With the opportunity to join the amazing cohort of Dem NC 25th anniversary friendterns in the consolidation of their efforts against anti-protest and anti-voter bills, I wrote a speech to reflect on the meaning of the movement and the reason why I fight. Listen below!
#HB237#SB88
Good morning. Good morning. How is everyone? And we've heard amazing speeches today. My name is Kendall Caraway and I am a second semester senior at the University of North Carolina at 9:00. I'm also honored to represent Democracy North Carolina today as a second year friends during a peer mentor and an unabashed cheerleader for the friend turn standing behind you and before you today. Those who have spoken and who have not. It is a pleasure to speak to you this morning. I come to you today as the North Carolinian in spirit, If not, get a name, as I am out of Carolina, my permanent home, in order to embrace this amazing state. I hope that his policies and practices would embrace me back. With a more representative democracy, more equitable legislation, and more trustworthy legislators with my best interest at heart. I stand before you today, not only as a student, but as a student of color, with interest to do away. With the disproportionate attacks on my right to life and liberty, I stand before you as a student with friends and counties whose leaders seem to be driving a coordinated effort to silence voices like theirs. Voices like mine. I see the many voices of North Carolina as a singing choir. We've seen from our hearts our experiences of which only we can be the authority. We think about the many blessings of life we can hear in the rhythm of our day and our neighbors and our friends. We have unique voices, all valuable to that sweet harmony of humanity with which improve upon and uplift all those who are privileged enough to join in. And yet voices are stymied, stifled, and stopped altogether. They are shunned for the very experiences that make that choir diverse, bewildering, and beautiful. The voice of a person standing up for another who cannot stand up for themselves is silenced. The voice of a disadvantaged community that has unlimited potential is ignored. The disenfranchisement of a whole section of our population and entire section of our choir makes this melody hollow. How can we dare to say what the song is not representative of us all? I leave you with this We cannot say that sweet song of salvation without everyone's voice, and that Ella Baker herself says people have to be made to understand that they cannot look for salvation anywhere but themselves. Thanks so much, I will now have the podium to my fellow second year Sarasavi Colon.
