In light of recent low voter turnout nationwide I’d like to share Congresswoman Katherine Clark’s acceptance speech of the Eleanor Roosevelt Award from Ann Roosevelt highlighting the importance of voting:
Last night, I was honored to receive the Eleanor Roosevelt Award from the Massachusetts Democratic Party. I’m incredibly proud to be a Democrat, and even prouder to be a Massachusetts Democrat.
I’m so fortunate to bring our Massachusetts Democratic values to Congress, but I’ll be honest, I sometimes get discouraged. Last fall’s midterm election results were dispiriting, and it can be difficult to see signs of progress in Washington.But when I went to Selma in March, I gained a new perspective on our work for progress. I realized that when John Lewis and the other marchers walked over the Edmund Pettus bridge on that day 50 years ago, because of the bridge’s steep rise, it wasn’t until as they crossed the center of the bridge that they could see the state troopers standing there waiting.
It took an immense amount of courage and conviction to push through the fear they must have felt as they faced those troopers. An incredible belief that the right to vote is the birthright of every American and that their work was important enough to risk violence, injury and even death – that’s what kept the marchers going to cross that bridge.
Eleanor Roosevelt, for whom this award is named, also pushed through her fears and deep shyness, to speak for women, social justice, and human rights. Whether it was only giving interviews to women when women reporters weren’t welcome in the White House press corps, or arranging a concert for Marian Anderson at the Lincoln Memorial when she was denied the stage at Constitution Hall because of the color of her skin – Eleanor Roosevelt never hesitated to cross the bridge for the things she believed in.
And while it may not feel as dramatic as crossing the Edmund Pettus bridge or breaking down barriers as First Lady, we each have a bridge that we want to cross – whether it’s equal marriage or fair housing, criminal justice reform or access to education, ensuring workers earn a fair wage or ending gun violence. And the work you do as Democrats through organizing neighborhoods, making calls, canvassing or donating is helping each of us to cross that bridge.
If we work together, continue to organize, stand up for what we believe in – we can continue to make progress together. When we face opposition, we will march on together, until we achieve equality and opportunity for all.
Fred Rich LaRiccia
Clark Campaign Chair
