"dreams of my father" envisione envisioned, the community and the world, where freedom, justice, equality, peace, justice and equality exist for all humankind. this conference grew out of the vision of andrea waters king, and i'm going to present her again, although you've already seen her, the president of the drum major institute and the woman i am blessed to call my partner and wife. perhaps also, and most important, the mother of our 16-year-old daughter. motherhood is something unusual and unique. most of us has been, as we are

fathers toward children, there's a special unique bond that the mother has with their child. and especially of the little boy child or local little gir. but in this case always marvel at andrea not just for being a mother to her daughter yolanda, but to being a mother in a real sense to all girls. because that's just who she is. and i would brag on her daughter but i won't do that today. that's for another day. andries leadership of dmi is centered on the ideal that we are all inheritors of the king legacy. we all can embrace the legacy of my father dr. martin luther

king, jr. by choosing to honor the ideals of peace, justice and equity. and each will determine whether we sow seeds of chaos or community. hope for the chaos that you excuse me, hope for the -- test ironically when living in great chaos. my dad's last book entitled where do we go from here? chaos or community. we've all seen chaos for a number of years now. but dad prophetically saw that we must build community. and that has to happen regardless of what happens in this election, community has to be built. currently as president of the drum major institute and andrew has basically dedicated her life especially against inequality

and hate, and all forms of oppression. andrea plays a a critical roln creating strategic partnerships and managing the daily operations of this active social justice institution. and so now i'm very, very proud to present my wife and partner, the mother of our daughter, arndrea waters king -- arndrea rené king, , and the present of the drum major institute, arndrea waters king. [applause] >> hello again. we are thrilled to be embarking on this historic partnership with mi familia vota. we're coming together because there is so much that unites us, and we are all committed to the

change we want to see in the world. each of us, each one of us is responsible for contributing to the world we want to live in. change is not the business of a certain chosen few individuals, nor one family. it's important to have a diversity of voices who are working to make the world better for all of us. we are weaving a beautiful tapestry in the station. it's in our diversity that makes us beautiful. diversity of choices and beliefs and strategies makes us more effective. today, we are asking what can we do? we are here together to preserve our democracy and create a path forward. i would like to recognize our

cohost and a partner in the fight for advancing civil rights and building political power in our communities, mr. hector sanchez barba, the president and ceo of mi familia vota, as a leading voice in the latino community he has focus on driving policies and politics at all levels of government. during his tenure at mi familia vota, actor has helped build the largest latino grassroots organizing infrastructure in the nation and has amplified the voices of the 63 million latinos who live here in the united states. his work has spurred latino civic engagement, and challenge voter suppression laws, opposed at the immigrant bills, and this helped advance policy priorities for latinas, and all women. mr. sanchez.

[applause] >> buenos dias. on the historical moment in which we are, in this space that we must protect, our democracy and the nation is facing some of the levels of -- we've seen in our history. this is one of the only spaces were a mexican immigrant can stand and the same stage from my perspective the most come some of the most important legacy that we have of the nation fighting for voting rights for workers or family, standing in the space with the king family. arndrea, thank you for everything that you do the drum institute. and my brother, martin, thank you for your commitment that you

have for the central issues that are at small fixes of what this partnership represents. it's a partnership to meet the moment. the partnership to meet the moment to say enough, enough exclusion opportunities from the democratic process. enough of the exclusive from the system. enough for the wealth gap, enough to the attacks and all the minority in the nation's. the spirit in which we come here today. i took a flight last night and arrived from mexico. and i was reflecting with another person that is standing in the context of what whao today, that legacy. hugo chavez, dr. king. literally on the frontlines fighting to make this a better democracy. what we're witnessing just a day from the balcony of thousands of

people in mexico was election of the first woman in the history of mexico. and this means at a a time whe may be facing scrutiny in the world, we also see unique opportunity for change and opportunities. that's the spirit we are representing today. in this partnership, what we're saying is stop trying to divide us. stop trying to put us against each other. because our fight is the same fight. our issues on the earth the same, and i will talk with them in the second period with a mostly working-class families and we have a beautiful history of fighting together to make this a more inclusive nation. the war in texas with mexico was about labor.

mexico and mexicans say no, this is unacceptable. the fight of the civil rights movement led by dr. king, cesar chavez and all the rest was about the same concept of inclusion. the case of mendes in a 243 was about not segregation in mexican schools. followed by the case 1954 of brown v. board of education, we have been a community on the frontlines fighting for inclusion, fighting for respect, fighting for a better nation. and we cannot go back. even though we hear strong forces trying to go back to medieval times, we are not going to let that happen. the last presidential election it was minorities who defeated this to all of us say no to extremism. but i didn't say that any of the

national headlines in the nation, so it's pretty important for us to tell her own stories. in this partnership also goes into the central element of democracy, the legacy of dr. king fighting against voter suppression, putting everything on the line the african-american community dying for the right to vote. i had the honor to march, reflecting on those beautiful -- reflecting of imperfections of our democracy in the past if that's the same spirit in which we come today to bring not -- not intimidation, not misinformation that's what we do every day in the nation. there are reforms want to be clear that is the issue of representation. we are 35% of the population together.

stop trying to pit us together. 35 almost 40% of the streets of our invitation of his life we're here together to remind the nation that together we are going to move in that direction. finally, we are also coming together -- at our issues are the issues. together we are working to raise a policy agenda, where representation to hold all politicians accountable. and you'll see that when it comes to the economy, we have same issues. we have the highest wealth gap in the nation. we face a lot of similar issues on education, health, reproductive rights, and i'm on the board of planned parenthood and latina and african-american women are the ones facing the

most exclusion. it is also with that spirit that we invited both campaigns that were holding accountable to address our issue of reach out to both campaigns. the trump campaign didn't even answer the phone or an e-mail. the harris campaign dash of what could they need and we said we need education on all policies related to the african-american and latino community. i want to be very transparent. when it comes to the harris campaign from the first day that the vice president was in this position, literally started making calls to the leaders are committed to say what are the issues that you care about. and immediately within the next two weeks they said it meetings in person just to discuss those issues. it's not only symbolism, it's

respect, the respect that we deserve eskimo disco the respect -- the respect that we need to understand because when the frontlines educating people about these issues. with that, from that perspective we invited the harris campaign and it is my pleasure, my honor to introduce hector gonzales, deputy chief of staff for hairs for president campaign, a fighter, has been with a latino community, fighting on some issues that i cannot stand type of stuff that you do and no with this important position within the administration you are working on immigration. you accept a director of immigration and now coupled with senior policy advisor of vice president harris, et cetera pick

somebody clearly has full access to the vice president and somebody that is -- just like many of our of her africn leaders at the table making sure our issues are represented. with that, thank you for coming to talk about the priorities that vice president harris has. [applause] >> buenos dias, everyone. first i want to first and foremost i want to deeply think the drum major institute and mi familia vota for bringing us together today. the work that you're doing, the critical work to renew and strengthen efforts, to increase political engagement and the political power for black and latino voters and americans across this country is so important in this moment. also my thanks to my good friend hector sanchez barba we've been friends and work together long

time. i started working with hector when i was at u.s. office of personnel management and hector was fighting to increase representation of latino employees incumbent. we know representation matters. now hector is legal but of the largest latino organizations in the country that is doing unprecedented work to get out the latino vote. thank you hector. to the king family, including the board chair, martin luther king iii, and president arndrea waters king, i am deeply humbled and honored to be here with you today. as a child i never would imagine that would be sitting in front of you giving a speech. the legacy of course your family and your father mean so much to the country into me personally. just a little bit of note about myself. my grandfather was a civil rights leader as well. for those who know him, he led the chicana rights movement in the southwest. he marched alongside cesar

shabbos and dolores huerta. he fought against against this commission schools. he fought for the power of education that unlocks opportunity and equality and justice. he should many of the same values that your father had and your family had, and martin luther king, jr. was an icon and hero to my grandfather. under the because he wrote about it. and so i grew up at a young age very aware of the important work of your father the legacy of your family. my grandfather used to talk to me about the coalition work between black and latino leaders of winning to the poor people's march. and he also worked very closely with black leaders and activists and grassroots leaders and own committed in colorado to enact change, to erect real change. so i just want to say i'm deeply humbled. very appreciative to beer with you today and to be invited to give this speech. earlier this year on january 16 vice president harris visited

columbia, south carolina, to deliver remarks at the dell. like to rent an excerpt from a a speech to you today. she said we honor the legacy of reverend doctor luther king junior, a visionary who saw -- by what has been an organizer of the moved the mind, the hearts and the feet of the american people. a leader who dedicated his life and in the end gave his life to advance one of our nation's highest ideals, the ideal of freedom. freedom is fundamental to the promise of america. freedom is not to be given to it is not be bestowed. it is ours pyrites. and in many ways the story of american has been a story of our fight to realize that promise. and, of course, we know in this country there has been progress,

thanks to martin luther king, jr., thanks to the work of people like my grandfather and dolores huerta and the leaders who standard today, , from the civil rights act of 1964 to the election of barack obama as our nation's first black president, to the first black woman to tonja brent jackson to serve on the supreme court, and yes, the election of the first lacked woman to be vice president of these united states. there has been progress. and still today as hector said we are witnessing a full on attack on our hard fought, hard-won rights and freedom. consider this. states across our nation today extremes are attacking the sacred freedom to vote. they pass laws to ban dropboxes can limit early voting and restrict absentee ballots in places like a like a geos recently as two weeks ago local officials wanted to thwart the will of voters. this of course is the same place

where donald trump asked the secretary of state in 2020 to find more votes, quote-unquote. and just last night for those who tuned into the vice presidential debate between j. d. vance in tim walz, j. d. vance, donald trump's running mate, refuse to acknowledge the results of the 2020 election when he was pressed. this is of course a dangerous continuation of the politics that led to the insurrection at the capital and what happened on january 6th. we here in this room, i believe that each of us know, this is no ordinary election. this is not. and we know that this election is truly consequential for black and latino americans and voters across our country, for the very heart of our democracy and the protection of our rights and freedoms. in colombia the vice president continued, six decades ago from the steps of lincoln memorial dr. king spoke to our nation to thousands of americans would

marched that in washington. he spoke to what he called a promissory note, a promissory note, a check that it inside to the american people and the declaration of independence and the united states constitution. dr. king's voice rang out when he said we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt pixel we have come to cash this check, check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. i bring that thought, that promise, that child and you here today, and also want want to talk about vice president, paris and how she is with the champion and the fighter -- kamala harris, we need to make this a reality. she represents the american promise herself. from a young age she valued family and unity and making the world a better place. of course she was born in oakland, california. father an economist from jamaica, , her mother a scientit from india.

as children five present would go with her parents to civil rights marches. she grew up in the civil rights movement. they instilled in her a commitment to build strong coalitions to fight for the rights and freedoms of all people. they brought her to the marches in a stroller and taught her heroes like supreme court justice thurgood marshall remains an inspiration to vice president harris today. i would just like to note that 57 years ago today, supreme court justice thurgood marshall was sworn in to the united states supreme court. i would like a soap to take a moment to thank him for his contributions for his service to this country. the vice president grew up in working-class middle-class family. she learned the values of hard work early on. her mother would work long hours, and her mother leaned on a trusted circle in the community to support her and her daughters. she ran a small business and rent that they care below the vice president and her sister and her mom's house as she became a second mother figure.

the vice president decided to pursue law because she does everyone is right to say to come dignity and justice. at an age she decided she wanted to become a lawyer, she saw our civil rights heroes took passion from the streets to the courtroom. she also witnessed when she was in high school for best friend, our best friend this close to her that she was being sexually abused by her stepfather. the vice president told a friend that she had to go live with her and her mother. this was a moment when she knew she wanted to take on work any crew to keep people in committee sacred she was on to become a a prostitute was inspired to protect women and girls. prosecuting cases of sexual assault and domestic violence. as district attorney of san francisco she could the states first human traffic ally with after polluters, creating one of the first of our mental justice units in the country. she attacked the root causes of crime with a launch a program

such as background check. a california attorney general should took on the big banks. she won $20 billion for homeowners. she cracked down transnational gangs and she took on auditory for-profit colleges. she also refused to defend prop eight. for those of you who are not aware what that was, that was a law in california that was passed that outlawed same-sex marriage. the vice president refuse to defend this in court, and then when the supreme court provided forcing sex marriage the vice president performed the first same-sex marriage california. this is significant because it talks to you and tells you about the vice president bounty. each router injustice. it's rooted in equity. in the transcend should ship in legislation to provide relief support to small business, when relief, and approved lack maternal healthcare and, of course, we remember those cemeteries where she took on officials and nominees from the

trump administration that threatened equality and threatened justice, including the right to reproductive freedom. as vice president, kamala harris has led work on reproductive rights. since the fall of dobbs that was caused by donald trump because he hand selected three justices to the united states supreme court with the full intention stripping away the right to an abortion, the rights that were provided under roe v. wade. she has convened over 80 convenience across the country, many of women focused on fighting back against efforts to strip away women's rights and the right to an abortion and reproductive care. she has led on expanding medicaid, postpartum coverage from three states to 46 dates. of course it's an issue that is particularly important to black women in black moms. she leads the first-ever office of white house, of the gun violence prevention that was, that exist as result of the

first major gun safety laws that was passed in nearly three decades. she is a leader on the world stage for she traveled to over 20 countries added that with over 150 world leaders on efforts of tackling climate change to security of fraud and our vision until just last year as her sitter at this college campus i'd like to note she launched a fight for freedom store where she went to nearly a dozen hbcus and hsi's across the country to talk directly with young people about the issues that matter most to them. it was in these conversations that the vice president talked about things like fighting gun violence, efforts to build and expand economic opportunity, investments in hbcus and hsi's, investment in minority owned small businesses and entrepreneurs. and now we know in this election there is a clear choice, there is a clear split screen. we saw that at the debate between vice president harris

and donald trump. this is no ordinary election. on one side we had a candidate who has an agenda to build the middle-class come to bring us forward or backwards, to to protect our fundamental rights and freedoms, to ensure that every person has the opportunity not just get by but get head. and on the other side we have donald trump who is running on an extreme agenda that threatens our democracy, threatens our freedoms and would be a disaster for working people in the middle class. the vice president has put forward a very aggressive agenda to build the middle class, everything from expanding the building of people to buy homes for first-time homebuyers. we know this is particularly important black and brown can produce. $25,000 credit for first-time homebuyers, 3 million new homes, ensuring that we are cracking down on price gouging so people can afford their groceries, chewing we protecting healthcare, riding big pharma to lower the cost of insulin

prescription drugs. this is particularly important to black and brown communities. all these issues matter so much at that particular because of the disproportionate way that our communities are impacted by these very issues. there's an entire agenda i could talk about from tax cuts for working thumbs to childcare tax credit, expanding paid leave and childcare. the vice president knows this is important because this is what matters to americans including black and latino voters. and on the other side we have a candidate who is not about the working people. he is about himself. he's made that clear time and time again, right? gave tax cuts to the super wealthy and very rich. he is more interest in protecting the people who own the skyscrapers and people build the skyscrapers. and so this election when it comes to the economy is a very clear contrast when it comes to our economy, when it comes to building economic opportunity, but also when it comes to the

essential foundation of democracy in this country. donald trump continues to battle extreme rhetoric, and when someone shows you who they are, be lead them. when he says he's going to be dictator on day one, when he says he's going to weaponized the department of justice against his enemies, when he talks about a really quote-unquote violent day to address safety concerns in communities, we know what that means. when he uses alarming and dark language from disturbing chapters of the past, he says immigrants are poisoning, pollution the blood of america. where have we heard that before? and he promises to deport millions of people, separating them from the fans come maybe so been here for decades or longer and says that pouring them will be a quote-unquote bloody business.

this is violent extreme rhetoric. this is not normal. ring the alarm bells. we have to do everything we possibly can to make sure that our communities are aware of what is at stake in this election, to make sure we're registering people to vote. people are voting across the country right now. we still have not met registration deadlines. there still time register to vote in many of our key battleground states. we need to make sure we're getting out the word. we must fight with her voice, with her feet, most of all with our vote to this election. i want to thank all of you for inviting us here today, for having the campaigners speak you about our priorities. i truly the work you're doing is a critically important because together we must go forward not back. thank you. [applause] and. >> are right. were going to take a very quick lunch break. if anyone could have a quick

bite in the back and you see at 12:30. we will get right to our first panel. thank you. [inaudible conversations] >> this gets a bit hard. i hope the food fueled you and is not lowland you to sleep. i know with this next panel they're going to continue to raise the energy here. we had some wonderful, wonderful conversation that's about to happen. and it was great to see so many of you all during that very brief lunch, lunch break. before we begin our first panel i would like to acknowledge and thank each of our speakers for joining us today during a very, very important presidential election season. i do want