Delegates, let’s take a moment to reflect on the journey that has brought us here.
It’s hard not to think back to 1964 when Fannie Lou Hamer made waves at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City.
At just 22, she stood tall among a group of black delegates from Mississippi, demanding that their voices be heard.
Hamer wasn’t just asking for a seat at the table; she was challenging an entire system that had long marginalized her community.
Her powerful testimony revealed the brutal realities she faced as a black woman fighting for her right to vote.
She recounted the violence inflicted upon her by white police officers simply for standing up for her rights.
And then, in a moment that still resonates today, she posed a pivotal question to the nation: “Is this America?”
While Hamer didn’t receive the recognition she sought in that pivotal moment, her legacy endured.
Fast forward four years later, and she was finally seated alongside the official Mississippi delegation.
Her perseverance and courage became a beacon of hope for countless others who sought justice and equality.
Now, we find ourselves at yet another Democratic convention, but this time, the atmosphere is charged with excitement and possibility.
Kamala Harris stands as our party’s nominee, embodying the spirit of those who came before her.
With a rich history as a courtroom prosecutor, district attorney, attorney general, U.S. senator, and now vice president, Harris is uniquely equipped to lead us into the future.
