Here is an excerpt from the speech:
This moment is important for me for a number of reasons. But
it’s most important because I have the opportunity to tell you that I’ve been
to the other side. I’ve seen the darkest of depression. I’ve accepted the
American Dream and seen it fall from my fingers. I’ve done everything that
everybody told me to do but still found myself in a hole…
Go with me as I once again discover purpose. Go with me as I march 40 miles with students and young people from around the state of Florida in the name of Trayvon Martin. Go with me as we start the Dream Defenders. Go with me as we discover that Florida hasn’t changed much since they snuffed out the life of Martin Lee Anderson. Go with me as I’m invited back to a convocation to tell you that there’s much more work to do…
Go with me as I tell you that I once sat where you sat. I
once believed in the trappings of this beautiful environment. But there is much
more to this. For beyond our borders we are losing a generation of young people…
So if I can only do one thing this morning, I want to tell
you that it’s time to fight back.