| 00:00:22 | Gutierrez, Luis | THREE, TWO, ONE. SHOWTIME. [APPLAUSE] |
| 00:00:30 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE COME TO GATHER TO DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS CHANGING THEIR LIVES AND OUR WORLD FOR THE BETTER. AS ORGANIZERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, WE HELP PEOPLE FIND SHARED SOLUTIONS. |
| 00:00:43 | Gutierrez, Luis | COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IS AN AMERICAN TRADITION. |
| 00:00:50 | Gutierrez, Luis | IN THE 2000 A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS OR MORE PROMINENT THAN EVER. |
| 00:00:59 | Gutierrez, Luis | IT WAS THE CANDIDATE. |
| 00:01:02 | Gutierrez, Luis | THIS IDEA OF COMMUNITY VALUES ARE NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE CAMPAIGN IS BECAUSE OF MY LIFE. |
| 00:01:07 | Gutierrez, Luis | EVEN MORE SO WAS THE WORK THE WE DID TOGETHER TO GET EVERY DAY AMERICANS ENGAGE. |
| 00:01:14 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE KNOCKED ON HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF STORES. |
| 00:01:16 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND TURN OUT HUNDREDS OF VOTERS. |
| 00:01:20 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE ORGANIZED RALLIES, FORUMS. |
| 00:01:24 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS CONCERNED ABOUT OUR VALUES AND ISSUES THAT MATTERED MOST. |
| 00:01:32 | Gutierrez, Luis | BECAUSE OF OUR BELIEFS IN FAITH AND DEMOCRACY AND OUR COMMUNITY VALUES. |
| 00:01:37 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE ORGANIZE BECAUSE WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO GET OUR COUNTRY BACK ON TRACK. |
| 00:01:42 | Gutierrez, Luis | NOW IS OUR TIME. |
| 00:01:44 | Gutierrez, Luis | NOW IS OUR TIME. |
| 00:01:46 | Gutierrez, Luis | NOW IS OUR TIME. |
| 00:01:48 | Gutierrez, Luis | THE PROBLEMS WE FACE AS A NATION HAVE A BIG SOLUTIONS. |
| 00:01:54 | Gutierrez, Luis | GOING ALONG WITH POLITICS. |
| 00:01:56 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE KNOW THAT ONLY THROUGH OUR FAITH, AND BY WORKING TOGETHER. |
| 00:01:59 | Gutierrez, Luis | CAN WE MAKE AMERICA WORK FOR ALL OF US. |
| 00:02:06 | Gutierrez, Luis | NOW IT IS TIME TO HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE. |
| 00:02:08 | Gutierrez, Luis | BEFORE I EVEN GET INAUGURATED, DURING THE TRANSITION, WE ARE GOING TO BE CALLING ALL OF YOU IN TO HELP SHAPE THE EVENT. WE ARE GOING TO BE HAVING MEETINGS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. SO YOU HAVE INPUT IN THE AGENDA FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. |
| 00:02:29 | Gutierrez, Luis | IT IS TIME FOR PEOPLE TENTATIVE RECOVERY PLAN THE BILLS OUT EVERY DAY AMERICANS FROM THE SHARE PRICES WE ARE FACING STEEP WE SHARE SOLUTIONS THAT HELP ALL THIS. |
| 00:02:36 | Gutierrez, Luis | NOT JUST A FEW. |
| 00:02:38 | Gutierrez, Luis | IT IS TIME TO REALIZE THE PROMISE OF OUR NATION. OUR DEMOCRACY IN OUR GOVERNMENT. |
| 00:02:45 | Gutierrez, Luis | OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE. |
| 00:02:48 | Gutierrez, Luis | TO GATHER. |
| 00:02:49 | Gutierrez, Luis | ALL OF US. |
| 00:02:50 | Gutierrez, Luis | ALL OF US. |
| 00:02:55 | Gutierrez, Luis | ALL OF US. [APPLAUSE] |
| 00:03:13 | Gutierrez, Luis | HELLO, EVERYBODY. HELLO EVERYONE ARE THERE ANY ORGANIZERS IN THE HOUSE? ANY AGITATORS IN THE HOUSE? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. |
| 00:03:26 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE WILL COME TO THE PROMISE FORUM I AM THE REV. TIMOTHY MCDONALD IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. WE ARE ONE OF THE SPONSORING ORGANIZERS -- ORGANIZERS OF THIS EVENT AND WE WELCOME YOU TONIGHT TO RAISE UP FROM HEAVEN. |
| 00:03:45 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND I AND TREES THAT ANDERSON FROM THE NORTHWEST BRONX COALITION. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. AND THIS EVENT IS A BIG DEAL. WE HAVE MORE THAN 2,000 PEOPLE FROM 32 STATES SITTING HERE WITH US TONIGHT. [APPLAUSE] LONG AGO, AMERICAN MADE US A PROMISE. THEY TOLD US THAT IF WE WORKED HARD, AND TO CARE OF OURSELVES, BUILT STRONG COMMUNITIES, WE WOULD TRY. WE WERE TOLD WE HOLD THESE TRUTHS TO BE SELF-EVIDENT THAT ALL ARE CREATED EQUAL. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE CAN THE PEOPLE ARE ONE FOR MANY OF FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS, THAT PROMISE HAS BEEN BROKEN. WE ALL KNOW THIS STORY, KATRINA, THE WAR, THE HOUSING GLOBAL. WELFARE REFORM. BUT WE'RE DONE WITH THE OLD AMERICA, AREN'T WE? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. |
| 00:04:56 | Gutierrez, Luis | A YEAR AGO, MANY OF US GATHERED AT THE PRESIDENTIAL FORUM IN IOWA. WHERE ANOTHER PROMISE WAS MADE. JUST LIKE THIS, AT THE HEARTLAND FORUM, SENATOR OBAMA, NOW PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. TOLD US THAT WE WOULD HAVE A PLACE AT THE TABLE WITH DECISION THAT IN FACT ALL OF US AND IT WOULD BE MADE. TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO KEEP THAT PROMISE. TODAY IS A NEW DAY. THERE IS A WAVE OF HOPE AND EXCITEMENT THAT THIS COUNTRY HASN'T SEEN IN YEARS. BUT HOPE IS ONLY, IT IS ONLY REAL IF WE WORK AT IT. THE ACT OF CREATION OF BECOMING TAKES ORGANIZING, IT TAKES WORK AND IT TAKES COMMITMENT. SO TODAY, WE REMEMBER THE PROMISE. TODAY WE BEGIN TO WORK TO MAKE IT A REALITY. TO BE -- TODAY WE BEGIN REALIZING THAT PROMISE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. |
| 00:06:10 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND SENDS OUR STORIES AND OUR VALUES ARE WHAT GIVE US HOPE, THAT TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE OUR COUNTRY. AND TOGETHER WE CAN EVEN CHANGE THE WORLD. LET'S START BY CONNECTING OUR HOPE AND FAITH WITH SOME WORDS OF PRAYER. TO LEAVE IS NOW IN PRAYER LETS WELCOME THE REV. KEVIN AND SOON, DANIEL STEVENS. REV. JOHN WELCH AND BRAWL BY DAVID SHIRE. LET US WELCOME THEM AS THEY COME TO LEAVE US IN PRAYER. [APPLAUSE] (music). |
| 00:07:21 | Gutierrez, Luis | AS A POWERFUL COALITION AND A MOSAIC FAITH. TRADITION WE PRAY FOR REMEMBERING THAT 2.8 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY LOST THEIR JOBS IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS. WE PRAY AND REALIZING THAT NEARLY 50 MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE WITHOUT HEALTHCARE. WE PRAY SATISFIED BY THE UNNECESSARY DEPORTATION THAT SEPARATED PARENTS FROM CHILDREN AND HUSBANDS FROM WIVES. AS WE PRAYED WE AGREE THAT THERE IS AN ENORMOUS NEED FOR CHANGE. BUT THAT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THIS CHANGE IS ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH COMMUNITY ORGANIZING. WHEN YOU'RE GO, WHICH HELD THE LARGEST POWER IN DAVENPORT, IOWA WHERE WE RECEIVED A PROMISE FROM A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER TURNED SENATOR. ON NOVEMBER 4 WE HAD THE LARGEST PUBLIC ACTION MEETING IN THE HISTORY OF THIS COUNTRY WHEN WE WENT TO THE POLLS AND ELECTED THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZER TURNED SENATOR TO BE THE 44th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. WE PLAYED TODAY, 2,000 STRONG READY TO REALIZE OUR PROMISE AND I INVITE YOU TO STAND TO YOUR FEET WITH US. AND IN RESPECT OF OUR TRADITION LET US JOIN OUR HEARTS IN PRAYER. GRACIOUS GOD WE THANK YOU FOR THIS HISTORIC MOMENT. WE THANK YOU FOR WHAT PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA THE TREE SYMBOLIZES TO ALL THAT HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED OR MARCH ALLIES. WE THANK YOU FOR RAISING UP THIS SKILLED COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND TRAINERS WAS DEMONSTRATED WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH WHEN WE ORGANIZE PEOPLE AND MONEY. HELP US TO WORK WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION HANDLED THE ADMINISTRATION AND OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE. THAT THE PROMISES OF INCLUSION, A CHANGE AND HOPE AND ALL CAMPAIGN PROMISES WILL BE REALIZED. |
| 00:09:29 | Gutierrez, Luis | GOD'S VOICE IS THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE. GOD'S POWER IT IS REALIZING THE POWER OF PEOPLE TO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS JUST. POWERFUL PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE COMPASSION FOR OTHERS. POWERFUL PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE WHO STAND UP FOR WHAT IS JUST. POWERFUL PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT STAND IDLY BY WITH THE BLOOD OF THEIR NEIGHBOR. ME THE SOURCE OF LIGHT AND LIBERATION CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN US AND MAKE US HOLY, POWERFUL PEOPLE. [APPLAUSE] |
| 00:10:12 | Gutierrez, Luis | HOLY GOD, HOLY GOD, IF YOU HAVE CREATED YES, FOR RELATIONSHIP. BLESS THE RELATIONSHIPS HERE BETWEEN AND AMONG YOUR PEOPLE AND OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. YOU HAVE BROUGHT US THIS FAR FROM THE HEARTLAND TO THE CAPITAL BY FAITH. WE ASK YOU TO ORGANIZE OUR RELATIONSHIP FOR POWER, POWER TO MAKE THE PROMISE OF JUSTICE REAL FOR ALL. |
| 00:10:39 | Gutierrez, Luis | FATHER IN HEAVEN WE FIGURE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY FOR YOUR PEOPLE. WE COME AS PEOPLE WHO LIFTED UP THE ARMS OF MOSES TOUR VICTORY AT. WE LIFT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE CABINET TO YOU. THAT AS WE EMBRACE HIS 87 AND GIVE US NEW DIRECTION, WE PRAY THAT IN ALL OF THEIR WAYS, IT WOULD A KNOWLEDGE YOU. AND WE THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR DIRECTING THEIR PRAYER. I PRAY THIS IN THE NAME OF JESUS. |
| 00:11:17 | Gutierrez, Luis | WITH GOD'S NAME, THE MERCIFUL BENEFACTOR AND REDEEMER. HOPE RAISED BELONGS TO YOU, ALL LORD. SHERROD SURE AND SUSTAINER GUARDIAN AND EVIL FOR. AS WE OPEN UP THIS MOMENT TO MOVE FORWARD OUR WORK TO TRANSFORM AMERICA, ENTERING THIS WORK WITH THEY, SEEKING YOUR FORGIVENESS AND YOUR MERCY. AND EMPOWERING US TO EXIT THIS DAY AND RUSH BY YOUR GUIDANCE AND YOUR GRACE. THE GRACE THAT WILL LEAVE PRESIDENT ELECT OBAMA AND ALL OF US TO CLEARER AND LIGHT AND MORE FLOURISHING ALIKE. OUR LORD, WE BELIEVE YOU WILL NOT CHANGE THE GRIDS WHICH YOU HAVE BESTOWED ON THE PEOPLE AND A CHANGE WHICH IS TROUBLING THEIR SOULS. BUT TRULY, YOU ARE THE ONE WHO HEARS AND KNOWS ALL THINGS. AND YOU'RE THE ONE WHO MAKES ALL THINGS POSSIBLE. AND NOW, DEAR PEOPLE, LET US ALL SAY, AMEN. |
| 00:12:22 | Gutierrez, Luis | I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THEM FOR THAT MOVING PRAYER. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN PRAYER IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING. NOW I WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR TO REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NATIONAL PARTNERS WHO HELPED ORGANIZE THIS EVENT. FROM THE CENTER OF COMMUNITY CHANGE AND GARCIA FROM THE FOUNDATION. [APPLAUSE] |
| 00:12:51 | Gutierrez, Luis | GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS MRS. GARCIA. [APPLAUSE] I AM WITH THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY FOR CHANGE. |
| 00:13:03 | Gutierrez, Luis | ON OR ORGANIZATION THAT SPONSORED THIS MAGNIFICENT EVENT TO REALIZE THE PROMISE ON SAFE COMMUNITY AND VALUES. TODAY COMMUNITY ORGANIZING HAS ARRIVED IN WASHINGTON D.C.. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. WE ARE RIGHT ON TIME. A COUNTRY IS AN ECONOMIC CRISIS. -- IS AN ECONOMIC CRISIS. WITH A NEW LEADERSHIP WE HAVE A NEW 7-87 IN THE WHITE HOUSE. THIS CRISIS IS A NEW LEADERSHIP IN CONGRESS AND THIS IS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY, THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY IN 40 YEARS. [APPLAUSE] WE NOW HAVE A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER IN THE WHITE HOUSE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. BUT AS COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS AND LEADERS AND GRASS-ROOTS LEADERS, ARE YOU OUT THERE? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. WE KNOW TO REALIZE THE PROMISE WE NEED A BROAD MOVEMENT. A MOMENT OF ALLIES AND PROMISE AND BRING THIS MOMENT TO BE REALIZED. [APPLAUSE] |
| 00:14:30 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE ARE HERE BECAUSE THE CRISIS OUR COUNTRY IS FACING DEMANDS BIG AND BOLD SOLUTIONS, NOT SMALL AND TIMID ONES. THE TWO ROUND TABLES OF COMMUNITY LEADERS OF ALLIED ORGANIZATION AND POLICY-MAKERS WILL TAKE ON THE TWO GREAT CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME. BUILDING A NEW ECONOMY FOR SHARE PRICE FAIR -- PROSPERITY AND EXPANDING OUR DEMOCRACY. WE NEED A MASSIVE ECONOMIC RECOVERY PROGRAM THE PUTS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE BACK TO WORK. PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES. AND REDUCES ECONOMIC AND RACIAL INEQUALITY IN OUR COUNTRY. [APPLAUSE] WE NEED UNIVERSAL HEALTH INSURANCE AND THE TRULY INCLUDES EVERYONE. WE NEED EVER GRISHAM REFORM THAT BRINGS MILLIONS OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS OUT OF THE SHADOWS TO BE CITIZENS AND PART OF OUR DEMOCRACY. [APPLAUSE] WE NEED A NEW SHOW SOCIAL CONTRACT BETWEEN GOVERNMENT CORPORATIONS, WORKERS AND COMMUNITIES. AND TO ACHIEVE THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE, WE KNOW THAT COMMUNITY ORGANIZING ITSELF WILL NEED TO CHANGE. WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO ORGANIZE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL FOR NATIONAL POLICY CHANGES ON A SCALE THAT WE HAVE NEVER ATTEMPTED. WE WILL NEED TO MOVE FROM THE POLITICS OF PROTEST TO THE CHALLENGE OF GOVERNING. WE ARE NO LONGER BEING ON THE DOORS TO GET IN AND WE CAN'T SETTLE ANY MORE FOR JUST COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT WE DON'T LIKE. TODAY WE ARE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEVELOPING IDEAS AND PROPOSING SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS OUR COUNTRY FACES. THE ROUND TABLES AND FORMAT OF THIS EVENT DIFFER FROM WHAT WE HAD DONE IN THE PAST AND WHAT WE ARE USED TO. BECAUSE WE ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KEY ALLIES. NOT JUST TO OPPOSE, BUT TO PROPOSE. [APPLAUSE] THIS, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THIS IS NO ORDINARY TIME WE ARE CALLED TO DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS. |
| 00:16:33 | Gutierrez, Luis | ON BEHALF OF THE FOUNDATION AND CENTER FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE, WHICH WELCOME YOU TO REALIZE IN THE PROMISE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT. [APPLAUSE] |
| 00:16:49 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU. DO YOU AND FEEL THE POWER IN THIS ROOM? I FEEL IT. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. I WANT TO INTRODUCE THE DOCTOR FROM THE EIGHTH ACTION FOR COMMUNITY EQUITY AND APRIL PAGE, THE ALLIANCE TO DEVELOP POWER AND THEY ARE GOING TO TELL US ABOUT THE POWER. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. |
| 00:17:18 | Gutierrez, Luis | IN HAWAII, WHERE I COME FROM, WE GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH ALOHA. I TRAVELED SEVEN DOZEN MILES FROM A LAND THAT DEFLECTS DIVERSITY AND CULTURE. A LAND OF PARADISE YET, LIKE MANY OF US IN THIS ROOM, THE PEOPLE OF HAWAII ARE SUFFERING FROM JOBLESSNESS, HOMELESSNESS, AND A FAILED HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. HAWAII IS ALSO THE PLACE WHERE THE 44th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES GREW UP, BARACK OBAMA. [APPLAUSE] WE ARE HERE TODAY TO REFLECT, BRIEFLY, IN THIS HISTORIC MOMENT, AND TO PLAN FOR A NEW VISION. THIS PAST ELECTION WAS UNIQUE IN MANY WAYS. THE EXPECTANCY, THE EXCITEMENT, THE SHEER NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED. ON NOVEMBER 2008, THE FOURTH OF NOVEMBER, 2008, WE SHOWED THAT WHEN EVERYTHING AMERICANS ARE EMPOWERED, THEY CAN DO AMAZING THINGS. [APPLAUSE] THIS WAS NOT A VICTORY FOR ANYONE IN PARTICULAR. FOR A PARTY, RACE OR SINGLE INDIVIDUAL. RATHER, IT WAS A VICTORY FOR AMERICA. FOR ALL OF US. [APPLAUSE] BECAUSE YOU VOTED IN THIS ELECTION GRANDMOTHERS AND GRANDFATHERS TURN OUT IN THIS ELECTION, BECAUSE EMIGRANTS WERE IN THE SELECTION, BECAUSE AFRICAN-AMERICANS VOTED IN RECORD NUMBERS IN THIS ELECTION, BECAUSE WE GOT IN LINE, WE WAITED, WE VOTED EARLY INTO THE NIGHT. TOGETHER, WE'VE FREE ENGAGED EVERY DAY AMERICANS TO ENGAGE IN THEIR OWN GOVERNMENT. [APPLAUSE] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. |
| 00:19:45 | Gutierrez, Luis | OKAY, I KNOW COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IS NOT NEW TO ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM. BECAUSE ACTION AND ORGANIZING IS WHAT WE DO. IT IS WHERE WE LIVE. IT IS WHERE WE WORK BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT NONE OF US CANNOT MAKE CHANGE BY OURSELVES. WE KNOW THAT TOGETHER, WE ARE POWERFUL. [APPLAUSE] WE ARE A DIVERSE SET OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OF THE NATION. BUT WE CAME HERE TODAY SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE. SO WHO ARE WE AND WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER? I WANT YOU TO STAND UP, IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR. I WANT YOU TO STAND UP IF YOU ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU ARE IN EMIGRANT AND WANT JUSTICE ON THE JOB, STAND UP. IF THE ECONOMY IS NOT WORKING FOR YOU EITHER COME AND STAND UP. IF YOU CAME HERE WITH YOUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, IF YOU CAME HERE WITH YOUR FAITH ORGANIZATION, STAND UP. IF YOU CAME HERE TO REALIZE THE PROMISE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. NOW I WANT YOU TO KEEP STANDING FOR A MINUTE. I WANT TO KNOW WHO HERE VOTED, FOR THE FIRST TIME ON NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 4th, LET ME HEAR YOU SAY WE DID. WHO VOTED MORE TIMES THAN BACON? SAY WE DID. |
| 00:21:20 | Gutierrez, Luis | TO WENT DOOR-TO-DOOR GETTING THEIR NEIGHBORS TO VOTE. |
| 00:21:23 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE DID. |
| 00:21:25 | Gutierrez, Luis | WHO MADE PHONE CALLS ON ELECTION DAY. |
| 00:21:27 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE DID. |
| 00:21:29 | Gutierrez, Luis | WHO CAME HERE TODAY TO REALIZE THE PROMISE. |
| 00:21:32 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE DID. |
| 00:21:35 | Gutierrez, Luis | [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. |
| 00:21:37 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU, APR. THERE IS SO MUCH POWER IN THIS ROOM. PLEASE, SIT DOWN. [LAUGHTER] TOGETHER, WE CAN DO SO MUCH AND THAT IS WHAT TODAY IS ALL ABOUT, IT IS ABOUT US AND WHAT WE CAN DO TOGETHER, THE GOVERNMENT IS FINALLY OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH IT. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. |
| 00:22:14 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE DID IT AND WE DID NOT DO IT ALONE. BUT AS WELL COME HERE TODAY, TOO ALLIES THAT ARE COMMITTED TO WORK WITH US, TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR VOICES ARE HEARD IN OUR GOVERNMENT. LET US WELCOME MS. JANET THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL. THE LARGEST NATIONAL HISPANIC CIVIL-RIGHTS AND ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. TEE AND THEN AND THEN WE WILL HEAR FROM MR. BARACK MCCLOUD REPRESENTING THE CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS. LET US WELCOME TO THIS MICROPHONE OUR FRIEND, OUR SISTER JANET MURGUIA. [APPLAUSE] |
| 00:23:07 | Gutierrez, Luis | WOW. THIS IS A TERRIFIC. YOU ALL LOOK BEAUTIFUL UP THERE TO ME. THIS IS GOING TO BE SUCH AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT. A WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY AND FOUNDATION FOR ALL THAT THEY HAVE DONE. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT NCLR HAS ALREADY MADE A VERY BIG CONTRIBUTION TO THE NEW ADMINISTRATION. OUR SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT WAS THE FIRST LATINO A AND TO SERVE IN THIS NEXT ADMINISTRATION. SHE HAS SERVED ADMIRABLY. WE ARE SO PROUD OF HER. THIS IS SOMEONE WHO STANDS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE, FOR FAIRNESS AND SHE WILL CARRY THAT MISSION FORWARD I KNOW AS SHE SERVES SO ABLY IN THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION. WE ARE SO PROUD THAT NCLR HAS ENGAGED IN SOME WAYS WITH YOU. BUT IT REALLY IS AN HONOR FOR ME TO BE WITH YOU TODAY. I SALUTE THE WORK THAT YOU ARE ALL DOING EVERYDAY TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR ALL AMERICANS AND THE ROLE YOU PLAY IN THIS HISTORIC ELECTION. LET'S FACE IT, THERE WERE NAYSAYERS, THERE WERE DETRACTORS UP THERE WHO SAID, COULD BARELY REGISTERED VOTERS? COULD THEY REALLY MOBILIZED A DIVERSE COMMUNITY OF VOTERS? COULD THEY ACTUALLY DELIVER THAT MULTI ETHNIC, COLLISION OF VOTERS? AND, OF COURSE, THE ANSWER WAS, YES, WE CAN. OF COURSE IT WAS. THE COMMUNITIES YOU WORK WITH, PEOPLE OF COLOR AND IMMIGRANTS COME AGAIN PEOPLE PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN THIS ELECTION. YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATIONS WERE ASKED TO STEP UP, REGISTER AND DELIVER AND YOU DID. YOU MADE A DIFFERENCE. AND TODAY, WE SHOULD CELEBRATE THAT. BUT WE SHOULD ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE ONLY -- ONLY JUST BEGUN. WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT OUR WORK MUST CONTINUE AND WE HAVE EARNED, AND WE HAVE GAINED A STRONGER VOICE IN OUR POLITICAL PROCESS. AND NOW WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THE THAT VOICE IS REPRESENTED AND IS HEARD. WE HAVE EARNED THAT RIGHT. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE ENTHUSIASM AND THE ENERGY GENERATED BY THIS ELECTION DOES NOT GO TO WASTE. IF WE NEED TO CONTINUE ENGAGING OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS ESPECIALLY THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE ON THE FRONT LINES. GRASS-ROOTS IN COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT YOU ALL REPRESENT TODAY. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WORK TOGETHER. THE YOUNG PEOPLE CORNBALL. WE HAD A RECORD NUMBER OF YOUNG VOTERS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THIS ELECTION. 23 MILLION. AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUNG VOTERS CONTINUE TO STAY IN ALL. THAT NUMBER NEEDS TO KEEP GROWING AND WE ALSO NEED TO EXPAND PROGRAMS THAT IDENTIFY AND TRAIN FUTURE LEADERS. SO FINALLY, WE NEED TO UNITE AGAINST OUR COMMON AGENDA TOPICS IN THE ECONOMY AND DIXON OF ACCESS QUALITY HEALTHCARE AND IMPROVE OUR SCHOOLS. REFORM IMMIGRATION. ALL THE ISSUES THAT BIND AMERICANS TOGETHER. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON AND SEE OUR MISSIONS FULFILLED IN THIS NEW ADMINISTRATION. WHEN ALL THAT IT WILL BE DIFFICULT BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR AGENDA IS REALLY ABOUT RESTORING THE AMERICAN DREAM AND OPENING THE DOOR OF THAT DREAM TO EVERYONE. PEOPLE OF COLOR UNDERSTAND THAT THIS COUNTRY CANNOT REACH ITS FULL POTENTIAL UNLESS ALL OF ITS PEOPLE, REGARDLESS OF RACE, ETHNICITY, GENDER AND RELIGION HAVE A FAIR CHANCE AT THE AMERICAN DREAM. WE HAVE A CHANCE TO RISE OUR CHAPTER THIS IS A HOUSE START TIME THE INDUSTRY AND WILL LOOK BACK AND OF COURSE THEY ARE GOING TO WRITE ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE ELECTED THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT TO BE LEADER OF THE UNITED STATES. BUT WE HAVE ANOTHER CHAPTER TO RIGHT AND IT WILL BE HOW WE CAME TOGETHER AS A COLLATION AND BUILD THE PARTNERSHIP. WE BUILD THAT UNITY AND WE OF THE AND NOT JUST OUR COMMUNITIES BUT IN THE ENTIRE NATION. WE HAVE THAT CHANCE. YES, WE CAN. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. |
| 00:27:36 | Gutierrez, Luis | GOOD AFTERNOON. I GUESS I MEAN THAT A LOT MORE THAN BEING A LITTLE GREETING IS A GOOD AFTERNOON WHEN FOLKS A JOINT ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND COME TOGETHER FOR A COMMON GOAL. FOR A COMMON GOAL ABOUT CHANGE. IT IS INDEED A GOOD AFTERNOON: |
| 00:28:41 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE LOOK THROUGH THAT SAME LEVEL OF FAITH TO SEE OVER 37 MILLION PEOPLE WHO LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE IN UNITED STATES TODAY. LOOK FOR THAT SAVE FACE PLANS TO APPLY TO THE MILLIONS WHO FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT ADEQUATE HEALTH CARE. WE APPEAR TO THAT SAME LAND THAT THEY TO OBSERVE IMMIGRATION REFORM WHICH IS TAKEN A BACKSEAT THERE WE GO TO THE SAME LENS OF FAITH THROUGH THE MILLIONS OF POOR PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES TO FIND THEMSELVES WORKING AND WORKING IN STILL DESPERATELY TRYING NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND FALL DREADFULLY SHORT. UC LIVING THROUGH FAITH IN THEIR EYES, A COMMUNITY THAT WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR THIS BAND BUT RATHER HOPE IT WITH A THE GENERATIONS BEFORE US AND THE DREAMS OF GENERATIONS THAT MOTIVATE AS FOR THOSE GENERATIONS TO COME. IT IS THAT THEY'VE, THAT THEY'VE THAT INSPIRES US, STRENGTHENS US, IT CONFIRMS US, CONFIRMS OUR SHARE OF DESTINY AND JOURNEY. SO IF YOU PROCEED ON THIS DAY, THIS DAY A GOOD DAY, A GREAT DAY, WE DRAW UPON THAT FAITH, KNOWING THAT BECAUSE OF OUR EFFORTS, BECAUSE OF THEIR SHARED MISSION, AND VERY SOON WE WILL SEE A NEUTRAL MOVEMENT AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE WITNESSED JUSTICE ARE ROLLING DOWN THE WATERS, LIKE AN EVER FLOWING STREAM AND LYING DOWN WITH A LAMB, THE SISTERS AND BROTHERS WILL BE EDUCATED AND PERSONS WILL THAT DIGNIFIED EMPLOYMENT AND HOUSING, PARTICIPATING IN A CIVIL SOCIETY AND THEN, YOUR FIFTH, MY FIFTH, OUR FAITH AND WITH THE ANCESTORS AND ALL OF THOSE JUST, AT THE REALIZING THINGS THAT HELP FOR IT AND THE CERTAINTY OF THINGS WE CANNOT SEE. GOD BLESS YOU. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 00:30:20 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU SO MUCH. NOW, WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL GUESTS, REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS VAN HOLLEN OF MARYLAND AND HERE TO INTRODUCE HIM IS MIGUEL DIAZ OF CUSTODY MARYLAND. -- OF MARYLAND. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 00:30:42 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU. MY NAME IS MIGUEL DIAZ AND I AM AN IMMIGRANT FROM EL SALVADOR. AND THE REALLY WANT TO THINK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU THE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS BROKE AND NEEDS REPAIR OF. BACKEND 2007, I WAS TRYING TO LEGALIZE MY WIFE STATUS AND IMMIGRATION AGENTS CAME TO MY HOUSE, THEY RAIDED MY HOUSE, AND TOLD HER,-- THEY TOOK HER INTO CUSTODY. IT TOOK MY WIFE INTO CUSTODY. AND THEY DID IT IN FRONT OF MY TWO YOUNG CHILDREN. CAN YOU IMAGINE THE TRAUMA THAT MY TWO LITTLE ONES ARE FACING NOW? THE TRAUMA THAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH? IT IS HORRIBLE. FROM MY EXPERIENCE, I WAS PROVE THAT WE CANNOT BE SILENT. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 00:32:09 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU. THERE IS INJUSTICE IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGHT. WE'VE GOT TO FIGHT TOGETHER BECAUSE TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE CHANGE HAPPE AND ON NOVEMBER 4th, LET'S READ A LOCKED-- REELECT BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. TONIGHT, IT'S A PLEASURE FOR ME TO INTRODUCE A FIGHTER COMMAND MAN WHO FIGHTS, A CHAMPION WHO BUYS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILIES, FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE, FOR HEALTH CARE, FOR THE RIGHT TO WORK. FOR IMMIGRATION RIGHTS, FOR ECONOMIC ISSUE IS. TONIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET ME INTRODUCE CONGRESSMEN CHRIS VAN HOLLEN. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] THANK YOU, MIGUEL. THANK YOU, MIGUEL, ARE WE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY ELSE IN AMERICA, NO OTHER FAMILY IN AMERICA HAS TO GO THROUGH WHAT MIGUEL AND HIS FAMILY HAVE TO GO THROUGH? |
| 00:33:30 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE ARE. WE ARE. ON NOVEMBER 4, ALL OF YOU IN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE MADE HISTORY IN IN THIS COUNTRY AND SENT A SIGNAL OF AROUND THE WORLD BY ELECTING BARACK OBAMA'S OUR NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 00:33:55 | Gutierrez, Luis | THAT WAS A HISTORIC DAY. WE ALL KNOW AND AS BARACK OBAMA HIMSELF HAS SAID, NOW IS THE TIME THAT THE REAL WORK BEGINS. NOW IS THE TIME TO, AS THIS CONFERENCE IS THAT, TO REALIZE THE PROMISE. AND EVEN THOUGH THE ELECTION DAY HAS PASSED IN THE ELECTION IS OVER, THE MOVEMENT AND THE CAMPAIGN MUST CONTINUE DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY UNTIL WE MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THE CHANGE AND REALIZE THAT PROMISE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 00:34:35 | Gutierrez, Luis | NOW, WHAT BARACK OBAMA DID BY ENLISTING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN THE LAST CAMPAIGN WAS HE BROUGHT SOME MANY MILLIONS OF AMERICANS, WHO HAD BEEN ON THE POLITICAL SIDELINES INTO THE POLITICAL PROCESS. HE HAS EXPANDED THE GREAT CIRCLE OF OUR DEMOCRACY. AND PEOPLE INTO THE BACK CALL TO CHANGE, THAT UP WITH THE LAST FOUR YEARS, SAID, WE HAVE A BETTER VISION OF AMERICA, BOTH IN TERMS OF WHAT WE DO HERE AT HOME AND WHAT WE DO AROUND THE WORLD. AND AS HE HAS SAID, IN ORDER FOR ALL OF US TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT ELECTION DAY WAS NOT JUST ONE DAY OUT OF THE YEAR. IT IS NOT A DAY WHERE YOU COME TO THE BALLOT BOX AND GO HOME AND SAY, NOW, IT IS UP TO EVERYBODY ELSE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, RIDE? BECAUSE IF WE ARE GOING TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS, WE NEED EVERYBODY WHO WENT OUT TO VOTE FOR CHANGE ON ELECTION DAY TO KEEP WORKING FOR CHANGE, A DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] BECAUSE WE KNOW, WE KNOW THE FORCES OF THE STATUS QUO. THEY ARE VERY STRONG. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO FIGHT HARD JUST TO KEEP THINGS THE WAY THEY ARE OR THE WAY THEY WERE. AND IF WE ARE QUITE TO OVERCOME THOSE FORCES OF STATUS QUO, WE NEED EVERYBODY WHO GOT OUT AND VOTE FOR CHANGE TO KEEP WORKING FOR CHANGE. WE NEED OLIVE VIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE CALLING YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. I HAVE THE GREAT PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING THE EIGHTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND MARYLAND. WE HAVE A LOT OF MARYLAND JURORS HEAR. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] -- AND WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY IN CONGRESS WHO WORKED-- WHO LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING BUT PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA AND HIS NEW ADMINISTRATION AND THE GODS FOR CHANGE, BUT WE ARE GOING TO NEED YOUR HELP. LEAIR GLEATON NEED YOUR HELP, KNOCKING ON THE DOOR THE VETERAN MEMBER OF CONAGRA'S AND ANSWERING THE CALL AS WE GO FORWARD BECAUSE IF WE ARE QUITE TOO HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR MAIN STREET AND NOT JUST THERE FOR WALL STREET, WE NEED TO BE HEARING FROM EVERYBODY ON MAIN STREET. WE'D BE HEARING FROM MAIN STREET EVERY DAY. AND IF WE ARE GOING TO AMEND OUR HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM, IF WE ARE QUITE DEMAND OUR HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM, WHICH IS, AS WE KNOW, IS A BARELY BROKE AND, 453 MILLION AMERICANS WHO DON'T HAVE HEALTH CARE, IT IS A SHAME IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO FIX THAT BROKEN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, WE ARE WILLING TO NEED THE CAMPAIGN FOR CHANGE TO MAKE SURE IT CONTINUES BECAUSE WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST WHEN PEOPLE TRIED TO MAKE HEALTH REFORM HAPPEN. WE ARE GOING TO NEED EVERYBODY IN THIS ROOM GOING HOME. AND IF WE ARE QUITE TO FIX OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, THEN MIGUEL-- THAT MADELL TALKED ABOUT, WE NEED TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE COAST TO COAST, FROM WEST TO EAST AND NORTH TO SOUTH, AND IF WE ARE QUITE TO MAKE SURE WE REALIZE THAT DREAM, THE DREAM THAT SO MANY IN THE PAST 54, WE WILL REALIZE THAT DREAM, WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER AND I KNOW WORKING TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE SURE WE IN AND THINGS LIKE THE DREAM ACT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY-- . [APPLAUSE] -- THAT IS JUST SIMPLE FAIRNESS AND DECENCY. ISN'T IT GREAT TO HAVE SOMEBODY WHO WAS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] WELL, THE PRESIDENT-ELECT UNDERSTANDS THE POWER OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZING INDIA UNDERSTANDS THE POWER THAT EACH OF YOU HAS. YOU SHOULD LOOK AT THE FRONT PAGE OF THE "WASHINGTON POST" TODAY IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT. THERE IS AN ARTICLE ABOUT HOW IN ORDER TO ENACT HEALTH-CARE REFORM, THIS ADMINISTRATION UNDERSTANDS THAT IT NEEDS TO HARNESS THE ENERGY THAT WILL HARNESS THE CAMPAIGN FOR ALREADY, THE NEW INCOMING SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, SENATOR TOM DASCHLE HAS BEEN AND IS GOING TO BE A GREAT SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. HE WAS ON THE PHONE ALREADY TODAY, JUST YESTERDAY, WITH ACTIVIST AROUND THE COUNTRY LISTING THEIR SUPPORT AND THE SEVERED. I AM CONFIDENT IF WE HARNESS THAT ENERGY AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HEED THE CALL, NOT JUST TO GO OUT ON ELECTION DAY AND THEN GO HOME AND CAMP OUT AT HOME FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, BUT GO OUT IN EVERY DAY AND CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS, A SUM MANY OF YOU ARE, AS OUR FRIENDS FROM MARYLAND DARKEN AS MIGUEL WHO HAS WORKED WITH MARYLAND AND A GREAT LEADER GUSTAV TORRES-- . [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] -- IF WE ALL DO THAT, THEN I AM ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT THAT WHEN BARACK OBAMA SAID DURING THE CAMPAIGN, YES, WE CAN, THAT WE WILL CONVERT THAT IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS COMING IN THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS, ACROSS THIS COUNTRY INTO YES, WE WILL. WE WILL CHANGE AMERICA, AND WE WILL MAKE SURE WE REALIZE THE PROMISE. MAKE SURE THAT WHEN YOU GO HOME COMING TO CONTINUE TO TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ANYBODY WITH A GREAT STAKE IN THIS NATION OF OURS AND A MORE PROSPEROUS-- PROSPEROUS WORLD THAT WE HAVE AN OUT-- OBLIGATION, EACH AND EVERYONE OF US TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK FOR THAT CHANGE, THAT WE SO DESPERATELY NEED. AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH YOUR HELP, THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS WILL WORK WITH THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, BARACK OBAMA, TO GET THE JOB DONE. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE-- HAVE DONE. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 00:40:33 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU SO MUCH, CONGRESSMAN VAN HOLLEN. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, TODAY, WE ARE MOVING. WE ARE MOVING FROM THAT OLD AMERICA WHERE WE ARE EACH ALONE TO A NEW AMERICA. AND WHICH WE WILL ALL TOGETHER, WE WOULD LIKE TO DRAMATIZE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN OLD AMERICA AND MOVE TO A NEW AMERICA. LET US WELCOME NOW SOME GRASS ROOT LEADERS TO THE STAGE. ANDRLE BIRON SHELL, MARIA, DNI CANUTE'S IN. CADEL LOVE-- REVEREND BROWN AND DOCTOR ROD, TOO TRAUMATIZED BUILD AMERICA AND THE NEW AMERICA. |
| 00:41:33 | Gutierrez, Luis | TAKE MY GAME, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT? CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? OUR VOTES COUNTED. NOVEMBER 5th, WE WOKE UP IN A NEW AMERICA. POLITICAL PENDANTS, CRITICS SAID IT NEVER COULD BE DONE. BUT TODAY, BARACK OBAMA, A BLACK MAN, IS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. HIS STORY IS A COMMON STORY. A WHITE MOTHER, A BLACK FATHER, RAISED BY HIS GRANDMOTHER, BUT TRAINED BY THE THE MILLION FOUNDATION. HE ORGANIZED PEOPLE AT AND HE ORGANIZED MONEY, TO LIFT HIM TO THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND. THIS IS AN HISTORIC MOMENT. I BELIEVE, I BELIEVE THAT THIS NATION IS READY. I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE READY FOR NEW LEADERSHIP. I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE READY FOR NEW DIRECTION. I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE READY FOR A NEW AMERICA. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 00:42:48 | Gutierrez, Luis | WHAT DO YOU MEAN A NEW AMERICA? |
| 00:42:52 | Gutierrez, Luis | EXPLAIN TO MAKE YOUR GAZA I LIVE IN THE ALL AMERICAN EVERY DAY. THE OLD AMERICA LEFT MY SISTER DEAD YOUNG. A KILLED MILLIONS BECAUSE LIFE WAS CHEAP AND HEALTH CARE WAS A PRIVILEGE. MILLIONS OF LOST THEIR HOMES AND THEIR JOBS BECAUSE WE WERE LEFT ON OUR OWN TO DEFEND AGAINST THE PRIVATE INSURERS AND THE CORPORATIONS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 00:43:23 | Gutierrez, Luis | I HEAR YOU, I HEAR YOU, JEANETTE, THAT IN THE NEW AMERICA, WE WON'T PUT PROFITS BEFORE PEOPLE. BECAUSE HEALTH-CARE, HOUSING, AND GOOD JOBS ARE ESSENTIALS. FOR OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO PROSPER. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 00:43:44 | Gutierrez, Luis | LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE POLICIES OF THE OLD AMERICA. THOSE POLICIES THAT MURDERED MY PEOPLE. THE SAME OLD AMERICA THAT LABELED OUR MUSLIM COMMUNITY TERRORISTS. OF THOSE POLICIES THAT ALLOW OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY TO BE HEADED UPON, THOSE SAME POLICIES IN OLD AMERICA THAT WHISPERS SEXUAL ORIENTATION AS A CRIM [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 00:44:12 | Gutierrez, Luis | LET'S TALK ABOUT POLICIES. I HAVE LOST MANY YEARS WAITING TO BE REUNITED WITH MY FATHER, TEN YEARS TO BE EXACT PAIR OF MY FIVE YEAR OLD HASN'T SEEN HER FATHER FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. ARE OLD AMERICA, IT IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND OUR OLD AMERICA, THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THEIR MOTHERS AND THEIR FATHERS. IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN PREVENTED TO BE FOLLY PARTICIPATING IN THIS SOCIETY. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 00:44:56 | Gutierrez, Luis | IN THE NEW AMERICA, WE WILL RECOGNIZE THE PROMISE. WE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE ALL CONNECTED. WE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE ALL PEOPLE OF GOD. WE WILL RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALL HAVE VALUED. OUR POLICIES WILL REFLECT THE CONNECT MIDST BETWEEN US, AMONG US, NOT THE DIVISIONS THAT SEPARATE US. WE WILL BE EVER MINDFUL THAT THE NEEDS OF GOD'S PEOPLE ARE WHOLLY THE NEW AMERICA WILL FINALLY WORK FOR ALL OF US. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU HAVE HEARD DIFFERENT VOICES, DIFFERENT VOICES, BUT IT'S THE SAME STORY. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THE POWERS THAT BE SEPARATED THUS I KEPT US APART, A COMMUNITY AGAINST COMMUNITY. THEY DIDN'T ALLOW US TO SET AT THE TABLE, BUT NOW, ALL WE OWN THE TABLE. YES, WE DO. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 00:46:17 | Gutierrez, Luis | LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION. ARE YOU READY FOR A NEW AMERICA? ARE YOU READY FOR A NEW AMERICA? ARE YOU READY FOR A NEW AMERICA? ARE YOU READY FOR A NEW AMERICA? ARE YOU READY FOR A NEW AMERICA? C'MON, GET ON YOUR FEET. ARE YOU READY FOR A NEW AMERICA? ARE YOU READY FOR A NEW AMERICA? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] CAIN-- , HEY, WE ARE READY. WE ARE WILLING AND ABLE TO BUILD A NEW AMERICA. TODAY, TO RESET, WE MOVE FROM THAT ALL-AMERICA, TODAY WE MOVE FROM THE POLITICS OF PROTEST AND OPPOSITION TO THE POLITICS OF POWER AT THE TABLE. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US? WE DON'T SIMPLY ENGAGE IN DEMAND TO ADD RESPONSE, BUT WE WILL SET AT THE TABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THOSE WHO OWN THE POWER. IN OUR AROUND THE TABLE DISCUSSION THAT WE ARE GETTING READY FOR, WE INVITE YOU, OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, OUR FELLOW ORGANIZERS, TO SEE FOR YOURSELF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AT THE TABLE, TO LIVE WITH THE INCLUSION. WE HAVE A TABLE HERE TODAY. A SYMBOLIC TABLE OF OUR GRASSROOTS LEADERS, WHO WILL TAKE THEIR STAKES AT THE WORKING TABLE, AND WE WILL WORK WITH OUR CONGRESSPERSONS AND OTHER ALLIES TO CREATE THE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THAT WE ALL FACE. TO HELP US OUT IN THIS PROCESS OF OUR ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS HIS BROTHER JUAN WILLIAMS. ONE OF AMERICA'S LEADING JOURNALISTS, AUTHOR OF EYES ON THE PRIZE, AND SEVERAL OTHER BOOKS. AND NEWS ANALYST WHO REGULARLY APPEARS ON NPR AND FOX NEWS, LET US WELCOME OUR BROTHER, JUAN WILLIAMS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 00:48:37 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU VERY MUCH. TODAY, WE HAVE A CELEBRATION, A CELEBRATION BECAUSE TODAY, FEC A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST, A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, AS PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES. ONE NEBIAS. [APPLAUSE] |
| 00:48:54 | Gutierrez, Luis | I WANT TO TELL YOU A QUICK STORY ABOUT THE MOMENT WHEN YOU HAVE SUCCESS. THERE WAS A GRANDMOTHER ONES WHO TOOK HER GRANDSON TO THE BEACH. AND A WAVE CAME IN AND IT SWEPT THAT LITTLE CHILD RIDE OUT INTO THE SAIS. AND THE GRANDMOTHER LOOK TO THE SKY AND SHE SAID TO GOD, PLEASE, GOD, PLEASE, BRING MY BABY BACK. AND THE NEXT WAVE BROUGHT THAT CHILD BACK TO SHORE. AND SHE PICKED HIM UP AND CLUTCHED HIM TO HER CHEST AND SAID, THANK YOU, GOD, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? HE HAD A HAT. [LAUGHTER] |
| 00:49:32 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HAD MUCH TO CELEBRATE, PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE ACTIVE THIS. PEOPLE AT THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE. PEOPLE AT THE FOUNDATION, MUCH TO CELEBRATE, BUT NOW, THERE COMES A TIME WHEN THE EXPECTATIONS HAVE TO BE SATISFIED IF WE ARE TO GO FORWARD. NOW COMES A TIME FOR UNDERSTANDING, HOWLETT IS, THAT WE CAN TO THIS MOMENT AS WELL AS HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF ACHIEVING REAL CHANGE. AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE QUITE TO DO TODAY IN THE ROUND TABLE. WE ARE QUITE TOO HAVE TO ROUND TABLES, THE FIRST FOCUSING ON THIS MOMENT. WHERE WE ARE AND WHO WE ARE AS AN AMERICAN FAMILY, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO THE ECONOMIC CRISIS. AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT MAKING THE MOST OF THE NEXT YEAR, BEING AN EFFECTIVE IN TERMS OF GETTING GRASSROOTS TO VOICES HEARD IN THE NATIONAL, LOCAL, LEVEL. THAT IS THE KEY AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW PICK A LET ME AS THE FIRST PANEL TWO JOIN ME. [APPLAUSE] |
| 00:50:55 | Gutierrez, Luis | OKAY, SO FAR, SO GOOD. WE ARE JOINED HERE BY LARRY AND MICHELLE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE ECONOMIC POLICY INSTITUTE, LARRY, THANKS FOR COMING TODAY. LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU, LARRY A DESK IS THAT THE QUESTION ABOUT THE ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT EVERYBODY IN THIS AUDIENCE KNOWS SO WELL. WHEN IT COMES TO UNDERSTANDING FROM AN ECONOMIST'S POINT OF VIEW, INJURE AN ECONOMIST, HOW WE GOT TO THIS MOMENT, IN TERMS OF UNEMPLOYMENT, POVERTY, IN COME, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE IT? |
| 00:51:29 | Gutierrez, Luis | WELL, I THINK WHAT EVERYONE KNOWS IS FAMILIES HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING FOR A VERY LONG TIME. AND THAT THEY REALLY FELT THEY'D BEEN IN A RECESSION BY BEFORE IT GOT INTO THE RECESSION AND THE REASON IS, IN THE BUSH YEARS, IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN THE POSTWAR PERIOD WHERE INCOMES DIDN'T GROW FOR WORKING FAMILIES AT ALL, OF WHICH IS BECAUSE, THERE WAS NOT EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, GROWTH IN HOURS, HOURLY WAGES AND BENEFITS OF PEOPLE, WHETHER HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE OR COLLEGE GRADUATE, DID NOT GROW AT ALL IN THE RECOVERY, SO THEY ENDED UP LOSING TO THOUSAND DOLLARS A PIECE BUT THAT WAS BEFORE WE GOT TO THE RECESSION THAT STARTED LAST YEAR, WHERE NOW, WE'VE GOT UNEMPLOYMENT UP FROM, YOU KNOW, THREE MADELL MORE PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED, 3 MILLION MORE PEOPLE WORKING PART-TIME THAT WANT A FULL-TIME JOB AND ET CETERA. WE HAVEN'T BEEN DOING WELL AND NOW WE ARE IN THIS ZIP BEAR CLAW RIDER LET'S MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY CAN HEAR. CAN YOU HEAR ME? NO? WE ARE QUITE TOO HAVE TO AS THE SOUND PEOPLE TO TURN IT UP A LITTLE BIT. THERE WITH THE SIT AS WE TRY TO GET THAT FIXED FOR YOU. BAKER IS THE EXECUTIVE OF THE AFL-CIO. AND HEARING WHAT LARRY ISSING ABOUT THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT BRINGING VOICES, VOICES TO THE TABLE. YOU HAVE DONE IT WORKING IN THE UNION MOVEMENT. WHAT HAPPENED THERE? HOW ARE THOSE VOICES ARE AND HOW HAVE THEY BEEN HARD? |
| 00:52:56 | Gutierrez, Luis | WELL, I WILL TELL YOU, LARRY ADDRESS DID VERY WELL. WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT THIS ECONOMY HAS NOT BEEN WORKING FOR WORKING FAMILIES FOR AN AWFULLY LONG TIME TO LET ME JUST SHARE WITH YOU WHAT WE HEAR WHEN WE ARE OUT THERE AND TALKING TO PEOPLE IN SOME MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES. AND WHAT WE ARE HEARING FROM THEM IS, WE CAN'T AFFORD HEALTH CARE. WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO IT. AND EVEN IF WE HAD ACCESS TO IT, IT'S NOT AFFORDABLE. PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE JOBS IN OUR FAMILIES, AND WE NEED JOBS. AMERICA NEEDS A JOB RIGHT NOW. TOO MANY AMERICANS ARE SUFFERING. [APPLAUSE] AND TO LISTEN TO THE MOTHERS AND FATHERS WHO AT ASPIRATION IS TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO COLLEGE. BUT THEY KNOW WITH A STAGNANT AND TALK METS THAT THEY HAVE AND LOW-WAGE JOBS THAT THEY'RE WORKING, THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO DO SO. THE SUM IN THE MILLIONS OF AMERICAN-- AMERICANS RIGHT NOW ARE DEPENDING ON SOMETHING REALLY CHANGING SO THAT THEY CAN REALIZE AMERICA'S PROMISE. WE HAVE A LOT TO WORK-- A WORK TO DO BUT WE HAVE TO PUT AMERICA BACK TO WORK WE'VE GOT TO DO-- WE'VE THAT MAKE SURE THAT THE 47 MILLION IN OUR COUNTRY WHO DON'T HAVE HEALTH CARE HAFED. [APPLAUSE] -- HAFED TO. |
| 00:54:24 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE ARE ALSO JOINING THIS AFTERNOON BY J JOHNSON, WHO IS THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE VIRGINIA ORGANIZING PROJECT, HER FIFTH YEAR THERE. TELL ME TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FAMILIES. TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT FAMILY IS DEALING WITH HEALTH CARE. WHAT WE HAVE JUST HEARD IS THESE ARE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES BUT ON THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL, WHAT HAVE YOU BEAT-- DANCING AS YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE DEAL WITH HEALTH CARE PROBLEMS, JUST ONE SPECIFIC AREA WHERE FAMILIES ARE BEING IMPACTED? |
| 00:54:56 | Gutierrez, Luis | WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT AMERICAN FAMILIES ARE DROWNING IN DEBT. FIXING HEALTH CARE IS A CENTRAL TO FIXING THIS ECONOMY. EMPLOY YEARS ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE THE KIND OF WORK, WHAT WE CALL REALLY GOOD HEALTH INSURANCE ANYMORE. EMPLOYEES ARE TRYING TO HOLD ON THE THAT THE THING THAT GOD. BUT THEY ARE ENDING UP PAYING FOR LESS BENEFITS, LESS COVERAGE, MORE DEDUCTIBLES, AND HIGHER PREMIUMS. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THAT. MEANWHILE, HEALTH INSURANCE IS TIED INTO HAVING JOBS, SO WE'VE GOT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNINSURED, AND THEY ARE LEFT WITH FEW RESOURCES TO TRY TO NEGOTIATE WITH HEALTH INSURANCE, A GIGANTIC HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES. AND EVEN WITH ALL OF THESE LIMITED OPTIONS, AND WE KNOW ONE THING IS FOR SURE. THAT EVERY FAMILY IN AMERICA HAS FEWER DOLLARS IN THEIR POCKET, THE MORE HEALTH INSURANCE THEY HAVE, THAT YOU ARE DOLLARS THAT THEY HAVE. EVEN PEOPLE ACROSS DIFFERENT INCOME LEVELS ARE AFRAID TO GET SICK. AND MORE AND POOR PEOPLE ARE NOT EVEN GETTING PREVENTIVE CARE. THEY ARE-- PEOPLE OF COLOR, WORKING POOR, IMMIGRANTS, PEOPLE WHO ARE IN WILL AREAS HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING ACCESS TO ANY HEALTH CARE. EVERY DAY, MORE AND MORE FAMILIES IN AMERICA ARE FACING A MOUNTAIN OF DEBT. THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IN VIRGINIA. ABSOLUTELY. NOW, WE ARE REALLY LUCKY HERE TODAY TO HAVE TWO TREMENDOUS MEMBERS OF THE U.S. CONGRESS WITH US TODAY, JOHN SARBANES. [APPLAUSE] AND LOUISE GOOD PARIS OF ILLINOIS. LUIS GUTIERREZ ID-- LUIS GUTIERREZ OF ILLINOIS. CONGRESSMAN SARBANES LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING WITH THEIR FELLOW PANELIST. AMERICAN FAMILIES, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE GOT TO THIS MOMENT OF FINANCIAL CRISIS WHEN SO MANY PEOPLE FEEL A CRUNCH, WHEN PEOPLE IN THIS AUDIENCE ARE TRYING THEIR BEST TO HELP THOSE IN NEED, WHAT THE EC FROM CAPITOL HILL IN TERMS OF AMERICAN FAMILIES? |
| 00:57:07 | Gutierrez, Luis | WELL, I THINK IT IS THE WAY WE APPROACH FAMILY PUBLIC'S EIGHT-- PUBLIC POLICY, IT'S NO WONDER OUR COUNTRY IS IN THE SITUATION A BIT THIN BECAUSE FOR EIGHT YEARS, LEAST, IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'VE HAD IN THE WHITE HOUSE, WE'VE HAD SOMEBODY EVERY MORNING, AND HE WAS THINKING VERY CREATIVELY, WHAT CAN I DO TODAY TO HELP PEOPLE WHO DON'T NEED ANY HELP? [LAUGHTER] |
| 00:57:36 | Gutierrez, Luis | INSTEAD OF-- A. [APPLAUSE] |
| 00:57:38 | Gutierrez, Luis | -- AND THAT'S HOW YOU START YOUR DAY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL OR POLICYMAKER, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE BAD PUBLIC POLICY. IF YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING, AS I THINK OUR NEW PRESIDENT WELL, THINKING, WHAT CAN I DO TODAY TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE HURTING, TO HELP WORKING PEOPLE, TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES, YOU MAY NOT GET IT RIGHT ALL THE TIME, THAT YOU WILL MAKE GOOD, SOUND PUBLIC POLICY MOST OF THE TIME. AND WHAT I ASK ALL OF YOU TO DO IS TO CHALLENGE YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ASSESS THEM ON THAT BASIS. ARE THEY PEOPLE WHO GET UP EVERY DAY, THINKING, WHAT CAN WE DO TODAY TO PUT AMERICA BACK TO WORK FOR ACCEPT THOSE ARE THE FOLKS THAT ARE WASHINGTON AND AT THE STATE LEVEL, WE ARE QUITE TO GET GOOD RESULTS. [APPLAUSE] .. HAS THE ABILITY TO GO AND SEE A DOCTOR. I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT HEALTHCARE AS A BASIC FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS BECAUSE IT REALLY IS ABOUT LIFE AND DEATH. AND NOT AS SOMETHING THAT MAYBE YOU GET IF YOU ARE LUCKY AS WE TOLD -- WERE TOLD EARLIER IF YOU HAVE A JOB. BUT, WE HAVE SEEN $700 BILLION GO TO A BAILOUT OF WALL STREET. AND THEN, LET ME TELL YOU, I VOTED FOR IT BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THAT WOULD LOOSEN THE SCREWS. WE GAVE THEM $700 BILLION IN WHAT DID THEY DO? THEY DIDN'T LET ANYBODY MONEY TO GO TO COLLEGE, OR OPEN UP THE SMALL BUSINESS. AND, LET ME TELL YOU THOSE TOXIC ASSETS THAT THEY KEEP TALKING ABOUT, THAT IS WHERE THE BREEZE THOSE CHILDREN'S THEY'RE NOT TALK TO US THAT OUR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WE SHOULD GIVE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO RESTRUCTURE THAT DEBT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE RESTRUCTURED THE DEBT OF THOSE INVESTMENT BANKERS ON WALL STREET WHO, WHILE PEOPLE WERE SUFFERING CONTINUED TO GIVE THEMSELVES HUGE BONUSES WHILE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY WAS SUFFERING. SO, JUST TO END, LOOK, I AM HAPPY BARACK OBAMA. WE WILL SAVE A LOT OF MONEY ON A WAR THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN STARTED SO THAT WE CAN INVEST THAT MONEY THAT IN WAR BUT ON HEALTHCARE FOR PEOPLE HERE IN THIS COUNTRY. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. |
| 01:00:38 | Gutierrez, Luis | CONYERS AND GUTIERREZ, THANK YOU, VERY MUCH. BEFORE WE TAKE SOME QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE OF WANTED TO GO TO OUR REVERENCE ON THIS ROUND TABLE. WHO IS FROM THE HISTORIC BAPTIST CHURCH IN DETROIT AND HAS BEEN THERE 20 YEARS AND, OF COURSE HE IS KNOWN TO MANY OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE HE IS PRESIDENT OF MOSES IN AFFILIATE IN DETROIT. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. REVEREND, YOU HAVE HEARD YOUR PANELISTS INCLUDING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE ECONOMIC CRISIS, CONGRESSMAN GUTIERREZ BROUGHT IN THE WAR. ALL THESE FACTORS HAVE BROUGHT US TO THIS MOMENT. BUT WHAT YOU SEE ON THE GROUND AS YOU TRY TO STIR PEOPLE IN YOUR CHURCH? |
| 01:01:29 | Gutierrez, Luis | WILL COME I SEE THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS, FIRST OF ALL, IT IS OLD AND OLDER THAN EIGHT YEARS. AND ALSO I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT HAD A RAISE ASPECT AS WELL BECAUSE, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND IN MANY OF OUR URBAN CENTERS, 50% OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES ARE UNEMPLOYED. THAT IS FATHERS, HUSBANDS, BROTHERS, SONS. THIS HAS A DEVASTATING IMPACT ON AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES AS YOU CAN IMAGINE. THIS DOES IS START EIGHT YEARS AGO. FOR DECADES, THERE HAS BEEN A DISINVESTMENT IN URBAN CENTERS. THAT ENCOURAGE JOBS AND PEOPLE TO MOVE OUT TO THE SUBURBS. SEGREGATED SUBURBS THAT WERE SEGREGATED BY FEDERAL POLICY. SO I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND JUST HOW WIDESPREAD THIS CRISIS REALLY IS. AND IN A SUM LIKE I AM JUST TALKING ABOUT POLICY BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE THAT WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS YOU DON'T HAVE THE TRANSIT, YOU DON'T HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PEOPLE CAN'T LIVE WHERE THE JOBS ARE. PEOPLE CAN'T GET TO WHERE THE JOBS ARE. WE HAVE PEOPLE IN DETROIT THAT HAVE TO GET UP AND CATCH A BUS AT 5:00 IN THE MORNING TO BE AT WORK AT 9:00. THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. THAT IS NOT FAIR, OR JUST. AND WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS IF WE ARE GOING TO IMPACT OUR CITIES. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. |
| 01:03:02 | Gutierrez, Luis | FROM THE AUDIENCE COMES A QUESTION AND THE QUESTION IS DIRECTED TO THE TWO CONGRESSMEN. THE QUESTION IS, MANY PEOPLE ARE BLAMING IMMIGRANTS FOR OUR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. HOW WOULD YOU EXPLAIN THE CONNECTION BETWEEN IMMIGRATION AND THE ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT WE FACE TODAY? LET ME START WITH CONGRESSMAN GUTIERREZ. |
| 01:03:23 | Gutierrez, Luis | FIRST IT IS SIMPLE TO BLAME OTHERS IT IS USUALLY THE EASIEST WAY TO BOOK ABOUT A PROBLEM. POLITICIANS HAVE TO AVENUES. NUMBER ONE THEY CAN GIVE YOU A SOLUTION WHICH OBVIOUSLY WASHINGTON HASN'T GIVEN US TO THE ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT WE HAVE IN THE IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT IS BROKEN DOWN. SO THEY BLAME THE IMMIGRANTS FOR THE PROBLEM. LOOK, WE NEED COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM SO THAT WE STOP. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. SO WE STOP PITY ENTRY-LEVEL WORKERS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER TO THE BENEFIT OF EMPLOYERS. NOT TO THE BENEFIT OF THE WORKER. IF YOU HAVE COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM, THAN ANYONE CAN ORGANIZE. WE SEE THIS HAPPENING ALL ACROSS OUR COUNTRY. LOOK, OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS BROKEN BUT IT IS ALSO CIRCULAR. EVERYONE COMPLAINS I WATCH IT ON THE NEWS ALL THE TIME. THE IMMIGRANTS ARE SENDING MONEY BACK TO THEIR MOMS AND DADS AND FAMILIES. WE SHOULD PRESS PEOPLE THAT ARE OF OUR NEIGHBORS THAT ARE HELPING BROTHERS AND SISTERS BACK HOME. THOSE ARE THE NEIGHBORS I WANT. BUT UNDERSTAND, FUNDAMENTALLY, WHEN THEY SEND MONEY BACK HOME, THEY BUY GOODS PRODUCED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. INDEED, WE ARE ALL IN IN AMERICA. I WANT. FARM WORKERS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY PICKING FRUIT, THAT WILL NOT HELP THE WORKER IN CHICAGO. HE IS NOT GOING TO GO PICK ORANGES. HE IS NOT LOOKING TO PICK APPLES. THAT IS A JOB AS SOMEBODY ELSE IS DOING. LET'S MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A SYSTEM THAT SAYS FIRST OF ALL, NO AMERICAN CITIZEN SHOULD BE DENIED A JOB OPPORTUNITY AT THE EXPENSE OF ANYONE ELSE. NUMBER ONE. BUT FUNDAMENTALLY, EVERYBODY JOB AND EVERYBODY'S WORK SHOULD BE RESPECTED. AND IF WE ALL DO IT TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD A BETTER ECONOMY FOR US ALL. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:05:22 | Gutierrez, Luis | CONGRESSMAN SARBANES. |
| 01:05:25 | Gutierrez, Luis | HOW DID YOU UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN IMMIGRATION AND THE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES WE FACE TODAY? |
| 01:05:30 | Gutierrez, Luis | I WANT TO FOLLOW ON WHAT HE SAID WHICH IS, IF YOU GO, IF YOU GO TO THE PLACES WHERE IMMIGRANTS ARE GETTING BEAT UP, YOU WILL FIND THE WORKERS OF ALL KINDS AND CATEGORIES AND CONSTITUENCIES ARE BEING BEATEN UP. SO, PART OF THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT WE TURNED THEM INTO THE BOGYMAN. WE KEEP THINGS ON THEM BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIGHT BACK. BUT WHEN WE DON'T FIGHT BACK ON THEIR BEHALF, WE DON'T EMPOWER THEM TO FIGHT BACK, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE AFFECTED IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT GET AFFECTED SO TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN THAT COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM POLICIES AS WAS SAID IS GOING TO DO THE RIGHT THING FOR ALL OUR COMMUNITIES AND IT WILL GET US AWAY FROM THIS SCAPEGOATING WHICH IS SO DIVISIVE. |
| 01:06:19 | Gutierrez, Luis | ALL RIGHT. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:06:26 | Gutierrez, Luis | SO MANY OF THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE COME FROM NEW REALLY COME DOWN 21 QUESTION. WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT THE PEOPLE ON THIS PANEL WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU, AS YOU GO BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITIES, THE ONE THING THE -- THE WOULD RECOMMEND TO YOU TO MAKE A PRIORITY AS YOU TRY TO DO WITH THE FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT IS SWEEPING THE COUNTRY LARRY, LET ME START WITH YOU. |
| 01:06:53 | Gutierrez, Luis | WHAT WE REALLY NEED IN THIS COUNTRY IS GOOD JOBS. WE NEED JOBS THAT HEALTH INSURANCE, WE NEED JOBS THAT HAVE A FAMILY PAYCHECK. YOU KNOW, AND WE NEED A LOT OF THEM NOW BECAUSE IN THE FUTURE, WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF JOB LOSS OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. WE NEED EFFORT TO CREATE JOBS AND GET IT TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT NEED IT. THE THING AS AN ECONOMY -- ECONOMIST THE BOTHERS ME THE MOST IS ALL THE PROBLEMS WE'RE SEEING OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS. THESE ARE MAN-MADE PROBLEMS. THIS DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN. WHEN HAVE MORE INCOME GO TO THE UPPER 1% BAN WENT TO THE BOTTOM 99%. IT TOOK A LOT OF POWER, HE TOOK A LOT OF POWER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND NOW WE HAVE A LOT OF POWER THAT WILL REVERSE THAT. RIGHT? [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. |
| 01:07:46 | Gutierrez, Luis | LARRY, IS THERE ONE THING THOUGH THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE ORGANIZERS, PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY CAN DO IN ORDER TO CREATE THOSE JOBS THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT? |
| 01:07:57 | Gutierrez, Luis | IT IS HARD TO LIMIT IT TO ONE THING BUT I THINK WE NEED MASSIVE DOSES OF PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE. WE NEED TO GIVE MONEY TO PEOPLE THAT WILL SPEND IT RIGHT NOW. WE NEED TO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE DEFICIT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PUT MONEY INTO AN ECONOMY THAT WILL CREATE JOBS. IF WE DON'T WE'RE GOING TO SEE 10% UNEMPLOYMENT IN A YEAR AND A HALF THAT WILL BE 20% BLACK UNEMPLOYMENT, 20% UNEMPLOYMENT, VERY HIGH IN NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE THEY PROBABLY LIVE IN A RECESSION THAT THERE WILL BE SUNK INTO A DEPRESSION. IF WE DON'T DO THAT, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE HURTING. AND WE CAN'T. THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN'T BE REVERSED. |
| 01:08:39 | Gutierrez, Luis | ALL RIGHT. J JOHNSON, TELL US ABOUT ONE THING THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND TO ALL THE FOLKS IN THE AUDIENCE HERE AT THIS CONFERENCE TODAY AS THEY GO HOME. |
| 01:08:51 | Gutierrez, Luis | I AM NOT A ONE THING A PERSON, BUT I WILL TRY. |
| 01:08:55 | Gutierrez, Luis | ONE THING THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO GET ON THE TRAIN AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH-CARE PLAN THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE THAT HAS SET UP ACCORDING TO GUIDELINES THAT ARE IN HEALTHCARE FOR AMERICAN NOW. THEY ARE GOOD GUIDELINES, SHOULD THEM WITH YOUR CONGRESS PEOPLE AND STAY BEHIND THEM. AND ANOTHER THING I HAVE TO SAY ANTI ONTO LARRY. EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT WHERE JOBS WILL COME FROM AND IT IS TOP DOWN. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK AROUND YOUR COMMUNITY AND SEE WHAT GREEN JOBS TO BE MADE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND THEN TAKE THEM TO WHERE THEY NEED TO GO. DON'T WAIT FOR THEM TO COME TO YOU OR IT TO ASK YOU FOR A PLAN. TAKE THE PLAN TO THEM. |
| 01:09:44 | Gutierrez, Luis | ALL RIGHT. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:09:49 | Gutierrez, Luis | REV. TURMAN IS THERE ONE THING YOU WOULD ADVISE THESE FOLKS AS THEY GO BACK HOME. |
| 01:09:55 | Gutierrez, Luis | WELL, THERE ARE TWO OF THEM. FIRST WE NEED TO STOCK PRIORITIZING BANKS AND BANKERS AND INSTITUTIONS THE BELIEVE IN PRIVATE PROFIT BUT AS THE PUBLIC TO PICK UP THE BILL WHEN THINGS DON'T GO RIGHT. AS [APPLAUSE] BUT THE SECOND THING, AT THE SECOND THING IS, I THINK WE NEED A MARSHALL PLAN FOR OUR PEOPLE AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. THE BELOVED COMMUNITY THAT DR. KING SPOKE OF SO OFTEN REQUIRES OF US THAT WE INVEST IN THE COMMUNITY. THAT WE INVEST IN THE BUILDING BLOCKS LIKE WILL MAINTAIN ROADS AND BRIDGES AND THE EFFECTIVE MASS TRANSIT AND QUALITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH SERVICES IN DECENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ALL OF THESE THINGS INCLUDING A GREENER ENERGY POLICY CAN MEAN NEW JOBS AND MORE JOBS WHICH COULD BE LOCATED IN THE CITY. BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT INVESTING IN PEOPLE IT MEANS MORE THAN JUST SEEING THEM AS LABORERS. PRIORITIZING PEOPLE MEANS NURTURING THE HUMAN SPIRIT. IT MEANS WE NEED TO CULTIVATE AND -- IN APPRECIATION FOR AND A PRECISION FOR THE ART AND NEED TO LOOK UP FOR OUR CITIZENS BOTH IN TERMS OF A HEADSTART PROGRAM AND GOLDEN AGE YEARS. IN THESE SHARED SACRIFICE FOR THE COMMON GOOD. I HOPE WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT LINCOLN SAID OF GOVERNMENT UP FOR AND BY THE PEOPLE. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS MORALLY A PROMISE. WHEN WE VOTED ON NOVEMBER 4 WE WERE SENDING A MANDATE TWO THE YOU ADMINISTRATION AND THE CONGRESS THAT WE WANT THEM TO TURN THE PROMISE INTO REALITY AND WE WANT IT NOW. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:11:36 | Gutierrez, Luis | WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT ARE THINGS THAT WOULD BE DONE BY THE PEOPLE IN POWER. WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT TO YOU AND THE PEOPLE HERE TODAY. WHERE CAN THEY DO AS THEY GO BACK CALLED TO HELP THEIR COMMUNITIES. |
| 01:11:49 | Gutierrez, Luis | TOO OFTEN I THINK THAT WE ASSUME THE GOVERNMENT WILL HEAR US AND TO DO IT FOR US. I THINK THE TOWN HALL MEETINGS THAT WERE HOLDING UP TO THE ELECTION ARMENIANS BUT WE STILL NEED TO HAVE. WE NEED TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER AND ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO THOSE MEETINGS TO HEAR CLEARLY WHAT WE WANT AND WHEN WE WANT IT. |
| 01:12:10 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU, SO MUCH. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:12:14 | Gutierrez, Luis | ARLENE BAKER, IS THERE ONE THING THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND TO THESE PEOPLE, THESE CARING, POLITICALLY CONSCIOUS FOLKS BETTER HERE THIS EVENING REALIZE IN THE PROMISE THAT IS THERE ONE DID YOU WOULD RECOMMEND FOR THEM TO DO? |
| 01:12:28 | Gutierrez, Luis | ABSOLUTELY. THERE IS. I WOULD SAY THAT WE MUST ENSURE THAT WE SHARE IN THIS PROSPERITY AND THE WAY THAT WE CAN DO THAT IS WORKERS IN THIS COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO FREELY FORM AND JOIN UNIONS. AND I WOULD ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THE PASSAGE OF THE EMPLOYEE THREE JURIES ACT. -- EMPLOYEE FREE TRADE ACT BECAUSE WHAT WE KNOW, IS THERE IS, AT AN ADVANTAGE TO BEING IN A UNION PARTICULARLY FOR WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR. AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE MORE LIKELY TO MAKE 30% HIGHER WAGES WHEN THEY ARE IN A UNION. LATINOS ARE MORE LIKELY TO MAKE 47% HIGHER IN WAGES AS UNION WORKERS ARE MORE LIKE THE BAN NOT TO THE HEALTHCARE AND TO HAVE PENSIONS. SO I DID SAY IT IS GIVEN THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE -- TO SAY THAT FORMING A -- WOULD FORM A UNION TOMORROW AND IF WE HAD EMPLOYER INTERFERENCE TO BE ABLE TO DO SO. SO PLEASE, HELP US PASS THE EMPLOYEE FREE-TRADE PACT. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:13:49 | Gutierrez, Luis | ONE OF THE THEMES OF THE GAME THROUGH AS WE HEARD ABOUT JOBS AND WE HEARD ABOUT HEALTHCARE AND WE HEARD ABOUT ORGANIZING AND HAVING TOWN HALL MEETINGS WAS THE NOTION OF TRYING TO GET OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO LISTEN. SO LET ME GO TO THE ELECTED OFFICIALS HERE ON THE PANEL AND ASK, ON WHICH OF THESE SUGGESTIONS ARE YOU WILLING TO ENGAGE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE REALIZING THE PROMISE, A CONGRESSMAN. |
| 01:14:17 | Gutierrez, Luis | I AM WILLING TO ENGAGE ON EVERY ONE OF THEM BECAUSE WE ACTED TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. BUT I LIKE TO TAKE THE OTHER QUESTION. AND WOULD ASK YOU TO DO THIS ONE THING WHEN YOU GO BACK TO YOUR COMMUNITIES. KEEP DOING EXACTLY WHAT YOU DIDN'T THE BRIGHT YELLOW TO WASHINGTON TODAY AND THAT ELECTED A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER ON NOVEMBER 4 AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. WHICH YOU ARE OBVIOUSLY DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. AND I WANT TO DO A SHOUT OUT TO BALTIMORE FOR THE WORK THEY ARE DOING. I HAD TO GET THAT IN. [APPLAUSE] BUT DO THIS. AND THIS IS CRITICAL. FIGURE OUT WHAT UNIVERSE YOU OCCUPY. IDENTIFY YOUR UNIVERSE. AND THEN IT MAXIMIZE THE POSITIVE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE IN YOUR UNIVERSE. I KNOW IN WASHINGTON, PART OF THE PROBLEM AND THIS IS A HUMAN TRAIT. EVERYONE TRIES TO GET IN EVERYBODY ELSE'S UNIVERSE AND THEY DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THEIR OWN. IDENTIFY YOUR UNIVERSE, MAXIMIZE THE IMPACT AND KNOW THIS. OF THIS AND THIS IS HARD TO GET YOUR HEAD AROUND, BUT IT IS TRUE. YOUR UNIVERSE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS BARACK OBAMA AND HIS UNIVERSE. AND YOUR ROLE, YOUR ROLE AND YOUR IMPACT IN YOUR UNIVERSE WHETHER IT IS AS A PARENT, A FATHER, MOTHER AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, WHATEVER IS THAT YOU CAN OCCUPY MANY UNIVERSES'. YOUR IMPACT IN THAT UNIVERSE IS AS IMPORTANT AS OUR NEXT PRESIDENT IS GOING TO MAKE IN HIS UNIVERSE. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]. |
| 01:16:00 | Gutierrez, Luis | CONGRESSMAN GUTIERREZ, WE COME TO THIS IDEA HAVING HEARD AN AGENDA PUT FORWARD IN THIS ROUND TABLE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE HERE TODAY. WHICH OF THESE APPEALS TO YOU AS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN WORK WITH COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS TO ACHIEVE. |
| 01:16:15 | Gutierrez, Luis | ACTUALLY ALL OF THEM. I THINK THEY ARE ALL CRITICAL AND ESSENTIALS. I AM HONORED AND PLEASED TO BE WITH SUCH A GREAT PANEL AND SUCH A GREAT AUDIENCE OF PEOPLE. IT SPEAKS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT WE ARE SPEAKING ABOUT. AND BECAUSE TIME IS SHORT, THE SAY THE FOLLOWING TWO FOLLOW-UP. IN THE 1850'S AND 1860'S, IN THIS COUNTRY, PEOPLE CAME AND THEY CALLED THEM DIRTY AND IGNORANCE AND AN AMERICAN AND CATHOLIC AND THERE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE IRISH WHEN THEY CAME HERE AS IMMIGRANTS OF THIS COUNTRY. AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY YUPIK OF "THE NEW YORK TIMES" IN NEW YORK -- AND THE PAPER WOULD SAY ONLY BY THE RULE OF LAW COULD WE HOPE TO CONTROL THESE PEOPLE SPEAKING ABOUT AN ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS. WE PASS LAWS AGAINST OFFERS TO SAID KENT DOES COME AND BUILD OUR ROADS THAT MR. WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE CHINESE IN THIS COUNTRY. WE ARE WRONG ABOUT THE IRISH, WE'RE WRONG ABOUT THE CHINESE COME OUT WE WERE WRONG ABOUT THE ITALIANS AND WE ARE WRONG ABOUT THE SCAPEGOATING IS BORN ON ABOUT IMMIGRANTS TODAY. THEY ALL COME TO WORK HARD AND SWEAT AND MAKE AMERICA. SO WHAT I SAY TO ALL OF US, THE WAY THAT THEY STOPPED IT THEN OF THE WAY THEY STOPPED THIS WAS WHEN PEOPLE LIKE YOU DEMANDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT PASSED THEIR LONG. SO LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER, LET'S ALL WORK TOGETHER NOW, TOGETHER ACROSS OUR COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY TO OUR FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW AS I LOOK AT THE STRUGGLE FOR VOTING RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, I SEE THE CHURCH AND AS ALWAYS THE REV. MARTIN LUTHER KING, LET'S GO BACK, WE MAY NOT CONTROL THE BANKS OR THE HOSPITALS, AND WE MAY NOT CONTROL THOSE HOUSES. BUT BLESSED, WE CONTROL OUR RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS. LET'S GO BACK TO THAT FAITH BASED INSTITUTION AND WORK TOGETHER. THANK YOU. |
| 01:18:15 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND ON THAT NOTE, LET US CONCLUDE THIS FIRST ROUND TABLE BY TURNING TWO REV. TURMAN AND ASKING ABOUT THOSE RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND WHAT THEY CAN DO AND WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ROUND TABLE AS YOU GO BACK TO DETROIT? |
| 01:18:29 | Gutierrez, Luis | WELL, I THINK I AM CHALLENGE AND I HOPE PEOPLE OF FAITH IN THIS CHALLENGE -- RUMORED CHALLENGE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FAITH MOVES BEYOND THE WALLS OF THE CHURCH WHERE THE WALLS OF THE SYNAGOGUE OR THE WALLS OF THE MOSQUE. IT IS EASY TO BE WHOLLY IN RIGHT WITH GOD AS LONG AS YOU ARE INSIDE THE ROOM BUT I BELIEVE GOD'S CREATION THE MAN'S REDEMPTION AND OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE WALLS IS WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE FAITH REAL FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:19:02 | Gutierrez, Luis | LET ME ASK YOU TO SET THINK YOU TO THESE WONDERFUL PEOPLE. [APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE CONVERSATIONS]. |
| 01:19:45 | Gutierrez, Luis | AS WE GATHER HERE THIS AFTERNOON FOR REALIZING THE PROMISE, I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A SENSE OF THE VALUE THAT IS PUT ON A BELIEF, A SENSE OF BELIEF AND FAITH AND DEMOCRACY. A SENSE THAT CHANGE IS POSSIBLE IN A SENSE THAT ALL OF YOUR VOICES WILL BE HEARD AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF POWER IN THIS AMERICAN DEMOCRACY. AND THE QUESTION FOR YOU IT IS, HOW WE CAN MAKE REAL CHANGE POSSIBLE. HOW DO YOU GET THE VOICE IS COMING EVEN THE VOICES OF A FORMER COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS LIKE BARACK OBAMA TO HEAR THE VOICE OF YOUR NEED COMING YOUR DESIRE, YOUR ACTION TO ACHIEVE CHANGE. AND TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN BE ANY EFFECTIVE AGENT OF SOCIAL CHANGE WE BROUGHT TOGETHER A WONDERFUL PANEL THIS AFTERNOON. LET ME BEGIN THIS ROUNDTABLE PART NUMBER TWO BY ASKING A QUESTION -- MANUEL PASTOR. I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE SOCIAL CONTRACT AS IT EXTENDS NEXT YEAR, THE FIRST YEAR OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION. WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FORMER COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AND ALL THE PEOPLE HERE WHO INVEST SUCH HOPE IN HIM TO ACHIEVE CHANGE. |
| 01:21:23 | Gutierrez, Luis | WELL, THANK YOU IS A THRILL TO BE HERE AND IF YOU THINK YOU'RE ARE HERE FOR THE FEMA CONFERENCE, THAT IS NEXT DOOR. AND DID YOU THINK YOU ARE HERE FOR THE THE MY CONFERENCE AND YOU'RE STILL HERE YOU ARE PRETTY CONFUSED. SO, LET ME SAY WHAT I THINK THESE TO BE HAPPENING AND THEN WHAT NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS ON THE GROUND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING THE 1-1 REGELATION SHIPBUILDING THAT HAS MADE THIS MOVEMENT POWERFUL. YOU KNOW IT IS THE KIND OF RACE TO RACE AND PLACE TO PLACE AND DATE TO FAITH DIALOGUE THAT BRING THE KIND OF COMMON UNDERSTANDING THAT ALLOW US TO FIND OUR NATIONAL DESTINY WE SAW PEOPLE DO IT WE GET SOME PEOPLE -- WITH SOME FOLKS FROM THE REGIONAL COALITION, RIGHT? WHO BROUGHT TOGETHER CITY AND SUBURBS IN UNIQUE WAYS. SO THAT KIND OF WORK NEEDS TO CONTINUE BUT I THINK WHAT REALLY HAS CHANGED IS THAT WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT WE WON. AND BECAUSE WE WON, WE ARE GOING TO ASK THE ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS TO DELIVER BUT AS ORGANIZERS, WE ARE GOING TO DELIVER. YET TO DELIVER CONSTITUENCIES THAT ARE ENGAGED IN READY TO BE MOBILIZED AND WE ARE GOING TO UP TO DELIVER PROPOSALS. AND ONE BIG CHANGE FOR US IS WE ARE GOING TO UP TO DELIVER A WILLINGNESS TO COLLABORATE IN COOPERATE WITH THE NEW ADMINISTRATION AS IT DEVELOPS ITS OWN AGENDA. IT WILL BE A SEE CHANGE IN OUR CULTURE I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO NEVER MET A PROTEST OF WOULD NEVER STOP TO ATTEND AND NOW THERE IS AN INAUGURATION I AM REALLY DYING TO GO TO. REALLY DIFFERENT AND MELODY I WILL BE ASKING YOU FOR TICKETS BUT I THINK THAT IS A REALLY BIG CHANGE TO KEEP ORGANIZING BUT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE DELIVER. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:23:16 | Gutierrez, Luis | I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOUTUBE REV. GRANT STEVENSON OF MINNESOTA. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:23:24 | Gutierrez, Luis | REV. STEVENSON WHEN I AM THINKING ABOUT REALLY MAKING THE POLITICAL DIFFERENCE IN THIS COMING YEAR, WITH THIS TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY THAT EXISTS FOR ALL THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE THIS YEAR, I LOOK TO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITHOUT A DAY IN MINNESOTA AND I SEE YOUR AD DURING GATHERINGS DRAW THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, POLITICAL LEADERS ATTEND AND LISTEN. |
| 01:23:49 | Gutierrez, Luis | HUNDREDS. |
| 01:23:52 | Gutierrez, Luis | HOW DO YOU DO IT? |
| 01:23:54 | Gutierrez, Luis | FIRST OF ALL WE KNOW WHAT EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM KNOWS ABOUT ORGANIZING THE PEOPLE IN PUBLIC OFFICE ARE AWARE OF NUMBERS. THEY ARE AWARE OF MOVEMENTS IN POWER AND WE KNOW THAT BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT WE KNOW. |
| 01:24:11 | Gutierrez, Luis | LET ME MAKE SURE YOU ARE OKAY. |
| 01:24:15 | Gutierrez, Luis | I JUST DON'T FORGET IS ON. |
| 01:24:20 | Gutierrez, Luis | I WILL ASK THEM TO TURN IT ON THE POLITICIANS TINSLEY TURNED OUT TO EVERYONE TO BE HUMAN BEINGS. AND WE CAN ENGAGE THEM ON THAT LEVEL AS HUMAN BEINGS AND SOMETIMES THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN IN POLITICS WHERE YOU GET AT THE DEEPEST LEVELS. THANK YOU. OF WHAT IT IS A PERSON BELIEVES. WHEN WE ENGAGE ONE ANOTHER AT OUR DEEPEST VALUES, WE CAN GET AT SOME THINGS THAT SOMETIMES WE DON'T GET IN THE POLITICAL DISCOURSE: |
| 01:25:34 | Gutierrez, Luis | EVERY FAITH TRADITION IN THIS COUNTRY UNDERSTANDS THAT TO TREAT EACH OTHER AS SOMETHING LESS THAN HUMAN IS THE GRAVEST OF SINS. WE IN FACT ARE NOT, WE ARE IN FACT NOT CLOGS IN A MACHINE. WE ARE A BLESSING TO ONE ANOTHER. WE ARE A GIFT AND OUR POLITICS NEEDS TO REFLECT THAT AND IT NEEDS TO LEAD |
| 01:25:52 | Gutierrez, Luis | PAW. |
| 01:25:54 | Gutierrez, Luis | |
| 01:25:59 | Gutierrez, Luis | LET ME INTRODUCE YOU NOW TO MARIA FOR ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRATION AND REFUGEE RIGHTS THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS AFTERNOON. |
| 01:26:09 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU VERY MUCH IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE. |
| 01:26:13 | Gutierrez, Luis | YOUWORK TO BRING PEOPLE POWER TO THE TABLE AND TO HAVE POLITICIANS RESPOND TO PEOPLE POWER AND OFTENTIMES PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A VOICE THAT POLITICIANS MIGHT RESPOND TO BECAUSE THEY WERE RECENT IMMIGRANTS OR EVEN HERE ILLEGALLY. |
| 01:26:29 | Gutierrez, Luis | THAT'S RIGHT. |
| 01:26:31 | Gutierrez, Luis | HOW DO YOU GET PEOPLE IN ACTION AND THOSE POLITICIANS TO LISTEN AND RESPOND GIVEN THAT THIS COMING YEAR CREATES SUCH AN PUNT -- AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL THESE FOLKS IN THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY? |
| 01:26:44 | Gutierrez, Luis | WELL, JUAN, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S WE WHO GET PEOPLE OUT. IT IS PEOPLE WHO GET PEOPLE OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT ALL OF US HAVE A VOICE DOCUMENTED, NOT DOCUMENTED, WE ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY SO. WE HAVE BEEN THERE. TWO YEARS AGO WE MARCHED. ON NOVEMBER 4TH, ALMOST 70% OF LATINOS VOTED FOR OBAMA. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 01:27:12 | Gutierrez, Luis | WHAT HAPPENED? SO EVERY FOUR YEARS ANOTHER ONE MILLION LATINOS WILL BE READY TO VOTE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 01:27:24 | Gutierrez, Luis | SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HAVE WE BEEN MOBILIZED, WE'VE BEEN MOBILIZED. WE HAVE BEEN MOVING WHETHER IT WAS GETTING PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE. WHETHER IT WAS PEOPLE BECOMING NATURALIZED CITIZENS. EVERYBODY HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED. WHAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OR WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE SURE IS THAT NOW WE ARE HEARD BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN MOVING AND NOW WE WANT TO BE HEARD. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:27:54 | Gutierrez, Luis | WELL, HOW DID YOU GET YOUR VOICES HEARD BECAUSE YOUR VOICES WERE HEARD LOUT LOUD AND CLEAR. |
| 01:27:59 | Gutierrez, Luis | AS I MENTIONED JUAN WE HAD MARCHES PEOPLE GOING OUT THERE REGISTERING TO VOTE. WE HAD PEOPLE -- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IS WE SAID EVERYBODY, EVERYBODY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS. IF YOU CAN VOTE, GET OUT THERE AND VOTE. IF YOU ARE A VES DENT AND YOU -- RESIDENT AND YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME A U.S. CITIZEN, GET OUT THERE AND APPLY TO BECOME A U.S. CITIZEN. IF YOU CANNOT DO EITHER ONE OR THE OTHERS GET PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT YOU KNOW THAT CAN APPLY TO BE TO BECOME U.S. CITIZENS. GET PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT YOU KNOW CAN REGISTER TO VOTE. EVERYBODY HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS CIVIC SOCIETY. EVERYBODY DOES. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:28:38 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU. WHAT ENDS UP HAPPENING THOUGH JUAN IS WHEN WE START TO EXCLUDE 11 MILLION PEOPLE FROM CIVIC SOCIETY, THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE A PROBLEM AND THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE BEEN MOVING AND NOW WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE HEARD AND INVOLVED AND INTEGRATED. |
| 01:28:57 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU MARIA. |
| 01:28:58 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:29:02 | Gutierrez, Luis | LET ME NOW INTRODUCE YOU TO JOHAN SEN OF THE UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS. JOE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING |
| 01:29:08 | Gutierrez, Luis | |
| 01:29:09 | Gutierrez, Luis | MY PLEASURE. THANK YOU. |
| 01:29:11 | Gutierrez, Luis | JOE THERE'S GOT TO BE AS WE LOOK TOWARDS THIS COMING YEAR AND THE OPPORTUNITY IT PRESENTS WITH BARACK OBAMA THE FORMER COMMUNITY ORGANIZER AS PRESIDENT THERE'S GOT TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LABOR, CORPORATIONS AND GOVERNMENT. DO YOU SEE AN OPPORTUNITY THERE OR DO YOU JUST SEE A TRAIN CRASH? |
| 01:29:31 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE'VE HAD THE TRAIN CRASH FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS. BEFORE THAT. [APPLAUSE] NOW WE HAVE TO PUT THE TRAIN BACK ON THE TRACKS. WHAT HAPPENED NOVEMBER 4TH WAS A GREAT THING FOR THIS COUNTRY AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN JUST BECAUSE OF LABOR UNIONS IT DEPARTMENT HAPPEN JUST BECAUSE OF COMMUNITY GROUPS IT DIDN'T HAP P BECAUSE OF FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. IT HAPPENED BECAUSE ALL OF US PUT THE TRAIN BACK ON THE TRACKS. AND THAT GIVES US NOT ONLY AN OPPORTUNITY, IT GIVES US A CHALLENGE. ONCE THERE WAS A PARTNERSHIP IN THIS COUNTRY WHERE THERE WASN'T BETWEEN WORKING PEOPLE AND CORPORATIONS, SOMEHOW WE'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY TO REBUILD THAT. I THINK WE START REBUILDING THAT THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT. WE HAVE A GOVERNMENT THAT CARES ABOUT PEOPLE RIGHT NOW. WE HAVE TO DO THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS. WE HAVE TO DO HEALTHCARE AND WE'VE GOT TO DO IMMIGRATION REFORM [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:30:22 | Gutierrez, Luis | THERE'S NOT A PERSON IN AMERICA TODAY THAT'S GOING TO HAVE DINNER THAT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE THAT FOOD WASN'T TOUCHED BY AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT. EVERYBODY OUGHT TO THINK ABOUT THAT. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO OUR SOCIETY AND IF WE START RIGHT THERE AND DO AN ECONOMIC STIMULUS, DO EMPLOYER FREE CHOICE, GET DECENT HEALTHCARE WE'LL GET A PARTNERSHIP WITH CORPORATIONS BECAUSE IT WILL BE GOOD FOR THEM AND GOOD FOR US. |
| 01:30:49 | Gutierrez, Luis | SO JOE, YOU SEE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR A NEW KIND OF ENERGY THAT WOULD COME FROM A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CORPORATIONS, LABOR AND GOVERNMENT. |
| 01:30:58 | Gutierrez, Luis | I SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY AND I SEE IT AS A CHALLENGE. GOD HELP US IF THEY'RE NOT SMART ENOUGH ON THE |
| 01:31:05 | Gutierrez, Luis | ALL RIGHT. NOW I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO TWO PEOPLE. PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTING AND PEOPLE WHO ARE IN POWER. LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO MELODY BARNES WITH THE OBAMA TRANSITION TEAM AND WILL BE IN CHARGE OF DOMESTIC POLICY. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:31:25 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND LET ME ALSO INTRODUCE YOU TO CONGRESSWOMAN DONNA EDWARDS OF MARYLAND. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:31:36 | Gutierrez, Luis | DONNA EDWARDS, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU, THIS IS AN UNUSUALLY RIPE MOMENT FOR EVERYONE IN THIS AUDIENCE. HIGH EXPECTATIONS ABOUT WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITH A PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA. WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE THEM TO DO TO TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS COMING YEAR WITH ONE OF THEIR OWN IN OFFICE. |
| 01:31:57 | Gutierrez, Luis | WELL, THE IMPORTANT MESSAGE I THINK IS DON'T LET UP. IT'S AN AMAZING MOMENT BUT ALSO A MOMENT FOR US IN WHICH WE CAN ENGAGE IN A LITTLE BIT OF OPPORTUNEISM AND TO KEEP THE EXPECTATIONS HIGH. I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE MOMENT AND I THINK FOR ALL OF US WHO ARE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONERS AND ACTIVISTS WE FEEL LIKE OUR TIME HAS |
| 01:32:16 | Gutierrez, Luis | |
| 01:32:23 | Gutierrez, Luis | MELODY BARNES YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN THE WHITE HOUSE ADVISING PRESIDENT OBAMA ON DOMESTIC POLICY. AS YOU LOOK OUT ON THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY TO THEM ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO TO HELP YOU DO YOUR JOB AND ACHIEVE SOME OF THE GOALS THAT THANK YOU HAVE IN MIND FOR THE PRESIDENT-ELECT? |
| 01:32:44 | Gutierrez, Luis | THAT'S A WONDERFUL QUESTION. THANK YOU SO MUCH JUAN. WHAT I WANT EVERYONE TO REMEMBER IS THAT WE HAVE ELECTED A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRESIDENT. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:32:58 | Gutierrez, Luis | ON THIS PANEL ALREADY WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE HUNGER TO DELIVER ON PROMISES TO DELIVE OWNER THE NEEDS OF THE -- DELIVER ON THE NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE DESIRE TO BE HEARD. THE WILLINGNESS TO BE HEARD AND TO CONTRIBUTE. WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR HUMANITY AND THE ABSOLUTE NEED NOT TO LET UP. AND WHAT WE HAVE NOW IS IS A PRESIDENT-ELECT WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT, WHO UNDERSTANDS THAT WE ARE INTERCONNECTED THAT EACH OFFICE HAS A COMMON SET OF PROBLEMS AND THE SOLUTIONS TO THOSE PROBLEMS ARE ALSO COMMONLY LINKED. SO WE HAVE TO RELY ON THE EXPERTISE THAT YOU HAVE, EXPERTISE THAT EXISTS IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY THAT EXIST IN THE LABOR COMMUNITY THAT IS BORN OF THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE IT EXISTS IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND ALL OF US HAVE TO COME TOGETHER TO BRING THAT EXPERTISE TO THE TABLE. WE ARE COUNTING, COUNTING ON YOU TO TALK TO US AND WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED THAT PROCESS OF LISTENING TO PEOPLE ON HEALTHCARE LISTENING TO PEOPLE ON OUR LABOR RELATIONS ISSUES AND WHOLE HOST OF OTHER ISSUES SO WE CAN USE THAT INFORMATION TO BUILD THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO BRING OPPORTUNITY AND MOBILITY BACK TO THIS COUNTRY. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:34:18 | Gutierrez, Luis | MELODY BARNES, DO YOU HAVE AS YOU LOOK OUT ON THAT FIRST YEAR, DO YOU HAVE AN AGENDA YOU COULD ADVERTISE TO THE AUDIENCE HERE THIS AFTERNOON SO THEY KNOW WHAT'S YOUR PRIOR -- |
| 01:34:30 | Gutierrez, Luis | SURE. THE BEAUTY OF WORKING FOR PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA AND VICE PRESIDENT ELECT BIDEN WHAT THEY TALKED ABOUT FOR 21 MONTHS IS WHAT WE BELIEVE IN TODAY. WE KNOW WE HAVE AN ECONOMIC CRISIS STARING US IN THE FACE RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. AND WE ARE PREPARING AS PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA HAS SAID A STIMULUS PACKAGE TO SHOCK THE ECONOMY BACK INTO BEING. BUT WHEN WE'RE DOING THAT, WE ARE NOT FORGETTING ABOUT OUR PROMISES ON HEALTHCARE. ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR EVERYONE. WE'RE NOT FORGETTING ABOUT OUR PROMISES WITH REGARD TO EDUCATION STARTING NOT JUST IN KINDERGARTEN BUT THE DAY YOU ARE BORN AND HELPING YOUNG FAMILIES. TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE PREPARED TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN. AND WE ARE NOT FORGETTING ABOUT OUR PROMISES WITH REGARD TO THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY AS WELL. SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE A PART OF OUR AGENDA. WE WILL START MAKING DOWN PAYMENTS ON THOSE THINGS AS PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA HAS SAID IN THE STIMULUS PACKAGE AND BEYOND GOING INTO THIS FIRST YEAR. THAT'S PART OF OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY. THAT'S PART OF GETTING PAST THIS FLAWED ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY THAT HAS |
| 01:35:38 | Gutierrez, Luis | [APPLAUSE] WE'RE GOING TO SPEED THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT HERE. AND I'M JUST GOING TO ASK YOU PROFESSOR PASTOR IF YOU WATCH THIS FIRST YEAR PASS AND YOU SEE THAT IN FACT MOLE LOW DID -- MELLOW DID IS NOT -- MELODY IS NOT LIVING UP TO THAT KIND OF PROMISE IN THE FIRST YEAR, WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST THAT THESE FOLKS DO? |
| 01:36:07 | Gutierrez, Luis | YOU KNOW, PICK UP YOUR MIKE AND HOLD IT TO YOUR MOUTH. |
| 01:36:15 | Gutierrez, Luis | FIGURE OUT WHERE IT WENT. |
| 01:36:18 | Gutierrez, Luis | WELL, OBVIOUSLY THEY'LL CONTINUE TO DO THE STUFF THEY HAVE BEEN DOING WHICH IS ORGANIZING, ADVOCATING AND PRESSURING. I DO THINK THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ALSO HAVE TO GET USED TO AND I THINK THAT YOU WERE SAYING IT IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH OUR POLITICIANS AS HUMAN BEING IS TO STAY IN DISCUSSION AS THIS YEAR ROLLS FORWARD. TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DEMANDS ARE OUT THERE BUT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE NOT JUST DEMANDING ECONOMIC JUSTICE BUT WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF WHAT THIS ECONOMIC GROWTH PACKAGE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. GREAT TO TALK ABOUT A FISCAL STIMULUS BUT IF WE HAVE A STIMULUS THAT DOESN'T DELIVER FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES THAT DOESN'T REALLY CONNECT THEM TO THE EMPLOYMENT THAT MIGHT BE THERE IN A GREEN ECONOMY NOT REALLY GOING TO MATTER FOR MANY OF THESE CONSTITUENCIES AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE ON THE ONE HAND ON THE OUTSIDE PUSHING AND ON THE OTHER HAND ON THE INSIDE IN THE CONVERSATIONS THAT UNDERSTAND THAT FOR A CHANGE PEOPLE OF GOODWILL HAVE MOVED INTO THE WHITE HOUSE. AND WE HAVE A CHANCE TO REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE. |
| 01:37:18 | Gutierrez, Luis | LET'S PICK UP ON THAT REVEREND STEVENSON HOW DO YOU BUILD AN INFRASTRUCTURE WORKING WITH PEOPLE BECAUSE YOU BELIEVE THEY'RE OF GOODWILL WHICH IS WHAT PROFESSOR PASTOR BELIEVES HOW DO YOU BUILD THAT INFRASTRUCTURE SO THE POLITICAL POWER BROKERS REALLY DO HEAR? |
| 01:37:34 | Gutierrez, Luis | WELL, ACTUALLY I'M DELIGHTED TO HEAR WE'VE COME AROUND TO TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WE DO BELIEVE THE CRISIS IN THIS COUNTRY IS NOT SIMPLY A PROBLEM OF BAD POLICY. THE CRISIS -- CRISES THAT WE FACE IN THIS COUNTRY ARE ALSO ABOUT A BAD BALANCE OF POWER. AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS ROOM WANT TO BE, NEED TO BE IN FACT DESERVE TO BE AT THE TABLE OF POWER DECISIONS AS THEY'RE MADE. SO WE HAVE HAD ALWAYS TABLES OF POWER INDECISION IN THIS COUNTRY BUT ALWAYS PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA LIKES TO SAY, IT'S THE SAME PEOPLE WHO SIT AT TO HELP. -- AT THEM. THE HEADS OF BIG OIL, THE HEAD OF BIG FINANCE THE HEADS OF BIG INSURANCE, BUT WHERE ARE THE REGULAR PEOPLE? NOW, THE ELECTION THAT WAS JUST WON, WAS WON BY PEOPLE ORGANIZED REGULAR PEOPLE AND ORGANIZED REGULAR PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:38:33 | Gutierrez, Luis | WHAT DOES THAT REALLY MEAN? YOU DON'T EXPECT THAT SOMEHOW ANYBODY'S GOING TO WALK INTO THE WHITE HOUSE. THAT'S JUST NOT THE WAY IT WORKS. |
| 01:38:40 | Gutierrez, Luis | LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE. WHAT IF WE HAD, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE. WHAT IF WE HAD A MARSHAL PLAN FOR REBUILDING OUR CITIES AND SUBURBS AND TOWNS ACROSS THIS NATION. NOW, WHO IS IT THAT KNOWS HOW TO DO THAT? IT'S THE VERY PEOPLE IN OUR ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE CONNECTED LIKE THE MUSCLES OF THEIR COMMUNITIES WHO KNOW WHAT THEIR COMMUNITIES NEED. WHO HAS TO HAPPEN IN YOUNGSTOWN OHIO IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IN ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA BUT REVEREND MICHAEL HARRISON FROM YOUNGSTOWN KNOWS WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IN YOUNGSTOWN OHIO AND HE AND THE CONNECTION OF RELATIONSHIPS THAT HE HAS HAS TO BE AT THE TABLE AS THAT PLAN IS CARRIED FORWARD. |
| 01:39:24 | Gutierrez, Luis | JOHAN SEN, WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST IN TERMS OF BUILDING AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD MAKE SURE THE PROMISE IS REALIZED. |
| 01:39:31 | Gutierrez, Luis | YOU CAN'T BUILD AN INFRASTRUCTURE UNLESS YOU RAISE THE LIVING STANDARDS OF WORKING PEOPLE. AND RIGHT NOW WE'VE HAD THIS DIVISION OF WEALTH WHERE ALL THE MONEY HAS GONE TO THE TOP AND THERE'S A GROWING POPULATION OF POOR PEOPLE. WHEN YOU DO THE ECONOMIC STIMULUS, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO GIVE THE WORKERS POWER. ONE OF THE WAYS YOU DO THAT IS CHANGE THE LABOR LAWS SO PEOPLE CAN ORGANIZE THE UNION, BARGAIN BETTER WAGES, BARGAIN BETTER BENEFITS AND I HAVE FAITH WITH THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION THEN WE WILL LIFT OUR WHOLE ECONOMY UP AND MORE IMPORTANTLY WE'LL ALL LIVE BETTER LIVES. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:40:11 | Gutierrez, Luis | MARIA, YOU'RE PRESIDENT OF LATIN WOMAN IN ACTION. ACTION. TAKING ACTION TO HELP YOURSELVES. YOU'RE NOT WAITING, YOU'RE TAKING ACTION. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE TAKING ACTION WHEN IT COME0S TO THIS ADMINISTRATION DURING THAT FIRST EVENING. |
| 01:40:28 | Gutierrez, Luis | FIRST OF ALL I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AS STRENGTH NOT A WEAKNESS IN THIS COUNTRY. WE HAVE TO START BY REMEMBERING WE STILL HAVE FAMILIES LIVING IN FEAR. WE STILL HAVE FAMILIES WHO NOW HAVE HOPE THAT THEY WILL NO LONGER BE LIVING IN FEAR AND WILL BE ABLE TO COME OUT OF THE SHADOWS SO WE DO NEED TO STOP THE RAIDS SAYING THAT, WE NEED TO FULLY INTEGRATE, FULLY INTEGRATE IMMIGRANTS INTO THE AMERICAN SOCIETY. NOW, WE HAVE IN FOUR STATES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY THAT HAVE MADE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER FOR NEW AMERICAN IMMIGRATION. WE CAN DO THAT. WE CAN VERY EASILY DO THAT. SO ONCE AGAIN WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW OUR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES CAN BE A IN VARIOUS AREAS AND EMPOWER THEM. |
| 01:41:21 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANKS MARIA. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:41:24 | Gutierrez, Luis | LET ME ASK YOU CONGRESSWOMAN DONNA EDWARDS, WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT ALL THESE PLANS AND ALL THE ENERGY IN THE ROOM WHEN IT COMES TO THE FIRST YEAR OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST TO ALL OF THESE CARING POLITICALLY CONSCIOUS PEOPLE IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THEIR VOICES GET HEARD HERE IN WASHINGTON. |
| 01:41:48 | Gutierrez, Luis | YOU KNOW, I'VE LONG BELIEVED THAT PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA IS GOING TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENT ONLY IF THE VOICES IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ARE HEARD SO THEY'RE ALSO ARTICULATED IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL REALLY STRENGTHEN THIS ADMINISTRATION IS TO CONTINUE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU IN EVERY SINGLE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT ORGANIZED AROUND ISSUES. MAKING YOUR VOICES HEARD AND THEN WE CAN BE ASSURED A PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THAT. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN THAT DEMONSTRATED THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN AND I'M REALLY PLEASED TO BE HERE REALLY WITH MELODY BARNES BECAUSE I CAN SEE ALREADY A COMMITMENT TO LISTENING TO COMMUNITIES AND TO THINKING OF POLICYS IN A WAY THAT MAKE SENSE FOR WORKING PEOPLE AND SO IT'S AN EXCITING TIME BUT AGAIN THE MESSAGE HAS TO BE THAT IT REQUIRES ORGANIZING AND IT REQUIRES AGGRESSIVENESS AND DILIGENCE AND WE'LL HAVE A SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENCY. WE KNOW WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING AT ONE TIME. EVEN JUST FACING THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN STARTING IN JANUARY, STRAIGHT UP, I KNOW MY COLLEAGUES WILL HAVE TO REALLY WORK ON A STIMULUS ACT PAGE -- PACKAGE THAT WILL CREATE JOBS NOT JUST IN THE SHORT-TERM, BUT MAKE INVESTMENTS THAT ARE ABOUT THE 21st CENTURY ECONOMY AND THEN FINALLY, FINALLY AFTER 8 YEARS WE'LL HAVE A PRESIDENT IN THE WHITE HOUSE WHO WILL BE PREPARED TO SIGN OFF ON THE KIND OF LEGISLATION THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF WORKING PEOPLE. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:43:25 | Gutierrez, Luis | MELODY BARNES WHAT YOU HEARD FROM THIS PANEL IS A SENSE THAT GEE, WE WISH IN SOME WAYS WE COULD WALK INTO THE WHITE HOUSE AND SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND HAVE A VOICE, BUT OF COURSE THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE UNLESS YOU TELL ME OTHERWISE. SO WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF A STRUCTURE THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO HEAR THESE VOICES LOUD AND CLEAR? |
| 01:43:50 | Gutierrez, Luis | WELL, -- IS THIS ON? |
| 01:43:51 | Gutierrez, Luis | TRY IT AGAIN. |
| 01:43:53 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE RECOGNIZE. |
| 01:43:54 | Gutierrez, Luis | TRY THIS. |
| 01:43:58 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP. THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMEONE SAYING WE'RE GOING TO HELP EACH OTHER AND PEOPLE SAYING WE'RE PARTNERS IN THIS TOGETHER. AND I THINK WHAT WE'RE ALREADY SEEING AND WHAT YOU SAW DURING THE CAM -- CAMPAIGN WE HAD OVER 1600 HOUSE PARTIES AROUND THE PLATFORM. WE HONESTLY TOOK THOSE IDEAS AND MADE THEM PART OF OUR PLATFORM. YOU SEE SENATOR TOM DASCHLE FORMER SENATOR DASCHLE OUT THERE TAKING THE BEST IDEAS THAT ARE COMING OFF OF THE INTERNET AS WE SOLICITED THEM FROM PEOPLE AS WE THINK ABOUT HEALTHCARE REFORM. WE'RE THINKING ABOUT WAYS AND PUTTING IN PRACTICE WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR POLICY OPERATIONS ARE TRANSPARENT THAT YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE THINKING THAT WE ARE TAKE IN YOUR IDEAS AND THEY ARE PART OF OUR POLICY SOLUTION. SO THIS IS ABOUT PARTNERSHIP. THIS IS ABOUT COLLABORATION AND WHILE EVERY SINGLE PERSON MAY NOT BE ABLE TO COME INTO THE WHITE HOUSE FITSKLY -- PHYSICALLY THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF MEANS THROUGH THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE HERE IN WASHINGTON, THROUGH THE INTERNET BECAUSE WE WILL BE OUT IN THE COUNTRY TALKING TO PEOPLE THROUGH TOWN HALLS AND OTHER MEANS THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE BEST IDEAS, GET THE BENEFIT OF YOUR EXPERTISE |
| 01:45:08 | Gutierrez, Luis | |
| 01:45:16 | Gutierrez, Luis | REVEREND STEVENSON, IF YOU COULD, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY AS THE TAKE-AWAY POINT FROM ALL WE'VE HEARD ON THIS ROUNDTABLE ABOUT MAKING THE MOST OF THE FIRST YEAR OF THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION FOR THIS GROUP OF COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS? |
| 01:45:30 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU JUAN. I THINK IT'S CLEAR TO EVERYONE WHO'S GATHERED IN A ROOM LIKE THIS THAT THIS IS A HOPEFUL TIME, BUT THE SOUL OF OUR COUNTRY IS AT STAKE IN THE DECISIONS THAT WE ARE MAKING RIGHT NOW. AND WHO WILL BE AT THAT TABLE IS A PART OF HOW THAT WILL COME OUT. EVEN IN THIS CONVERSATION WE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO LISTING THE GROUPS THAT WE'RE USED TO. THEY'RE GOOD GROUPS. CORPORATIONS LABOR AND GOVERNMENT. BUT WHERE ARE YOU? IN THAT CONVERSATION? [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:46:15 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT IS AS A NATION WE MOVE FORWARD IN WAYS THAT ARE NOT FALLING BACK INTO THE OLD HABITS AND PATTERNS THAT EXCLUDE SO MANY PEOPLE FROM THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:46:31 | Gutierrez, Luis | PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING THIS WONDERFUL PANEL INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN EDWARDS AND MELODY BARNES. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:46:49 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE HAVE A VERY SPECIAL SPEAKER COMING UP BUT I WANT TO JUST SAY TO ALL OF YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SENSE OF HISTORY ABOUT THIS MOMENT. ALL OF US HERE ON THE ROUNDTABLE IN A SENSE ARE IN AWE. I THINK SO MANY PEOPLE ARE DAZZLED BY WHAT IS TAKING PLACE IN AMERICAN HISTORY TODAY. I KNOW WHEN I WROTE EYES ON THE PRIZE PEOPLE SAID TO ME, THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE ALIVE BACK THEN. THEY COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT HISTORY WAS TAKING PLACE. WELL, I HOPE AS ALL OF US GO AWAY TODAY THAT WE HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF HISTORY AT THE CUTTING EDGE AND I HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [APPLAUSE] [INAUDIBLE CONVERSATIONS] |
| 01:47:50 | Gutierrez, Luis | THIS A NEW AMERICA EVERYONE. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:47:56 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND WE ARE AT THE TABLE. IN THIS HISTORIC MOMENT WE SEE THAT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE CAN BE FULFILLED. NOW, LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO PASTOR MICHAEL HARRISON, PRESIDENT OF THE OHIO BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION AND THE OHIO ORGANIZING COLLABORATIVE. [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:48:39 | Gutierrez, Luis | AS PRESIDENT OF THE OHIO BAPTIST STATE CONVENTION WE ALREADY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN REDEEMING HOPE TO COME TO PASS WITH 37,000 CONTACTED VOTERS TWO AND A HALF DAYS BEFORE THE NOVEMBER 4TH ELECTION WHICH MAKES US MORE THAN QUALIFIED TO BE HEARD. NOW THAT HOPE IS ON OUR DOORSTEP, WE ARE PREPARED TO ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES OF SACRIFICE AND COMMIT TO THIS MOMENT IN HISTORY THAT CANNOT BE LOST OR KWAN DORED THROUGH -- SQUANDERED THROUGH PAST APATHY OR DISILLUSIONMENT WE ARE READY TO LIVE OUT OUR GOD GIVEN ENALIENABLE RIGHTS THAT ALL PEOPLE ARE CREATED EQUAL WITH ECONOMIC CHAOS, WITH WARS RAGING WITH CITIES DETERIORATING WITH STATES SUFFOCATING FROM THE LACK OF RESOURCES. PEOPLE IN CITIES, TOWNS, BURROWS -- BOROUGHS AND MUNICIPALITIES WHO HAD ONE TIME HAD NO VOICE NOW SPEAK LOUD AND CLEAR, SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER, ARM IN ARM. BECOMING LESS BLUE AND RED BUT AMERICANS INDIVISIBLE WORKING TOGETHER FOR JUSTICE FOR ALL AND BECAUSE WE ARE STRONG WILLING AND READY TO STAND IN THE MIDST OF THIS DAY IT IS MY PLEASURE AND MY PRIVILEGE TO DRO -- INTRODUCE TO YOU A YOUNG LADY WHO IS THE COCHAIR OF THE OBAMA-BIDEN TRANSITION PROJECT OF THE WHITE HOUSE SENIOR ADVISOR AND ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR THE INTERGOV TIR YAL RELATIONSHIPS AND THE PUBLIC LIAISON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS MY ESTEEMED PLEASURE AND PRIVILEGE TO PRESENT TO SOME AND INTRODUCE TO OTHERS NONE THAN VALERIE B. JARRETT. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 01:50:54 | Gutierrez, Luis | THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YES, WE CAN. (CHANTING YES WE CAN). |
| 01:51:10 | Gutierrez, Luis | YES, WE CAN! YES WE CAN! |
| 01:51:15 | Gutierrez, Luis | MY GOODNESS. WOW. YES, WE CAN AND BOY DID WE. DID WE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 01:51:23 | Gutierrez, Luis | WHAT A PLEASURE. WOW. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY. OH, COME ON NOW YOU CAN DO BETTER THAN THAT. GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS A GOOD AFTERNOON. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS MOMENT. I HAVE TO TELL YOU YOU KNOW, I AM A SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO GIRL I GREW UP THERE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO AND I LOVE MY CITY. AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT MOVING TO WASHINGTON, D.C. WHY? BECAUSE I SPENT SO MUCH OF MY CAREER COMPLAINING ABOUT WASHINGTON, D.C. [LAUGHTER] |
| 01:52:04 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND SO IT'S NOW MY NEW HOME NOT THAT CHICAGO WON'T ALWAYS BE HOME, BUT IT'S MY NEW HOME. SO TO COME HERE IN THE MIDST OF OUR TRANSITION AND TO HAVE ALL OF YOU COME HERE TO WASHINGTON MAKES ME FEEL LIKE THIS IS HOME AGAIN. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:52:19 | Gutierrez, Luis | SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY. IT IS SUCH AN HONOR TO BE AMONGST YOU SO AS YOU KNOW I AM HERE REPRESENTING SOMEBODY WHO BEGAN HIS CAREER AS ONE OF YOU A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. RIGHT? [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:52:40 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND SO HE HAS RUN THIS CAMPAIGN WITH THE SPIRIT OF A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER, UNDERSTANDING THAT ORDINARY PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME TOGETHER AROUND A COMMON VISION WITH COMMON GOALS AND COMMON BELIEFS CAN DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS. AM I RIGHT? I KNOW, I'M RIGHT. EVEN THOUGH COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS GOT KIND OF A BAD NAME DURING THE GENERAL ELECTION, WE KNOW AND WE KNOW BECAUSE WHAT DID WE DO? WE ELECTED ONE OF OUR OWN AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:53:20 | Gutierrez, Luis | SO I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING THE PRESIDENT-ELECT. IT SOUNDS SO GOOD TO SAY PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA. SO YOU WON'T MIND IF I SAY IT A FEW TIMES. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF KNOWING HIM NEARLY 20 YEARS NOW AND TALKS ABOUT HIM STARTING AS A COMMUNITIES ORGANIZER BUT I THINK WE ALSO SHOULDN'T FORGET WHAT DROVE HIM INTO THE FIELD TO BEGIN WITH. THIS IS A GUY WHO GREW UP WITH A SINGLE MOM WHO SPENT SOME OF HIS EARLY YEARS ON FOOD STAMPS SO HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO STRUGGLE AM I RIGHT? [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:53:51 | Gutierrez, Luis | HE UNDERSTANDS THAT PEOPLE NEED THOSE WHO WILL HAVE A VOICE FOR THEM WHEN THEIR VOICE IS TOO QUIET TO BE HEARD BY ITSELF. SO HE UNLSS FROM WORK -- UNDERSTANDS FROM WORK AS A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER HOW FRUSTRATING GOVERNMENT CAN BE WHEN IT'S SERVING INTERESTS OTHER THAN THE PEOPLE WHO ELECTED THE REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:54:11 | Gutierrez, Luis | HE UNDERSTANDS THROUGH EMPATHY AND VALUES AND INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER AND HAVING BEEN RAISED BY A MOTHER WHO TOLD HIM THAT WHO MUCH IS GIVEN MUCH IS EXPECTED. AND SO HE BRINGS TO THIS WHITE HOUSE THOSE VALUES AND THE LIFE EXPERIENCES WORKING WITH SO MANY OF YOU AND ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS YOURS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO AND SEEING HOW IT HAS BEEN REPLICATED ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH OVER 30 STATES REPRESENTED HERE TODAY. PLEASE GIVE YOURSELF A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:54:53 | Gutierrez, Luis | YOU ARE THE REASON WHY HE IS THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES. PEOPLE SUCH AS DONYELL BARRETT A COMMUNITIES ORGANIZER FOR US IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND DELAWARE AND IN PENNSYLVANIA. THREE STATES OF COURSE THAT WE WON. PEOPLE LIKE THAT ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY HAVE PARTICIPATED AND I'M PROUD TO SAY TO YOU THAT THE JOURNEY ALTHOUGH IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY AND IT HAS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY, THE JOURNEY HAS NOW JUST BEGUN. AND SO WE ARE HEARTENED THAT YOU ARE HERE THIS DAY IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL TO BEGIN WHAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS AS WE GO FORWARD AND I AM PARTICULARLY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE TO YOU THAT ONE OF YOUR OWN. IN FACT, THE CHAIRMAN OF YOUR BOARD CECILIA WILL BE JOINING OUR OFFICE AS DIRECTOR OF INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. CIVIL YA, --SHY CELIA WHERE ARE YOU? [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:55:51 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND YOU KNOW, I WISH I COULD TAKE FULL CREDIT FOR CECELIA HAVING JOINED THE WHITE HOUSE BUT WHAT DID IT TAKE? IT TOOK THE PRESIDENT-ELECT TO GET ON THE PHONE HIMSELF AND SAY CECELIA, THIS COUNTRY NEEDS YOU, I NEED YOU. WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD WITH PEOPLE SUCH AS YOU. WITH YOUR LEADERSHIP AND YOUR VISION AND YOUR CHARACTER AND YOUR REPUTATION AND THE WAY YOU HAVE LED YOUR LIFE. I WANT YOU INSIDE OF MY WHITE HOUSE AND SO THAT SAYS A LOT ABOUT HIM THAT HE RECOGNIZES THE POTENTIAL OF SOMEONE LIKE CECELIA SO THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:56:29 | Gutierrez, Luis | SO AS I SAID, OUR WORK JUST BEGINS TODAY. OUR CHALLENGES ARE DAUNTING BUT OUR OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS. IF WE WORK TOGETHER, IF WE HOLD HANDS, IF WE DECIDE THAT WE WILL FOLLOW THE VISION OF PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA'S CAMPAIGN WHICH IS LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT ALL THE ISSUES THAT DIVIDE US WHICH HAS BEEN WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON, LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON. LET'S TALK ABOUT EDUCATION FOR OUR YOUNG CHILDREN. |
| 01:56:54 | Gutierrez, Luis | AP [APPLAUSE] |
| 01:56:59 | Gutierrez, Luis | LET'S TALK ABOUT SOLVING ONCE AND FOR ALL OUR ENERGY CRISIS. LET'S TALK ABOUR ENVIRONMENT. LET'S REBUILD OUR ECONOMY AND AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND TRY TO PASS THIS INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, THIS RECOVERY BILL THAT WILL CREATE THOUSANDS AND MILLIONS OF JOBS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS WE CAN'T GET THAT PASSED WITHOUT YOUR FULL SUPPORT AND THAT'S WHAT THIS VISION WAS ALL ABOUT. IT WAS TO NOT JUST WIN A CAMPAIGN BUT TO CHANGE OUR COUNTRY FOR THE BETTER. A.M. P [APPLAUSE] .. |
| 01:58:02 | Gutierrez, Luis | OUR FUTURE IS BRIGHT. THERE'S NOTHING WE CANNOT DO AS WE COME TOGETHER AS ONE. I HAVE ONE QUESTION FOR YOU. I WANT TO KNOW, ARE YOU FIRED UP? |
| 01:58:12 | Gutierrez, Luis | YES! |
| 01:58:14 | Gutierrez, Luis | I WANT TO KNOW, ARE YOU FIRED UP? YES! |
| 01:58:17 | Gutierrez, Luis | I WANT TO KNOW, ARE YOU READY TO GO? YES! |
| 01:58:21 | Gutierrez, Luis | BECAUSE IF YOU'RE READY TO GO THEN I WANT YOU TO WALK WITH US AND I WANT YOU TO STAND UP WITH US AND LEAD US AND I WANT YOU TO WORK WITH US TO MAKE THIS COUNTRY ALL THAT THIS COUNTRY CAN BE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPLAUSE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 01:58:53 | Gutierrez, Luis | WOW! FIRED UP AND READY TO GO! FIRED UP AND READY TO GO! FIRED UP AND READY TO GO! COME ON. FIRED UP AND READY TO GO! COME ON. FIRED UP AND READY TO GO! COME ON, FIRED UP AND READY TO GO! COME ON. FIRED UP AND READY TO GO! |
| 01:59:14 | Gutierrez, Luis | COME ON. |
| 01:59:18 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE ARE FIRED UP AND READY TO GO! FIRED UP AND READY TO GO! |
| 01:59:25 | Gutierrez, Luis | ALL RIGHT. HAVE A SEAT. APPLAUSE. |
| 01:59:31 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE WANT TO THANK VALERIE. THAT WAS POWERFUL. THAT WAS MOVING. THAT WAS EXCITING, BUT IT'S NOT OVER. WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND SO NOW WE BRING BACK, TO BRING US SOME REMARKS, TO HELP US TO FEEL EVEN MORE INTENSELY WHERE WE GO FROM HERE. LET BACK ANNA BACK TO THE MIC. |
| 02:00:03 | Gutierrez, Luis | THIS DAY HAS PROVEN ONCE AGAIN THAT TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THIS COUNTRY. THIS HAS BEEN A VERY BUSY DAY, SO I'M GOING TO READ THE REPORT SO THAT EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT YOU ALL BEEN DOING TODAY. OVER 400 GRASSROOT LEADERS SITTING IN HIS HALL RIGHT NOW WENT TO THE LOBBY OF THE UNITED STATES HEALTH CARE CORPORATION AND DEMAND REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM FOR FAMILIES. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:00:38 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND OVER 500 LEADERS SITTING IN HIS ROOM WENT TO THE STEP OF CONGRESS AND CALLED TO STOP THE RAIDS AND STOP OF THE INHUMAN TREATMENT FOR IMMIGRANTS! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 02:01:00 | Gutierrez, Luis | GUTIERREZ FROM ILLINOIS JOINS THEM AND COMMITTED IN THE FIRST DAY OF THIS ADMINISTRATION TO GET A MEETING -- TO GET TWO MEETINGS, A MEETING WITH NANCY PELOSI AND A MEETING WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL HISPANICKIC CAUCUS. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:01:21 | Gutierrez, Luis | OVER 70 LEADERSHIP TEAMS WITH OVER 700 PEOPLE SPREAD ACROSS THE CAPITOL AND HELD 178 LEGISLATIVE VISITS. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:01:37 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND WHILE ALL OF YOU WERE KIND OF JUST DOING JUST THAT, THERE WERE MEETINGS BEING HELD WITH KEY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TRANSITION TEAM. YES. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:01:50 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND I JUST LIKE TO SAY LAST, THIS WAS ALL DONE BEFORE 1:00 THIS AFTERNOON. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:02:01 | Gutierrez, Luis | WAY ARE READY TO REALIZE THE PROMISE. BRING IT ON. |
| 02:02:10 | Gutierrez, Luis | SO WE ACTED BUT WE ALSO LEARNED SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TODAY. WE LEARNED THAT THIS ECONOMIC CRISIS IN OUR COUNTRY IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO RACIAL AND ECONOMIC INEQUALITY THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR 30 YEARS, AND WE'VE GOT TO ADDRESS THAT INEQUALITY. WE'VE HEARD THAT THE TIMES CALL NOT FOR THE SMALL AND TIMID CHANGES BUT FOR BIG AND TRANSFORMATIVE AND BOLD CHANGES TO TURN OUR COUNTRY AROUND. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:02:42 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE'VE HEARD THAT WE NEED TO RESTORE OUR DEMOCRACY BY PASSING COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM AND THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT TO RESTORE THE RIGHT OF WORKERS TO ORGANIZE IN AMERICA. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:02:57 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE'VE HEARD THAT WE NEED MILLIONS OF NEW JOBS AND INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS AND WE NEED THEM NOW. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:03:08 | Gutierrez, Luis | YES. |
| 02:03:10 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE'VE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE SOME VERY POWERFUL PEOPLE IN THE NEW ADMINISTRATION IN THE NEW CONGRESS, WHO ARE PREPARED TO PARTNER WITH US TO GET THAT AGENDA DONE. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:03:26 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE HEARD, WE'VE LEARNED THAT ORGANIZED COMMUNITIES ARE THE KEY INGREDIENT TO WINNING THE CHANGE THAT OUR COMMUNITIES DESERVE. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:03:43 | Gutierrez, Luis | SO, TO BRING US HOME TODAY, WE HAVE TWO REMARKABLE PEOPLE WHO WILL CLOSE IT OUT FOR US TODAY. FIRST WE'LL HEAVIERY HUDSON, THE INTERNATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION OR SE IRO, A KEY ALLY OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THROUGHOUT AMERICA. SECOND, WE'LL HAVE WOMEN McNARY, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF U.S. ACTION, ONE OF THE LEADING ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE UNITED STATES AND A COSPONSOR OF THIS EVENT TODAY. LET'S BRING TO THE STAGE JERRY HUDSON OF SEIU. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:04:27 | Gutierrez, Luis | WOW. THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS THAT I REALLY NEVER ACTUALLY EXPECTED TO BE LIVING. I'VE BEEN IN THE MOVEMENT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR 40 YEARS. GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO '68. AND I'VE NEVER, EVER WORKED ON A CAMPAIGN LIKE THE ONE THAT I JUST SAW. AND IN FACT, MOST OF MY LIFE I'VE WORKED ON TRYING TO STOP BAD THINGS FROM HAPPENING. RIGHT? HOW DO WE MINIMIZE THE DAMAGES TO OUR COMMUNITIES? HOW DO WE MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE TO PEOPLE OF DEEP CONSCIENCE AND THOSE WHO ARE LACKING MANY OF THE THINGS THAT GOOD LIVES REQUIRE. SO FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'VE ELECTED IN THOSE 40 YEARS SOMEBODY WHO I THINK CARRIES A PEOPLE'S AGENDA INTO THE WHITE HOUSE. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:05:37 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE CAN, WE CAN WIN COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM. WE CAN PROVIDE FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN AND CHILD IN THIS SOCIETY HIGH QUALITY, GOOD HEALTH CARE. WE CAN. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:05:55 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE CAN PRODUCE A CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY THAT PRODUCES MILLIONS OF NEW JOBS, AND WE CAN INSURE THAT FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN LOCKED OUT OF THIS ECONOMY IS A PARTICIPANT IN THAT NEW GREEN ECONOMY. WE CAN DO THIS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 02:06:17 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE CAN FIX, FINALLY, FINALLY, A BROKEN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. WE CAN DO IT. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 02:06:28 | Gutierrez, Luis | BUT I KNOW AND YOU KNOW THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN JUST BECAUSE WE NOW HAVE A FRIEND IN THE WHITE HOUSE. I LOVE BARACK OBAMA. HE SAYS, WE, MORE THAN ANY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE I'VE EVER HEARD. IT'S AMAZING. HE DIDN'T SEA I WON, HE SAID, WE WON. WELL, IN ORDER TO FULFILL THE PROMISE OF THIS MOMENT, IT'S GOING TO TAKE THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF ALL OF US IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE IN FACT REALIZE THE PROMISE OF THIS MOMENT? [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:07:10 | Gutierrez, Luis | I KNOW, I COME FROM A PART OF THOSE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN OUT THERE TRYING TO GET HIM ELECTED. I COME FROM AMONG LABOR WHO WILL GO ON TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE IN FACT PASS EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS I'VE MENTIONED. BUT I'M CLEAR BECAUSE I HAVE WORKED WITH EVERY ORGANIZATION IN HERE. THEY'VE BEEN A FRIEND TO US ON THE ISSUE OF HEALTH CARE REFORM. WE'VE WORKED HARD TOGETHER ON IT. CCC HAS BEEN A FRIEND TO US ON COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM. IT'S BEEN A FRIEND TO US ON DEEPENING CIVIC ENGAUGEMENT. AND I'M TELLING YOU, FRIENDS, LABOR AND ALL THE REST OF YOU NEED YOU TO CONTINUE TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE THIS PEOPLE'S AGENDA OR IT WILL NOT PASS. BUT I KNOW SINCE I JUST HEARD YOUR REPORT, THAT INDEED YOU INTEND TO GO ON STRUGGLING ALONG WITH THE REST OF US, AND SO I REALLY CAME TO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID TO GET US TO THIS MOMENT, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK WE'LL DO TOGETHER TO ENN FACT REALIZE THE PROMISE OF THE MOMENT. THANK YOU. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 02:08:36 | Gutierrez, Luis | WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON. MY MOM ALWAYS TOLD ME YOU CAN TELL WHAT KIND OF CROWD YOU'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF BY THE WAY THEY GREET FRIENDS OR STRANGERS WHEN THEY GREET YOU. SO LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN. GOOD AFTERNOON. NOW THAT'S MORE LIKE IT. YOU ALL DO MY MAMA PROUD. MINIMIS WILLIAM MacTHEY'RE WHERE AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF U.S. ACTION. THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, PEOPLE THAT WATCH THINGS HAPPEN AND THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING. I CAN'T THINK OF ANYPLACE ELSE IN THE WORLD I WOULD RATHER BE ON A THURSDAY AFTERNOON THAN RIGHT HERE IN WASHINGTON, DC, THE PEOPLE'S CAPITAL, IN A ROOM FOR OF PROGRESSIVES, WHO ARE NOT CONTENT TO SPECULATE OR PONTIFICATE AT LIFE BUT PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS IN THE MOVEMENT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL CHANGE. I TRULY BELIEVE, BECAUSE YOU ALL ARE GATHERED HERE THIS AFTERNOON, THAT OUR COUNTRY WILL BE STRONGER, OUR COUNTRY WILL BE MORE SECURE, AND OUR NATION'S CITIZENS, CITIZENS TO BE, AND, YES, EVEN OUR NATION'S IMMIGRANTS WILL ALL BREATHE FREER WAS OF THE WORK OF THE MASTER BLASTER PASTORS AND THE ADVOCATES AND THE ACTIVISTS IN THIS ROOM. THAT'S THE CORNELL WEST ONCE SAID YOU CAN'T LEAVE PEOPLE IF YOU DON'T LOVE PEOPLE, AND YOU CAN'T SAVE PEOPLE IF YOU DON'T SERVE PEOPLE. SO FOR THE DEPTH OF THE LOVE THAT THEY HAVE FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE QUALITY OF THEIR SERVICE, WOULD YOU ALL GIVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THE FOUNDATION AND THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY CHANGE. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 02:10:27 | Gutierrez, Luis | THE 2008 ELECTION WAS AN IMPORTANT MILE MARK ON OUR JOURNEY BUT THE NOVEMBER ELECTION WAS NOT OUR DESTINATION. THE BATTLE FOR THE PRESIDENCY AND THE CONGRESS IS THE URGENCY BY WHICH THINGS WILL GET DONE. BUT ELECTING A PRESIDENT IS NOT ENOUGH, ELECTING A CONGRESS IS NOT ENOUGH. CHANGE DID NOT ROLL IN ON THE WHEELS OF INEVIDENTIBILITY. IT ABOUT BROUGHT IN KICKING AND SCREAMING ON THE SHOULDERS OF MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM AND THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US. SO WE MUST CONTINUE TO BUILD THIS MOVEMENT BASED ON PROGRESSIVE IDEAS FOR HISTORY WILL NOT BE MADE BY HEROES OR SMART PEOPLE OR SUPERWOMAN OR WONDERWOMAN OR SUPERMAN OR WONDERWOMAN. HISTORY WILL BE MADE WHEN ORDINARY PEOPLE GET IN MOTION. SO I NEED YOU TO PUT A LITTLE EXTRA IN YOUR ORDINARY, A LITTLE SUPER IN YOUR NATURAL, AND LET'S GET IN MOTION. BECAUSE IF WE'RE GOING TO GET THE KIND OF CHANGE WE BELIEVE IN, WE MUST HAVE THE MORAL COURAGE TO STAND ON THE FRONT SIDE OF HISTORY AND SHAPE IT. WE MUST HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN WIN. BUT IF WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF THIS NATION, WE HAVE TO BUILD A BIG TENT. THIS CAN'T JUST BE ABOUT THE LEFT OF AMERICA AND WE ARE RIGHTER AND SMARTER AND WE ARE BETTER AND WE ARE PURER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE. WE HAVE TO SEE OF US IN THE CENTER OF PEOPLE'S LIVES BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. THAT'S WHERE WE LIVE. IT'S NOT US. IT'S OUR POLITICS THAT IS OUR CENTER. SO I NEED YOU ALL TO FIGHT FOR BIG, BOLD CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN. IN ORDER TO DO THAT WE MUST HAVE A MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE. WE NEED TO GO OVER TO THE MOUNTAIN 0 AND SEE A BETTER AMERICA WHERE EVERY MAN AND WHOM WOULD WANTS TO WORK HAS A LIVE ABLE JOB WITH A LIVING WAGE, SAFE WORKING CONDITIONS AND A SECURE RETIREMENT. SEE WHERE EVERY CHILD CAN GET A HIGH QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION. SEE IN AMERICA WHERE EVERY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE CAN RECEIVE A COLLEGE EDUCATION BASED ON THE ABILITY TO PERFORM AND NOT THEIR ABILITY TO SEE. SEE AN AMERICA WHERE HIGH QUALITY AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE IS A GUARANTEE TO ALL AND SEE AN AMERICA WHERE PEOPLE CAN LIVE IN DIGNITY AND HONOR AND OPPORTUNITY WHETHER THEY WERE BORN ORE OR CAME FROM EUROPE OR MEXICO. WE DO BETTER WHEN WE ALL DO BETTER. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 02:12:57 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND DON'T JUST DO THIS FOR YOURSELF. GO BACK TO THE VALLEY AND LEAD A MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE TO GET THEM ON THE OTHER SIDE. SO MANY JOBLESS. HOMELESS, SO MANY PEOPLE LEFT BEHIND. SO MUCH INCOME INEQUALITY. TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH TOO LITTLE POWER. IF SOMEBODY TOLD ME THAT GOD WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, I WOULD JUST FOLLOW ON MY KNEES KNEES KNEES AND SAID SAY, LORD HAVE AMERICAY. GOD DIDN'T CREATE THIS MESS. ANOTHER MAN AND WOMAN DO AND WHAT ONE CAN DO THEY CAN UNDO. IF YOU DON'T REMEMBERING IN ELSE. YOU GOT TO ORGANIZE. YOU GOT TO ORGANIZE. NUMBER THREE, YOU GOT TO ORGANIZE. FOUR, BLESS IT, BLESS THE DAY THAT HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. THEY'LL BE SATISFIED. THAT'S A PROMISE. YOU ALL READY TO REALIZE THE PROMISE? THE HE RECORD BE SAID ON THIS DAY, DECEMBER, WE GOT TOGETHER AND STOOD AS A PEOPLE AND TOOK OUR COUNTRY BACK FROM THOSE ENVIRONMENT DESECRATING, TREATY BREAKING, INEESCALATING, INFLUENCE, FEAR MONGERING, MENTALLY LEAKING, EAVESDROPPING, DOCUMENT SHREDDING, ESCAPEBOATING, TO THE LIBERTY TAKING FREE SPEECH -- AND -- [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 02:14:42 | Gutierrez, Luis | ARE YOU FIRED UP? ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THIS STORY BACK AND TELL YOUR LEADERS? ARE WE READ TO DO THIS WORK? |
| 02:14:55 | Gutierrez, Luis | YES! |
| 02:14:57 | Gutierrez, Luis | WHEN YOU RETURN TO YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS AND TELL THEM ABOUT HEALTH CARE AND IMMIGRATION REFORM AND AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR ALL OF US. WE'RE NOT GOING AWAY. EVERY WEEK FOR THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION, GRASSROOTS LEADERS WILL MEET WITH THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS. THIS IS A NEW DAY IN AMERICA. WE ARE REALIZING THE PROMISE OF GRASS ROOTS DEMOCRACY. LET'S GET STARTED. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 02:15:37 | Gutierrez, Luis | AND IN CASE YOU FORGOT. THE DIRECTIVES I JUST GAVE YOU ARE IN YOUR PACT. THERE'S A CHEAT SHEET OF ALL THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO WHEN WE LEAVE THIS ROM. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 02:15:53 | Gutierrez, Luis | MY FRIENDS, WE'RE ALMOST THERE. AT THE END OF OUR GATHERING TODAY. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I'M FIRED UP. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 02:16:03 | Gutierrez, Luis | I'M ENERGIZED. I'M READY TO GO BACK AND TAKE CARE OF SOME BUSINESS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 02:16:13 | Gutierrez, Luis | WE OPENED WITH PRAYER BECAUSE THE CENTER OF WHAT WE DO IS OUR FAITH IN EACH OTHER. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE NOW TO COME AND BEGUN OUR CLOSING PROCESS WITH CLOSING WORDS OF PRAYER. PASTOR BUFFALO, PASTOR BROOKS, AND THE REVEREND BRENDA BARRY, LET US WELCOME THEM. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 02:16:49 | Gutierrez, Luis | LET'S ALL BOW OUR HEADS AND JOIN IN A FEW MOMENTS OF PRAYER. OUR LORD AND OUR GOD WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, A DAY THAT MANY OF US FEARED WOULD NOT COME IN OUR LIFETIMES. A DAY, A MOMENT IN TIME, PREGNANT WITH POWERFUL POSSIBILITIES, WE THANK YOU FOR THE MOVEMENT OF YOUR SPIRIT, EVIDENCED BY THE ELECTION OF AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY ORGANIZER TO THE HIGHEST OFFICE IN THE LAND. WE THANK YOU FOR THESE, YOUR PEOPLE, ORGANIZED FOR CHANGE, DEDICATED TO JUSTICE, FIRED UP AND READY TO GO. WE THANK YOU FOR A PROMISE -- FOR THE PROMISE OF A NEW AMERICA, WHERE WOMEN AND MEN WILL BE JUDGED BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTERS, WE THANK YOU, GOD, FOR THE CHANGE YOU HAVE ALREADY BROUGHT. THANK YOU, GOD, FOR USING ORGANIZED, DEDICATED PEOPLE TO CHANGE THE POWER EQUATION IN AMERICA. THANK YOU, GOD, FOR RENEWED HOPE. GRACIAS. |
| 02:18:01 | Gutierrez, Luis | OH, COME HOLY SPIRIT, COME. AND LET JUSTICE ROLL DOWN THAT WATER AND RIGHTEOUSNESS LIKE A ROLLING STREAM, FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS EXHORTS A NATION BUT SIN, THE SIN OF INJUSTICE IS A REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE. WE ARE STANDING ON THE PROMISE AND REALIZING THE DREAM. WE PRAY THAT HUMAN DIGNITY BE RESTORED, THAT THE SYSTEMS OF INJUSTICE BECOME SYSTEMS OF JUSTICE THAT WORK FOR ALL ALIKE. WE PRAY FOR HUMANE IMMIGRATION POLICIES TO BE MADE REAL. MAY FAITH IN DEMOCRACY BE RESTORED, AND THROUGH PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA, MAY THE DREAM OF MARTIN LUTHER KING BE REALIZED SO THAT ALL MAY LIVE IN PEACE AND PROSPERITY THROUGH CHRIST JESUS WE PRAY. |
| 02:19:10 | Gutierrez, Luis | AMEN. |
| 02:19:11 | Gutierrez, Luis | DEAR GOD OF ALL CREATION, AS WE BRING THIS GREAT OCCASION AT THIS GREAT PLACE TO A CLOSE, WE PRAY NOW FOR THE SPIRIT OF DETERMINATION, DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE MOVING THIS AGENDA FORWARD, DETERMINATION TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF ALL PEOPLE OF THIS NATION, DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE USING OUR POWER TO BRING HOPE TO THE HOPELESS, HELP TO THE HELPLESS, HEALTH CARE TO THE UNINSURED, LIVING WAGE JOBS TO THE UNEMPLOYED, AND QUALITY EDUCATION TO ALL OUR CHILDREN. WE PRAY FOR OUR SPIRIT OF DETERMINATION, NOT GET WEARY BUT CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THE DREAMS OF ALL OF LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. DETERMINED TO BE STEADFAST AND UNMOVEABLE AND ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THIS GREAT WORK, HELP TO US RUN THIS RACE WITH PATIENCE, BEING MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT THE RACE IS NOT TO THE SWIFT NOR THE BATTLE TO THE STRONG BUT TO THOSE WHO ENDURE TO THE END, SO HELP TO US ENDURE UNTIL THIS DREAMS BECOME A REALITY. IN YOUR PRECIOUS NAME WE PRAY, |
| 02:20:15 | Gutierrez, Luis | AMEN. [APPLAUSE] |
| 02:20:24 | Gutierrez, Luis | MY FRIENDS, IT HAS BEEN GREAT FOR US TO GATHER TOGETHER IN THESE MOMENTS, TO REFLECT, WE'RE ALMOST AT THE END AND WE JUST WANT TO SAY THERE ARE SOME LOGISTICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS TO BE MADE, SO AFTER THIS GREAT SONG THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO SHARE IN, WE WANT YOU TO REMAIN IN YOUR SEATS SO THAT YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET THE VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY THAT REGARDING YOUR BUSES. AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO GET BACK TO DO THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. |
| 02:20:54 | Gutierrez, Luis | SO YOUR FIRED UP! |
| 02:20:56 | Gutierrez, Luis | I WANT TO WELCOME NOW THE REVEREND DIMILLA WOODS JONES TO LEAD US IN THE RENDITION OF "LEFT EVERY VOICE AND SING" AND I WANT TO INVITE ALL OF TO US STAND. AS SOON AS SHE COMES UP HERE. (music) THIS (music)(music) (music) RING THIS THE HOLLOW (music) (music) OF LIBERTY (music) (music) LET OUR REJOICE BE. (music) AND BELIEVE. LET IT RESOUND, LOUD AS THE HOLY SEA (music) (music) SING THE SONG FULL OF THE FAITH THAT THE HAS TAUGHT US (music) (music) SING THE SONG FULL OF THE HOPE THAT THE PRESENT HAS BROUGHT (music) (music) SING THE RISING SUN (music) (music) ON A NEW DAY BEGUN (music) (music) LET US MARCH ON TILL VICTORY (music) (music) IS WON (music)(music) [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] |
| 02:23:20 | Gutierrez, Luis | NOW, MY FRIENDS, TAKE YOUR SEATS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GIVE US SOME VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION LOGISTICAL INFORMATION. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR BEING HERE TODAY. WE WANT TO THANK THE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE STEEL DRUMS AND THEY'RE PARTICIPATION. THEY DID A WONDERFUL JOB. TO TERESA AND I JUST HAD A GREAT TIME SHARING WITH YOU. NOW A LOT OF WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE AND NOW LET'S GO AND GET IT DID. LET'S GO AND GET IT DID. GOD BLESS YOU. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] INSURE. |
| 00:03:23 | | WE WILL COME TO THE PROMISE FORUM I AM THE REV. TIMOTHY MCDONALD IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. WE ARE ONE OF THE SPONSORING ORGANIZERS -- ORGANIZERS OF THIS |