless and at an alltime low. The first source of inspiration came from a verse in the koran where our creator says and i quote, god will not change a theytion of a people until first change what is in themselves. If you want to see change in your external environment, change the condition of your internal environment. Change the condition of your heart and your mind. [cheering] to see more love in the world, have a loving heart. If you want more positivity around you, think positive thoughts. If you want more peace in the world, be the piece you want to see around you be the peace you want to see around you. It is that simple. And if you want to see a better government, go out and vote. [cheers and applause] the second source of inspiration came to me from an iconic pop singer who sang man in the mirror. Michael jacksons message in this song almost identically mirrors the verse from the koran that i just quoted. Youhe course states, if want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make that change. The song goes deeper to say, i see the kids in the street without enough to eat, who am i to be blind pretending not to see their needs . Have we become blinded by our greed and our own selfish ways that we can no longer see the needs and rights of others . We are losing our youth to drugs, to violence, to gangs, to suicide, and to poverty. We have more homeless and poor children in this country than any other in industrialized nations. And i guarantee you, this administration will do nothing about it. My elrt goes out to salvador and brothers and my el salvadorean brothers and sisters, for those who are no longer protected, and i want to tell you that the Muslim Community stands with you. [cheers and applause] youo today, i stand before with renewed intentions. And i am going to change my ways. And like michael said, it starts with the man in the mirror. But in my case, as a lebaneseamerican muslim woman who is the daughter of a u. S. Marine, it starts with this woman in the mirror. [cheering] and so as the executive director of Young Leaders institute, i am dedicating my lifes work to empowering our youth to reaching their greatest potential, and to helping them become the worlds greatest innovators and agents of change that we know they are. And lets not put our young people in a box. They are not the future leaders or the leaders of tomorrow. They are the leaders of today. And we need to let them know that they matter, too. And so id like to urge all of you, and especially all the millennials out there, to stand shoulder to shoulder and hold hands, and lets march on to the polls. Power to the polls, and lets have a say in who represents us. I know i spoke of two sources of inspiration, but i actually have a third and i brought that third source with me today. Someone that has been an advocate for getting the vote out, especially in the midterm election. Stage mylcome to the daughter. [cheers and applause] hey, guys. Right now, i am going to encourage all of you to vote for the 2018 midterm elections. I know what you are thinking. Why is this kid telling you what to do . Adults because in 2016, decided to elect a man i do not like into the white house. I was so scared that i didnt even want to go to school. And now i am here to ask you to please do something about it. I know i am just a kid, but even i know that every single vote counts. Look at what happened in virginia. We won the house by one vote, just one vote. So this november, please go out and vote so you can give a kid like me and all the kids in the crowd the chance for a good future. Thank you very much. [cheers and applause] thank you. Our next speaker is britney oliver, the founding director. [crowd chanting march] hello, everyone. Liver, and brittany o i am the founding director of not without black women, based in baltimore, maryland. Not without black women is a social and Political Organization that started last summer. We are an organization that focuses on black womens issues through selfexpression, dialogue, and sisterhood. Rooted in a youth mentoring, community service, political advocacy, and community organizing. Or areall remember familiar with me, one year ago, i challenged white feminism through the womens march in washington, a year ago during this time. A year later, i am here speaking in front of you today. [cheering] so black women, not without black women. What do we think that means and what that stands for . We had examples, historical examples, over and over again for what it means, for how important our voices is, right . You saw the results from alabama. You saw me too. And the work that she has done over 10 years and didnt get recognition for until recently. Black womens issues need to be at the forefront in order for this country to move forward. Right . Arees where black women harmed, police brutality, rate culture, rape workplace discrimination, immigration discrimination. Black women are the face of these issues, and we need you. Needs to do a better job at supporting black women, right . I am going to read a quick list of names of lack women we have of black women we have lost in this country due to police brutality. Blaze,james, sandra smith, anderson, yvette kendra chapman, rennette tanner, say her name. Say her name. Say her name. Clap it up. [cheers and applause] moving forward, supporting lack and brown organizations black and brown organizations in your community. Elect black women. Least, clap it up to erica garner. Fighting forr life her father. Her family has not seen justice yet. Clap it up for her. She is not with us anymore. She is a face of the movement. Time but before i go, i want you all to repeat after me. Let me tell you what you need to say. Without wait a minute, hold on. Wait, hold on. Not without black women. You ready . 1, 2, 3. Not without black women. Not without black women. Not without black women. Not without black women. Not without black women. [cheering] thank you all. Thank you to the organizers and thanks to everyone standing behind me. We are the folks from baltimore, maryland. Clap it up for them. [applause] thank you all so much, i appreciate it. Support black women. [cheers and applause] black women. Black women. Black women. Black women black women. Good afternoon, everyone. I am the president of fairfax naacp. Exactly one year ago, approximately 5 million women across the country stood up against the hate of the trump campaign. At the time, a lot of people thought it was just a bunch of angry liberals blowing off some steam. But boy, were they wrong. , a year later, we have approximately 50 women running for the senate. And 400 running for the house. You did that. Thank you. Thank you for standing up against the hate, thank you for standing up to show the rest of the trump hate does not represent the majority of america. Thank you for reorienting americas moral compass. Last year, even though most of us were pretty upset about the trump victory, we all held out hope that the presidency wouldnt look anything like the campaign. But i think we all grossly underestimated just where trumps bottom was. The bottom wasnt describing mexicans as rapists and drug dealers. It wasnt writing about assaulting women. It wasnt calling for the muslim ban. It wasnt calling for protesters to assault others at rallies, or ben carson describing immigrants as slaves as immigrants. It wasnt about describing nfl. s, and its. O. B certainly wont be describing black and brown developing countries as sholes. There is no moral bottom. The reason there is no bottom is because this president doesnt have a moral compass. Instead of trying to reunite us ad encourage as to imagine more inclusive society, he is using his most powerful platform in the world to divide us and promote hate. That is why we see a rise in groups like the kkk, terrorist groups like the kkk, because even though you will not hear about this on fox news or cnn, 75 of the terrorist act that happened in this country are perpetrated by white supremacists. Not muslims. Ban for nt hear a the kkk. They are the real terrorists. Trumps obsession with Barack Obamas legacy is about more than Barack Obamas legacy. It is about trying to erase the hope he instilled in us. It is about trying to put us back in our place. It is about trying to remind minorities and women that we were never supposed to be equals, much less try for greatness. Ourhe miscalculated resolve as a nation and a people. We dont look back because we know looking forward, her future is brighter than our past ever will be. So we will not stop fighting to end per release and police brutality. We will not stop fighting for immigrants to be treated like human beings. We will not stop fighting for quality affordable education and housing and a double eldercare, and we will not and Affordable Health care, and we will not stop writing for lgbt we will not stop fighting for rights. We have got to make sure the muslim ban dies once in for all. Sure that thee wall doesnt go up and we dont hate for it. And we dont pay for it. We have to make sure both documented and undocumented immigrants stopped losing their protections they are every day and that criminal Justice Reform actually gets done instead of being led by jared kushner, now that he is done solving the middle east. We have to keep fighting for environmental protections because those are fading every day. I will close on a sober note to remind you that we have a lot of work to do. We have an uphill battle, but i know we are up. For it we have to be up for it but i know we are up for it. Lets get to work, america. Keep standing in the face of hate. Thank you. [cheers and applause] gentes. Mi it is such an honor to be in front of a sea of beautiful people. I know you all want to march. I promise, just four more speakers. [booing] i know. On behalf of the Latina Institute for rights, i want to send a message loud and clear to our elected officials. Women of color are watching. We are voting, and our voices will be heard. [cheering] this has been a difficult year. Women of color, trans people, immigrants, people with disabilities, folks of low income, muslims and native communities have faced the same attacks on our bodies, and our livelihoods, and our autonomy. But in spite of the administrations attempts to take women and the world back to the dark ages, we have resisted. And our presence here today and every day is a testament that we are strong and we will not he defeated we will not be defeated. I know because this fight is not new and our communities have been down this road before. I see this when i see dreamers stand up without fear. I see this when i see mothers like my mom, who day in and day theirrk hard to provide families and keep us close together, despite systems trying to keep us apart. I see this when trans and we are individuals refuse to be said trans and queer individuals refuse to be silent. I see this when individuals like jingo foot like jane doe fight for their abortion, even when the government tries to stop them, and still win. We cannot stop and we will not stop. We are tired. Antichoice,of the antiimmigrant, antiwomen politicians creating laws that hurt us all. We have to act now. You know why . Because we are the backbone of this country, and we are the changemakers. [cheering] not only is it time to listen to the voices of women of color, it is also time to follow their leadership. Fight fore will Racial Justice and black liberation, for quality Affordable Health care for all, for equal access to education, ending the Deportation Machine that tears apart families. For humane Immigration Reform and liberation to our trans and queer communities. Each and every one of us is needed to advance our vision for justice and equality, and transform the Political Landscape in this country. As poet and radical activist drew jordan said, we are the ones we have been waiting for. Yes, we can. Thank you. [cheering] hello, everyone. And ie is wendy wallace, am the director for planned parenthood action fund. It is such an honor to be here, to be invited here to speak to you today. Following the march last year, women all across the country flooded congressional phone lines, swarmed town halls, and rallied outside politicians offices. And together we achieved what no one thought was possible. We defeated trumpcare and attempts to defund planned parenthood, not once, not twice, but three times. [cheering] we are not accepting what is happening now as the new normal. Women are speaking out against harassment with me too and times up. As usual, women of color are leading the way in important electoral wins in virginia and alabama. 2018, our into collective power will continue to drive change in this country, at the local and national levels. Resistance is moving from the airport to the streets to the statehouses and to the ballot boxes. Together, we are fighting for a world where women of color, immigrants, the lgbt communities all have full in and control over their bodies. All have equality and control over their bodies. Our movement will only grow stronger. More women will speak out, more women will run for office, or powerful politicians will be held accountable. One of our strongest allies in will be members of congress, and it is my pleasure to introduce congressman keith ellison, who is here to talk to us about that. [cheering] how you doing out there . Have you feeling . How you feeling . I am here to do one simple thing, and that is to thank you. Because one year ago, people will feeling down. This maniac got elected and thought, what are we going to do . But you, the women of america, said we are going to march on january 21. We are going to spire we are going to inspire this country and change this situation. You did that come in here you are back one year later, and wouldnt you know it, this shut down the government they shut down the government. Your commitment to organizing is leading the entire country. Absolutely, you are Inspiring Women and girls. You are inspiring all of us. You are inspiring the whole country, and behind your leadership, i will follow. Thank you very much, and i look forward to fighting at your side all the time. Peace. [cheering] good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I will keep this very short. I am a former marine, i am a puerto rican, and in 2016, i was inspired to run for congress. My campaign truly didnt start until i start until i attended the womens march. And i witnessed firsthand a progressive wave and the start of a new political movement. A movement that swept across this country, one that i witnessed her stand in my home state of virginia witnessed firsthand in my home state of her genia. Of virginia. I will continue to fight to have members of the Lgbt Community the elected to congress. Thank you for inspiring me every day, and keep the blue wave rolling. Hey, everyone. My name is jamie sawyer, and i am so ready to join you out there in the march. My husband is running for congress. Thank you. And today, i am here to march with you for a quality, for women, for equality, for women, and all rights. My husband is ready to stand with you and be a yes vote for all these important issues in congress. Tired of the rhetoric being controlled by trump lies, and we are ready to let them hear our truth. Thank you so much. Thank you. I am also running for congress in virginias First District. I will tell you the four things we need to do to get a quality, because waiting patiently and not so patiently is too long for a quartercentury is too long. N you are told to speak up to shut up, speak up, be persistent, and always vote, because the gop will not stand for you but the progressives will and we do and we will. Thank you very much. We are better off together. Sisters and brothers, all is possible, right . Let me hear it. All is possible. Am running for congress in the First District of virginia. Let me tell you this. I ams possible because standing here in front of you telling you that we are going to take over capitol hill this year. Ladies and gentlemen, sisters and brothers, let me tell you what i want you to do. I want you to get your phones out and text first to 69922. And support my campaign. Take uster is going to home and get us back together. Aten, we are here, and we going nowhere and we aint going nowhere. We are so close, we are almost done. I have two things left and 30 seconds. I am a calm britt i am a combat decorated veteran, a mother of five, a business owner, and a nonprofit executive, and a community organizer. I am on the board of march on, which is a National Organization created by amazing women that consist of womens march members and sister march organizers from last year. And i want to tell you two things. One, you are all badass. We are going to own this. And the next step is called operation marching orders. Operation marching orde operationmar chingorders. Org. This is where we crowd sourced the national agenda. It opens now, it is open for two weeks. It is a chance for us to put our needs and wants on paper and deliver it to our elected officials. And we are saying, these are our orders. Heed them or be voted out. [cheers and applause] operationmarchingorders. Org. March on. Hello, everyone. I am a professional Soccer Player for the washington spirit. [cheering] ive planned an entire speech, but guess what . [cheering] it is time that we move. It is time that we march. And we rise up. Let me hear you, when i say rise, you say up. Rise up. In the words of beyonce, who run the world . Girls. Right, people. Lets rise up, lets march on washington. Our voices will be heard. We cannot stand still. Thank you, lets march. Thank you, everyone. Now, who is ready to march . There going to head down reflecting pool and turn down 17th and we are going to march to the white house, and they are going to hear us. Let me hear you. [cheering] i didnt hear you. Let me hear you. [cheering] show me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like. Show me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like. Now lets march. [cheering] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2018] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] both the house and senate will be back in session sunday for a work around way to fund the government. Mitch mcconnell has indicated a vote on a new temporary pending measure could take place at 1 00 a. M. Eastern monday. Watch the house live at 2 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan. The senate will gavel in on cspan2 at 1 00. Cspan, where history unfolds daily. Was created as a Public Service by americas Cable Television services, and is brought to you today by your cable or somewhat provider. Now, a simulcast of washington today, on day one of the Government Shutdown. This is just over one hour. The lunch that seemed so promising was quickly overtaken by hard right forces in the administration, even though we bent over backwards to meet the president s demands. Negotiating with this white house is like negotiating with jello. It is next to impossible. Chuck schumer on a day of fingerpointing and namecalling. Welcome to a saturday addition