Contra Costa Womens March speech by Michelle Paquette

[Michelle_P]

This was a short speech, timed to be 2-3 minutes at a slow cadence with applause breaks.  Writing this is very different from one of my usual speeches or lectures. 

Contra Costa Womens March    January 20, 2018
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.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Jessica]

I wish I could have seen you Michelle.  Thank you for repping us.  Dr. Kings words are words to live by.
Unfortunately my wife and I were going to be at the Oakland march, but she broke her ankle last Tuesday, so I was her nurse and sadly didn't make it.

Jess

[Michelle_P]

I wish I could have seen you Michelle.  Thank you for repping us.  Dr. Kings words are words to live by.
Unfortunately my wife and I were going to be at the Oakland march, but she broke her ankle last Tuesday, so I was her nurse and sadly didn't make it.

Jess

Thanks, Jess!  We all have to have our priorities in life. Taking care of a loved one certainly is more important than adding a little bit to a big crowd. 40,000 marched in Oakland!

I hope she heals quickly and well.

[DawnOday]

Bravo...Thank you Michelle.

[Jessica]

Thanks, Jess!  We all have to have our priorities in life. Taking care of a loved one certainly is more important than adding a little bit to a big crowd. 40,000 marched in Oakland!

I hope she heals quickly and well.

We would have preferred 40,002.  These marches are a priority that all loving persons cannot ignore and should be attended if able.  There is a disease of hate in our society that must be cured.
My sweetheart suffered an avulsion where a tendon tore part of the bone off.  Big pain, but I was able to get ice on it rapidly which helped with the swelling.  Thankful for cell phones.  She called me in the back yard.  Thank you for your good wishes!