At
the beginning of this campaign, we gathered on Roosevelt Island,
pledging to protect the progress we’ve made and explaining our vision
for a stronger, fairer future.
It’s hard to believe that tomorrow,
a year and a half later, America will finally begin its next chapter
with a new president-elect. I
want to thank all the people across the country who’ve taken the time
to talk to me during this journey. I’ve learned so much from your
stories—about the challenges families are facing and the promises we
have yet to fulfill.
I’ve met too many families who are living
paycheck to paycheck, one illness or setback away from losing everything
they’ve worked for. I’ve visited communities ravaged by drug addiction
and heard from the doctors and social workers doing everything they can
to save lives. I’ve talked to bright young DREAMers who worry their
families will be torn apart. And I’ve gotten to know a remarkable group
of mothers who’ve lost children to gun violence and have turned their
grief into action.
These conversations have stayed with me
throughout this campaign. And if I’m fortunate enough to serve as
president, I’ll carry them with me to the White House.
I
got into this race to fight for everyone who is working hard to give
themselves and their families a bright future. I want to tear down all
the barriers that stand in their way.
That means investing in good
jobs that pay enough to support a family. It means raising the minimum
wage so that no one working full time is forced to raise kids in
poverty. It means guaranteeing paid leave so that families can care for a
new baby or a sick relative. And it means investing in our young people
with high-quality public schools and debt-free college. But this election isn’t just about what we need to do—it’s also about who we are.
I
know it’s been a long and difficult race. I’ve heard from so many
people who are shaken by my opponent’s hateful, divisive rhetoric. One
woman wrote to me about her son, Felix, who was adopted from Ethiopia as
a baby. Felix is genuinely afraid that if my opponent wins, he’ll be
taken from his parents and forced out of the only country he’s ever
known. And his story is just one of many.
A lot of what we’ve seen
and heard has been distressing, but we’ve also shared proud moments
that remind us that we’re a country of fair-minded, big-hearted people.
Millions of Americans—Republicans and Democrats alike—have stood up to
say we’re better than this. And everywhere I go, I meet people who
remind me of the diversity and determination that make this country
great. People like Astrid Silva,
who I met in Las Vegas. Astrid came to this country from Mexico at 4
years old with nothing but a doll, a cross, and the dress she was
wearing. Now she’s in her 20s, and she’s an advocate for immigrant
families across the country. People like Keith,
a man I met in New Hampshire last year. Keith’s mother suffers from
Alzheimer’s and needs constant care. He can’t afford adult day care, so
he does the only thing he can–he brings his mom to work with him every
single day. People like Nakiya
from Flint, Michigan, who is worried about her 6-year-old son, Jaylon.
Like so many kids in Flint, Jaylon got sick from drinking tap water
contaminated with lead, and now he’s having trouble in school.
These
are the people who have kept me going when the road was tough. They’re
the reason why I sweat the details of policy–because it’s not just a
detail when it’s your child or your family. And I’ll be honored to fight
for them as president.
Tomorrow caps an amazing journey. I’ll
always be grateful for the organizers and volunteers who have taken our
campaign to every state and territory, the supporters who have talked to
their friends and neighbors, and the millions of Americans who have
already begun casting ballots in this historic election. Of
course, the work we have to do is just beginning. It’s bigger than one
president or even one generation. But what I’ve seen these past 17
months makes it clear to me that we’re up to the challenge, because we
truly are stronger together. Read more from Hillary and the campaign here >>>>
