"We have come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now."
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Friend,
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of joining a Breakfast Reception sponsored by the DPO Black Caucus to welcome CNN news analyst, author and former South Carolina Representative Bakari Sellers, to Portland for a one-of-a-kind Get Out the Vote Rally with Secretary of State Candidate, State Treasurer Tobias Read. Bakari Sellers, a young Black man, still holds the record of being the youngest person ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives at the age of twenty-two.
I listened attentively to his words when he was speaking at the breakfast, especially his suggestion that we might want to move away from the repeated statements that "we are facing the most historical, the most consequential, the most transformative election of our lifetime." Rather, he urged us to focus more on the admonition of Dr. King in remembering what he described as "the fierce urgency of now." Dr. King's exact words were these: "We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now" - which appears in his "I Have a Dream" speech, emphasizing the immediate need for action to address racial injustice and inequality.
I have no doubt if Dr. King were with us today, he would also add all of the freedoms that we are fighting for as Democrats -- a people united in our shared values and belief in the dignity and worth of every human being. A state and a nation united in our fight to defend civil and voting rights for all, the right to health care, to quality public schools, protections for labor unions and worker's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, a woman's right to reproductive health care and bodily autonomy, humane immigration policies and so much more.
Indeed, we face the fierce urgency of now. November 5th is now! Over this final week, in our momentous push to victory, I would like to share a quote that is resonating for me in these final days, especially when I feel a sense of anxiety trying to bog me down. I hope it offers you some inspiration for all the amazing, incredible heart, energy and soul that you're putting into protecting our democracy.
These words were spoken by Mother Teresa, a truly great woman, little in physical stature, but with a heart so magnanimous it defies description.
"We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean.
But if that drop was not in the ocean, I think the ocean would be less
because of that missing drop."
Thank you, proud Democrats! My heart is full of gratitude for each and every one of you as we face the fierce urgency of now. LET'S GO WIN IT ALL!
Win our local, city and county races.
Protect and grow our Legislative Majorities
Re-elect CD1 Representative Suzanne Bonamici
Elect Dan Ruby - Congressional District 2
Elect Dr. Maxine Dexter - Congressional District 3
Re-elect CD 4 Representative Val Hoyle
Elect State Rep Janelle Bynum - Congressional District 5
Re-elect CD 6 Representative Andrea Salinas
Elect Tobias Read - Secretary of State
Elect Dan Rayfield - Attorney General
Elect Dr. Elizabeth Steiner - State Treasurer
Elect Tim Walz as Vice President of the United States of America!
Elect Vice President Kamala Harris as
MADAM President of the United States of America!
