Contra Costa Womens March
January 20, 2018
Speech by Michelle Paquette
Welcome!
We gather at the intersection of our many paths through life, with our common needs for freedom; we gather to reclaim our common rights, the right of self expression, the right to live our lives as we see fit, the right to control our very bodies.
Hatred, fueled by ignorance and greed for power, seeks to divide us; by race, by birthplace, even our path to womanhood! Divided, they seek to control our lives, even our very bodies! We are not their property!
Dr. Martin Luther King taught us, “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
We gather united by love; love of self; love of friends and family; love of community; love of our country.
We send a message; We will not be divided. We remain united by love, and are stronger for it. We refuse to be silent. We speak with one voice, today and in the voting booth.
- We Resist attempts to divide us and take away our rights.
- We Persist in sending our message of love and unity, in today’s action and at the voting booth.
- We Insist that we have our rights, our hard won freedoms, and no one shall take those from us!
Thank you.
