i'd now like to introduce briefly brenda lawrence from the state of michigan. [applause] >> thank you, congressman steny hoyer. thank you for your leadership and hispanic caucus. hector and every last one of you here, this is what i have to say today. this is what democracy looked like. i love this amazing country, this country of rights and freedoms. but sometimes in our country's history we didn't get it right. i stand here as an african-american woman who my forefathers based on the laws and the policies of this country enslaved my forefathers. but democracy spoke and people stood up just like these young people today and we stood strong and our country was confronted with the injustice of their practices and their laws and we were able to change it. and that's why we're standing here today. we will not be silent. we will not allow our country who we know, we say one nation under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all for you to have the audacity to exclude, to be lazy, to not leg legislate, to protect these amazing people who are contributing to

. >>> i'm joined by congresswoman brenda lawrence from michigan and by the chairman of the congressional hispanic caucus. from new mexico. i am very pleased to be here also with an extraordinary talented, committed group of americans who just don't have any paper. in every other sense they're americans. as bob menendez said at the white house yesterday, they put their hand over their heart and pledged allegiance to the flag of the united states of america and they sing the star spangled banner as their national anthem. they came here as young people, as children. and they are in every sense americans. and we are here today with them and with forward u.s. to talk about making sure that their status, which the president of the united states whom i sat next to yesterday said should not be returned or sent to someplace they do not know and is not their country and that they ought to stay here. mr. president, we agree with you. mr. president, we want to make sure that we pass legislation that makes sure that that happens now and every day throughout their lives. and make sure that they have a

[applause] >> brenda lawrence from detroit, michigan. enough is enough! , adams, the great state of north carolina. [applause] val jennings, the great state of florida! >> robin kelly, the city of chicago. who rocks the world? girls! >> congresswoman terri sewell from alabama! [applause] lee, houston,son texas! wish i was there. leader pelosi: don't you love the beautiful diversity of the house democrats? minorities, and lgbt community members. oakland and berkeley, where we will stay woke. >> from the great state of oregon. >> frank pallone, new jersey. >> sandy levin from michigan. we won't let it happen again, right? >>. norcross, new jersey. mom, you are always with me. >> the free state of maryland. judy chu oh, los angeles county, california! rick nolan, the north star state of minnesota! >> jackie spear from the golden state of california! paul tonko from the capital region of new york. the great state of illinois and i am not from norway. [applause] [laughter] >> carolyn maloney from the great city of new york, new york. [applause] i'm proud to be

[applause] >> brenda lawrence from detroit, michigan. enough is enough!, the city of chicago. who rocks the world? girls! >> congresswoman terri sewell from alabama! [applause] lee, houston,son texas! wish i was there. leader pelosi: don't you love the beautiful diversity of the house democrats? minorities, and lgbt community members. oakland and berkeley, where we will stay woke. >> from the great state of oregon. >> frank pallone, new jersey. >> sandy levin from michigan. we won't let it happen again, right? >>. norcross, new jersey. mom, you are always with me. >> the free state of maryland. judy chu oh, los angeles county, california! rick nolan, the north star state of minnesota! >> jackie spear from the golden state of california! paul tonko from the capital region of new york. the great state of illinois and i am not from norway. [applause] [laughter] >> carolyn maloney from the great city of new york, new york. [applause] i'm proud to be here nancy pelosi of california. year, i marched with my grandchildren. they are marching this year in san fran