See below for video (courtesy of Deanna Fierro with the Richmond-region League of United Latin American Citizens – LULAC) from a bit earlier today, at the “Kick Start the 2019 Virginia State Election” event in Richmond. Speakers included Sen. Mark Warner, Rep. Donald McEachin, Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Gold Star Father Khizr Khan. A few highlights from Khizr Khan’s powerful speech:
- To the elected officials present: “We are grateful for your service for being our shield against the assault on Virginia values”
- “Virginia values are under attack by Republicans not only in the state of Virginia but throughout the country”
- “Why did 2016 happen? It was because most of America was not participating full-speed in our elections. Our adversaries had known that weakness, we learned that lesson the hard way…So participation matters.”
- “I have experienced twice in my life authoritarian regimes when I was growing up; this is what they do…Please remember this, henceforth it is obligatory on each and every one of you to remember if we do not fully participate in our electoral process in the sanctity of our elections, we could be facing that fate…This is what authoritarians do…They attack the free press number one…Number two I will appoint my own judges…Third thing they do; things are not working out, I am going to implement the national emergency…These are the tendencies, these are the practices of authoritarians, of dictators. How dare somebody practices, somebody speaks and thinks like that in my blessed land, in our blessed land, in our blessed country.”
- Wherever we are, we have an obligation, have an opportunity to defend our democracy, to defend our Constitution…This hatred and division that have been sold by our enemies in this nation must be eradicated and it is not a matter of one election, many elections we must remain vigilant, we must remain proactive.”
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