Oh We have been bold in our vision and clear in our convictions lifting up in a farming what we are for equity Justice A quality So I didn't come here to deliver a victory speech tonight only one of vision and when we realize equity Justice and equality these rights for everyone then and only then will I deliver a victory speech Now I know this We made history this evening but we aren't just making history for the sake of making it we are in just defeating hate out of necessity what we're issuing here and now is a mandate for hope So night is just the beginning don't allow anyone to tell you that as a Democratic party we have to choose don't allow anyone to tell you that we have to moderate our ambitions or compromise our values no matter how sobering the landscape we are the party of workers rights and immigrants rights and women's rights And people of color We are the party of survivors rights For all those reasons we don't have to wait our turn we don't have to wait for change tonight we pick up them and so we continue to work working to restore your hope to restore your trust to redeem your relationship with the government I still believe in the power of us and change is on the way What you To it you know Ready I'm ready so you talk a lot about your mom and the role she played in your life tell us who she wants when she wants do everything absolutely everything uh my mother was and is um my sheer O she sacrificed so much to ensure that I would never be denied any opportunity in life my father for many years he was in the throes of addiction he was in and out of prison in our lives uh I'm a survivor of a decade of childhood sexual abuse and also campus sexual assault and grew up in a House You rob Peter to pay Paul we were often met with eviction Good afternoon and welcome to congresswoman Diana pressley is community swearing in ceremony thank you all for joining us we will begin our program shortly please find your seats Is that the core of all things politics is relationship when you're done That's how you get this work done before she was on the city Council there was nobody that looks like her on the city Council and now it's full of women of all different colors and one of the first thing she did was phone a Committee on healthy woman families and communities and it's amazing that Boston had such a thing before ayanna so special because she's so accessible to people and she has this ability to transcend all different types of culture she fights for the underdog uh she gives a voice to those uh who took Have one I grew up working class I think she speaks to a wide population ayanna latina she speaks for everyone which is it's hard to say about most politicians every electoral legislative victory that I've had is because I actively listen and work with community to achieve those things ayanna made it sold that folk who wanted to open a restaurant in rocks borough that they could be able to get liquor licenses you have neighborhoods like roxbury matta pan dorchester that hadn't seen new restaurants at 10 15 20 years and we change And have a bar or restaurant that two windows open up the same way they do wanna seaport and folks can enjoy the fresh air it's really been a blessing it brought um more housing it's wealth building in perpetuity you know being an allies easy use ind the right letters you show up at the rallies you say the right things but these times require and demand more than being an ally they demand Intentional advocacy our democracy is being dismantled every day our civil rights are very humanity it seems at the time that we're in a deficit of empathy I've been disappointed by some of the old guard Democratic party that have not been excited about Diana but then again they disappointed me when we're excited about the Hall Patrick or more revealing when you ever change maker like I had it shakes the oh boy party to his core and it needs to be shaken up now more than ever like this same thing ask you My mother didn't raise me and I'm not raising my nine year old step daughter to ask permission to lead I'm going to fight for issues like gun violence prevention the rights of the safety in the wellness of women and girls of comprehensive criminal Justice reform a real immigration reform I'm running for Congress to do what I've already been doing and that is to fight for families that are struggling this is more than a campaign this is a movement and it's one we're gonna build together You can learn everything you need to know about seventh congressional district by riding the number one bus from Cambridge to rock spring from every walk of life are on that bus everyone connected in that moment just trying to get where they're going in a matter of blocks you will see a stark visual contrast of life experiences household median income and quite literally life expectancy drop by decades the lens that I bring a certainly informed by my own life experiences and hardships but more than anything it's a lens informed by the people that I listen to every day I have stayed on purpose in close proximity to the hart acutely uncomfortable so that I'll never grow complacent and tackling these inequities in this disparities that have always done this work in partnership with community because I believe that's where the solutions limit its have sought out the people that have been most affected by an issue whether was artist signed to this or entrepreneurs or parents and together we've governed and legislated it is my fundamental belief that the people close The pain should be the closest to the power driving and informing the policy making it's my job as a leader to lift up the stories and the struggles of the people that I represent the hardest their ideas and their innovation and I believe in what the times require but it's what the residents of the seventh congressional district deserve if they deliver me to that seat I'm not going alone I'm taking everybody with me my name is ayana presley and I'm running for the Congressional district because these times require activist leadership leaders that will extend the hand of partnership and take the fight to Washington Every generation has a chance to be great to rise above circumstances pushback against hate to defy expectations now what's happening in Washington right now it is meant to divide us and to make us feel small but now is not the time to play small we are power and now is the time to be Bowl bold with our ideas bold and coalition bold in our movement building I believe in the power of us Thank you I love you back I love you back all right now Alright y'all change can't wait another can this speech all right Well it is incredible to be with all of you this evening you are an awesome sight to behold I'm grateful beyond words to God To my loving family to my dedicated eighteen So the volunteers and the broad and diverse coalition of voters disrupt are believers resistors who her sister's Activists and agitators that brought us to this very moment And I am so honored and humbled to share both the ballot and the stage with the mini visionary bold women who raise their hand to run for public office Now listen I know for fat none of us ran to make history we run to make change however the historical significance of this evening is not lost on me the significance of history is not lost on me including my personal one tonight I'm reminded of my mother my sheer O the woman who gave me my roots and my wings you see sandy pressley was a Super voter She voted in every election and no matter how small we felt at times in community and society at large my mother made sure I knew that when we walked into that voting booth and we pull that curtain that we were powerful Tonight So night in massachusetts and across the country we are standing in our power the same power my mother told me we had the same power that compelled me to raise my hand and to not ask permission to leave You see when a woman of color talks about running for higher office or a public office at all folks don't just talk about a glass ceiling yes we face many of the same trials are sisters and women of all colors face when answering the call to serve but the well intended conversations that occur when a woman of color six public office take on a texture all their own Is your appeal broad enough Are you playing identity politics can you really inspire millennials and the faith based community Can a congresswoman where her hair in braids rock a black leather jacket Wait a minute And a bold Red lip When it comes to women of color candidates folks don't just talk about a glass mister Speaker I rise today in opposition to the occupant of the White House Mr trump you took an oath just as I did five days ago to protect and defend the constitution and the American people sir you dishonor that oath you devalue the life of the immigrant the worker and the survivor I see right through you and so do the American people this has nothing to do with border security your shutdown another trump generated crisis has brought a tsunami of hurt to the American people so today So let the voices of the unheard I rise today on behalf of the family is concerned about feeding their children because there with benefits will run dry I rise today in solidarity with the thousands of workers with calloused hands and broken spirits working for no pay I rise today in support of the survivor fleeing violent hands seeking safety only to find the shelter door locked because of your shutdown I rise today in support of the American people who believe in the promise of this nation and ask for honest pay for an honest day's work today I rise as one and I stand as thousands thank you and I yield back Members our mister Speaker I rise today in opposition to the occupant of the White House Mr trump you took an oath just as I did five days ago to protect and The Colombian immigrant from Colombia Alright here we go As a first generation Colombian immigrant from both the Columbia I know that with our congresswoman Diana pressley she will work with us in partnership to really hear the stories like my mother and father and my family when we came into this country in two thousand one I am thrilled to be an activist a hand and a partner in this work and I am beyond excited to be with here be here with you guys tonight thank you Good afternoon Welcome to roxbury community College I'm valerie robertson President of our cc and proud host of today's historic event I want to extend a special welcome to mayor marty walsh senator ed marky attorney general maura healey members of the Boston city Council all members of the massachusetts Legislature and all other distinguished guests gathered here today Thank you so much for joining us roxbury community College service over two thousand students each year who pursue degrees in areas such as nursing health sciences business science technology engineering and mathematics our students are hardworking they're single parents their veterans and ex offenders our students are the ones that I on a pressley has made a career and a commitment to lift up so that they Make a living livable wage and take care of themselves and their families that's why we're so pleased to host this event today I'm personally please because I and a has been a consistent friend one who has stood in support of me and the College during good times and bad she is someone that I respect because she has struggled with many of the same challenges that our students face and yet It has been a tremendous success she serves as an outstanding role model because she did not allow anything to stop her from meeting the goals that she set for herself helen keller once said character cannot be developed an ease and quiet only through experience of trials and suffering can the sole be strengthen ambition inspired and success achieved I Respectfully submit that I on a must have overcome many trials and must suffering because she's a fierce strong sister now I am a pressley is exactly the person that you want to represent you to stand up for you and to fight for you she's already proven that she will be a voice for the unheard we were happy when she asked us to have her event here because she is like us and we are in support of her we are happy that you are able to join us today to honor our representative and to wish her the very best of god's blessings and favor and protection and she takes This vital work I am a pressley we thank you and we want you to know that you have our support and our love Thank you doctor robertson we certainly do feel welcomed here in the heart of roxbury we would like now to introduce our local R and B vocalist mantra will be singing the National anthem Can you By What surprised hey Lastly Bright stop The What Through the know That up What Whoa say Bank bear What the Pray Wow can we give her another round of applause for that Thank you so much deirdre for opening this amazing time together like that now we're grateful to welcome four amazing faith leaders rabbi alaine cetera of temple Israel of Boston Sean yes here from e senior in mom of the Islamic society of Boston cultural Center Father Jack ahern of saint gregory's Catholic church at church in door chester And pastor conley hughes senior pastor of concord baptist church who will now will be residing together an interfaith prayer prayer please give them a round of applause Look up we lift our eyes to the mountains so a ella Le ream the psalm a sass where does my help come from may in your vo as re and answers my help comes from the Journal presence of the universe maker of heaven and Earth but this we know our help is a partnership a covenant O bond not just between the holy one of blessing and us but also Between us so let us look up and around not with expectation that someone else will do the fixing the repairing and please God the overhauling of this ever fractured world but to each of us every single one of us and the beauty of all of this is that it is accessible available to each and everyone of us we cannot make the world better if we are not the ones actively In the very pursuit but we need the guiding hand of the divine reaching out to us beckoning us to lift our eyes not just to ask for help but to be it ourselves the sol mist also ask who may ascend the mountain who may do the sacred work it takes someone who lives with integrity who acts with Justice who speaks From her heart so we look to our leader our magnificent congresswoman Diana pressley and we pray that her integrity and courage continue to shine and strengthened her resolve to lift up and ensure that Justice and righteousness and fairness prevail so that the truth she tells and she knows welling up from her heart and life experience R carried forth with strength Fortitude determination and resolve because as the psalm Ms teaches one who lives in this way shall not be shaking we pray she stands firm lifting herself and all of us in this beloved country and community of ours to strive for the ideals of what is sacred and true may her Strength take her and us to new Heights and let us say amen I would like to recite a do I a supplication from the holy koran that was made by moses when he was giving his prophetic duty and responsibility to bear witness against the tyrants of his moment in his time for every time there is tyranny there is oppression there is injustice and there are those who need to bear witness and stand firm and moses understood his mission and he had a tall order in that regard so he stood And he prayed moses said my lord expand for me my chest with assurance andes for me my task untie the knot from my tongue that they may understand my speech and a point for me a Minister a brother a sister from my family erin my brother increase through him my strength and let him share my task that we may exalt you much and remember Indeed you are of us ever seeing we pray that our dear congresswoman Diana is supported with the prophetic spirit to stand firm to speak truth to never waiver and to be supported by her own brothers and sisters in this community and beyond who will support her endeavor to stand firm to never waiver and to never fear to speak the truth regardless of where it may be and what it may sound like I mean A new day has dawned good and gracious God with your grace a new day has dawned in November great numbers dare to Dream to hope to fight and to commit themselves to re fashion our country under our core principles which recognize that all men women and children are created equal and all in doubt by our creator with certain inalienable rights among them life liberty and the pursuit of happiness I knew day And the face of new Congress is more inclusive and more colorful a new day has dawned children and teens can Dream of a brighter day a new day has dawned those living on the margins of our cities and our board of Gates see the possibility of being welcomed into the Center of our cities and treated with dignity and respect a new day has dawned we're families will be supported and a good education Affordable healthcare adjust living wage and a good decent place to live a seen as priorities a new day as dawn we will address the horror of gun violence and the quality of the air that we breathe a new day has dawned and we pray and ask for your blessing lord on our friend and congresswoman in a pressley together with her colleagues may they bring us from the dawn into the light of a new day where Middle Embarrassing tweets are replaced by see reasoned bipartisan deliberation Which serves the common good of all who call our country their home and helps the cures our liberties our freedoms our peace in this world a new day has dawned and with god's grace this country where too many of walked in darkness these past two years will see a new light and I pray this in the name of God who is for me jesus christ amen Let us pray Oh God we're reminded of The children of Israel who needed leadership and you raised up deborah as your leader to lead them she became not only the commander but she became the mother of her people we remember oh God how you blessed had asa ester when her people were being oppressed and her relative came to her and said who knows that God has raised you up for such a time is this we thank you for our congresswoman ayanna pressley We thank you for raising her up for such a time is this we thank you O God that she understands well the needs of all of your people we thank you O God that she is willing to take the journey that she is willing to be unlovable unshakable always abounding in her faith O God we remember you for the courage of mary and Joseph when they Into Egypt because of the wrath of her ot because of tyranny and oppression we thank you all God that they reached each of safely and when they reached Egypt they found refuge because there are no walls preventing them from getting and we thank you God for raising up your daughter so that every Wall will be destroyed We thank you O God for blessing your daughter your servant ayanna pressley who will speak truth to power who will not be silent in the face of all evil we thank you O God that she will be in Washington but her heart will be here in Boston we thank you O God that the anointing that you have placed upon her is not just local or regional or National but it is a global and daunting where the foundations of the world will be shaking and so we pray on this day that you will Grant unto A double anointing of your grace and your power for the work ahead must be done that she would love Justice do Justice love mercy and walk humbly with our God we pray this in the name of our savior the liberate are jesus the christ amen Good afternoon I don't know about you but I'm really excited And I'm Super excited to be a part of such a historical day I wanna give a shout out to to Michael gibbons who's in the room let's give them a wave And I am a proud supporter of our congresswoman I on a pressley who um you know my name is audrey marcy and associate director of my life my choice and um we're Organization that works with us exploited youth I'm also a survivor of the commercial sex industry and I am proud to stand and represent a woman A woman that I like to call my sister and of course our sister and I wanna say that she just doesn't she walks her talk and this is a woman who has helped nurture the young ladies that I work with the broken young lady she has helped put the pieces together and I'm so grateful for that and I wanna thank our faith leaders and now to get down to the nitty gritty cuz it's not about me it's about her it is now my Honored to invite a champion for workers rights a champion of women's rights and I am a sister of girl power ok I'm all about girl power Our attorney general mara healey to administer the official oath of office I ask you to raise your right hand and repeat after me I I on a pressley I ayanna pressley do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support and defend that I will support and defend the Of the United States the constitution of the United Against all enemies foreign and domestic against all enemies foreign and domestic That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same This obligation freely that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or Without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion And I will well and faithfully Discharge the duties Which Oh wait sister girl And it is my distinct honor to introduce the person who has brought us here today who has lifted a voices I know she has lifted mine who has renewed our faith and inspire us all to bring our own chair the congresswoman for the seventh congressional district I on a pressley Look and You are a glorious glorious sight to behold the manifestation of millions of steps and million more prayers I am so grateful to be here with all of you today to my family to my fellow elected officials to my dedicated eighteen and most importantly to the residents of the seventh congressional district Thank you for making this moment today possible I come here today not to offer celebratory remarks as you recall on November six that I was not there to deliver a victory speech and would not until we have realized equity equality and Justice So I did not come here today to offer celebratory remarks but simply remarks a vision vision for our district for our communities and for our country we find ourselves in unprecedented times each day we're met with a delusion of hateful rhetoric and even more hateful policies meant to divide us and to make us feel small but together We are powerful Yes these are unprecedented and uncertain times unprecedented times which demand unprecedented leadership unprecedented organizing unprecedented mobilizing unprecedented legislating and unprecedented hope There are many in their shallow analysis who have characterized our electoral victory as a referendum against hate our victory was a mandate for hope And with you I intend to keep it together we are powerful and so it is together in the community in the seventh congressional district here today in roxbury massachusetts The very place that inspired that fortified and nurtured history makers like elmer Lewis and Paul goodnight and malcolm x and Dr King and melania cast and mel King and now free to harris and serious shaw It is in this community at this place that we come together to fortify ourselves for the work that we will take on together the pursuit of Justice and equality and equity my mother reminded me is a cradle to grave struggle the pursuit of Justice the line is not a straight or linear one it is not always consistent but it is always worth it so People rewrite history and might lead you to believe that rosa sat and Martin marched and John across the bridge and suddenly we had civil and voting rights and our freedom was actualized but the truth of the matter is that the moral arc of Justice bins but only when we make it bend and those victories there were many miles walked there were many Quiet moments there were many slam doors and there were many setbacks so we must ready ourselves for both the breakthroughs and the joy of the struggle and then we can realize the joy of the victory we made our fair share of history together but I was not sent to Congress to just make history you Me there to make meaningful lasting change progress on behalf of the residence of the massachusetts seventh congressional district the most diverse and unequal district and our delegation and arguably one of the most unequal in our country I do not take on this work alone on the days that I feel tired and weary our reflect upon and think of this moment I will think about Hundreds of you in front of me and the hundreds more that each of you represent each of you speak for and act on behalf of those you have loved on those who have lost and fought for and nurtured we walk through this life not just as individuals but as a manifestation of the people who have shaped us and those who we carry with us and so I recommend to you That I'm bringing all of you to Washington with me In a world that rarely values little girls and women that look like me It is a humbling the most humbling and awesome responsibility of my lifetime to partner with to lead a sure in this change alongside you I stand here today in bolden by each of you in the face of adversity daily you remain steady you've been met with claims that you are too bold or two inspirational or to And yet you've not wavered you believe in what is possible you believe that the status quote is insufficient and you believe in the pursuit of equity equality injustice I know this to be true because when the rights of our trans family members were under attack you organize and mobilize and fought for equality when the rhetoric of hate right a bill of I our immigrant neighbors and to violently separate their families you showed up at airports offering legal representation and demanding humanity when Union brothers and sisters were locked out of their jobs their livelihood in the balance you marched when your loved ones healthcare was under attack their cancer treatments their insulin their lives in jeopardy you put your bodies on the line to fight for their dignity and winds survivors when survivors of gun violence of domestic violence of sexual Violence when our voices were silenced you build mega phones and amplify their stories The work we take one together will not be easy but it will be real and it will be worth it I still believe in the power of us and change is on the way Love you Okay All right Alright hold on yeah I lost my notes I guess I got so distracted where is Michael business speaking of attraction Mike thank you for being here okay alright so now we're going to uh do a community pledge everyone please uh talk to you ask you can remain standing um and I've invited some of our scholars are activist uh talented innovators disrupting activist the great thing about movement building about Organizing is that there is no eligibility age and as we see every day young people are leading these movements they are leading the change and so I wanted to invite some young people from throughout the massachusetts seventh to help me to administer a community pledge we offered a community pledged which you'll find in your programs I'll give you a moment to find that And the reason why I wanted to do this is through out my remarks as I said this is the work that we'll do together My version Oh go ahead and then I was okay cool alright well before we get to the pledge one of our one of our embassies has a wonderful message alright good afternoon everyone hi um my name is a jessie serrano and um as she said I'm one of your mc tonight um I'm proud to support congresswoman ayanna pressley and um I stand here with her she sees me as a mother um An educated woman of color a worker born and raised in this community um I'm a member of I B W electrical local one oh three and thank you and um now I would like to welcome young leaders from the communities that make up our district um Chelsea everett Boston milton randolph somerville Cambridge um just to name a few all right thank So come on here All right y'all can keep clapping because you know what today Let me tell you what today the media will tell this story so you can keep clapping okay Alright so this is like a church when they have you hold up your time card please hold up your pledge card alright so I can see that you have it now I am going to say oh this is call and response so I will say it first and you will follow me as I've always asserted this work is work that we do in symbiotic partnership this is not just work that you lay in the hands of anyone with a comment a title after their name squarely at their feet and on their shoulders this is collective work and responsibility and so for that reason we are taking a pledge together okay Pledge I will be bold I will take my seat at the table of government And create space for others to take theirs too I will celebrate the diversity of perspective I will sick solutions and partnership with those most affected by the issue Bringing those closest to the pain Closest to the power I will informed joy As joy is a necessary act of resistance I will stand up for the humanity of every member of this community I will challenge apathy and cynicism By showing up for those around me And this is the last stand just to say it like you really mean it y'all so I started first I will do my best every day To build a more equitable In just community for us all thank you community Congresswoman pressley we are in this with you every step of the way so to close our program this afternoon we would like to welcome the voices of renaissance quiet From renaissance charter school This choir has a long history of performing for President barack Obama and first lady michelle Obama please welcome renaissance choir Good evening good afternoon everyone how y'all doing we're just honored to be here for Congress woman pressley were so proud of her and we're gonna sing two songs I can't see you but we're gonna sing two songs the first one is one more day and another one is hold on dedicated congressman congresswoman pressley Okay Look at Monday My dad Come on dad Up Um To be To My secret Take a look around Change is gonna be six boom Hold on hold on Everything to run some people died some people run away from the pain inside getting your business love you wanna do but if you don't work it out Here's what you gotta do the hold on it's coming Make it O Don No Go Oh my today and Look Whoo I don't know about you but I felt those young people give them another hand those are our people So now I'd like to introduce again the President of roxbury community College doctor Robinson Congresswoman pressley we just want to present this token of our appreciation and a reminder when you go back to Washington never forget that you are loved that our support is with you and we just want you to know that we're there with you as well Thank you all for joining us today will be holding a formal photo line those interested in participating in the photo line with the congresswoman please line up on the ramp on the righthand side of the auditorium we thank you for joining us we thank you for building this with us safe travels So you talk a lot about your mom and the role she played you know tell us who she wants and what she might do everything absolutely everything uh my mother was and is uh my sheer O she sacrificed so much to ensure that I would never be denied any opportunity in life my father for many years he was in the throes of addiction he was in and out of prison in our lives uh I'm a survivor of a decade of childhood sexual abuse and also campus sexual assault and grew up in a household where you rob Peter to pay Paul we were often met with eviction notices but my mother made sure even in the midst of all of that but I was never cynical about government I'm I remember being as young as five walking into that voting booth in just a moment when she would pull that curtain and um just feeling powerful working for congressman Kennedy and senator Kerry what was crystallized for me is that at the core of all things politics is relationship when your dad and that's how you get this work done before she was on the city Council there was nobody that looks like her on the city Council and now it's full of women of all different colors and one of the first thing she did was phone a Committee on healthy woman families and communities and It's amazing that Boston ahead such a thing before ayanna so special because she's so accessible to people and she has this ability to transcend all different types of culture she fights for the underdog uh she gives a voice to those uh who typically don't have one I grew up working class I think she speaks to a wide population ayanna latina she speaks for everyone which is It's hard to say about most politicians every electoral legislative victory that I've had is because I actively listen and work with community to achieve those things ayanna made it so that folk who wanted to open a restaurant in rocks borough that they could be able to get liquor licenses you have neighborhoods like roxbury matta pan dorchester that hadn't seen new restaurants at 10 15 20 years and we change that and have a borrower is amended to windows open up the same way they do wanna see boy and folks can The fresh it's really been a blessing it brought um more housing it's wealth building in perpetuity you know being an allies easy use ind the right letters you show up at the rallies you say the right things but these times require and demand more than being an ally they demand intentional advocacy our democracy is being dismantled every day our civil rights are very humanity it seems the time that we're in a deficit of empathy I've been disappointed Some of the old guard Democratic party that have not been excited about iannella but then again they disappointed me when they were excited about the Hall Patrick or more revealing when you ever change make a like I had it shakes the oh boy party to his core and it needs to be shaken up now more than ever like the same thing as you know everything my mother didn't raise me and I'm not raising my nine year old step daughter to ask permission to lead I'm going to fight for issues Violence prevention Hmm