Acceptance speech

Green Party Acceptance Speech

My fellow Americans, First and foremost I’d like to say Thank you so much. This is what democracy looks like. And as Jill Stein said “This is what political revolution looks like.”

Being here today and leading the charge for an America and a world in which we can work for the world as it works for us.

I am beyond honored to be your candidate in this election. Running for President of the United States with the Green Party, the one national party that stands up for the people. I will focus on climate change and green energy, on marriage equality, free public higher education and health care as human rights, on stopping the Trans Pacific Partnership, on reparations for slavery, Israeli human rights abuses and occupation in Palestine, and on recognizing indigenous rights.

That arc of justice is moving through us as we mobilize to become a movement for democracy that’s sweeping the planet. From fuel blockades, the fight to end mass incarceration and cancel student debt, to the restoration of rights for all immigrants, indigenous peoples, LGBTQ, disability and women. Across the globe people are rising up like we haven’t seen for generations.

We now face crises that call for a new way forward based on democracy, justice and human rights. We live in a generation of young people, locked in debilitating student debt. Black lives are being targeted. Immigrants face unlawful mass deportation and the climate meltdown is a threat that can't be put off on the future generations. But, good news is that we actually have the power to turn this around, the minute we stand up with the courage of our convictions. Because we have the vision and values of the American people. And, as a broad coalition for justice, we have the numbers to win the day.

Here’s how. There are 43 million people young and old who are locked in said student debt, with no means for getting out. And there is only one candidate who will cancel that debt – and you’re looking at her.

And we can end racist violence and brutality not only in policing, but in courts and prisons, and in the economy at large. We can start by ensuring every community has a police review board, so communities control their police, and not the other way around. And we must end the racist war on drugs, treat substance abuse as a health issue not as a problem of criminality, and discharge the thousands of specifically nonviolent drug offenders who shouldn’t remain detained.

Time is running out and this is our moment. this is the election where we're not just deciding what kind of world we will have but whether we’ll have a world or not in the future. The time we have to focus on solutions for these crises is coming to an end– on climate change, on war, on nuclear weaponry, and the next economic collapse. We’re accelerating into all of these crises under Republican and Democratic rule. So It’s time to join our campaign, fight with us. Help us get into the debates, help us get the word out by social media and bring a rally to your campus.

The corporate parties are not going to save us. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.

Together we can build an America and a world that works for us all, that puts people, planet and peace over profit. The power to create this world is not just in our hopes. Not just in our dreams. Right here. Right now. It’s in our hands. And together, we will be the change this country cry’s out for. Thank you.