Video: At Fairfax Dems’ “Road to Richmond” Event, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA10) Says “We’re Actually Winning,” But “We Cannot Prevail If We Get Discouraged”

This morning, at the Fairfax County Democratic Committee‘s big “Road to Richmond” event leading up to the VA General Assembly session, there were a number of excellent speeches by Democratic leaders – by Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn, by Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw, by Fairfax County School Board Chair Stella Pekarsky (I still need to get video of that one, but trust me, it was really powerful and spot-on!), and by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11)…as you can see below. A few highlights from Rep. Connolly’s fiery speech include:

• “I want to inject a little bit of hope here…We’re actually winning. We’ve got to continue the fight, but we’re winning. There are setbacks – we just had one in Virginia – but the progressive agenda is winning.“
• “We need to focus on what we’ve done a lot more than
  what hasn’t yet been done. There’s always unfinished work, and it’s always difficult especially when you get slim majorities.
  We passed a transformative infrastructure bill.” The economy is booming and 85% of adults have had at least one COVID vaccine.” “Those are all because of Democratic policies resisted by Republicans.”
• “This week, we remembered something very painful – certainly painful for me – the anniversary of the January 6 insurrection. But that was a victory too…The mob did NOT prevail. And a year later over 750 of those insurrectionists have been indicted and charged with crimes…a number of them sentenced to jail, as they should be.”
• “The stakes could not be higher for us as Democrats. Which direction will America go? And if we do our jobs, if we continue to show results and we stay true and faithful to our values, Americans will do the right thing, Americans will rededicate themselves to…constitutional democracy, Americans will turn away from violence and extremism. It’s a long row to hoe, but it’s one we are prevailing.”
• “But we cannot prevail if we get discouraged. We can’t prevail if we despair and give up…We cannot afford for the sake of future generations to falter or to fail...let’s remember who and what we are and what we stand for and the values we’re protecting. It isn’t just partisan philosophy.  It is the very foundations of constitutional democracy. And I believe firmly, as long as we hold fast, those constitutional, democratic values WILL prevail, and this republic will go forward stronger.”
• “Sometimes we feel we’re at the ramparts, but we know you have our backs, and I hope you all know, we have yours.”