President Biden Speaks at Gun Violence Prevention Conference

June 11, 2024

• Unidentified Speaker: VIOLENCE AND THE IMPACT OF THE BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT. HIS REMARK FOR PART OF A SUMMIT HOSTED BY THE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION EVERY TOWN FOR GUN SAFETY. THIS IS ABOUT 25 MINUTES.
• >> AND ON-DEMAND ACTION VOLUNTEER.
• >> PUT THEM HANDS TOGETHER WE CLAPPING WE CLAPPING YES
• >> HELLO, EVERYONE. I'M FROM ATLANTA, GEORGIA. I'M A PROUD NAVY MOTHER. AN ARMY WIFE. A WOMAN OF FAITH. AND A MOM AND VOLUNTEER. ON MARCH 7, 2016, WE CELEBRATED MY SON'S 14TH BIRTHDAY. HE WAS TRULY SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE. HE WAS CARRYING, SUITE, AND WELL MANNERED. SOMETHING I LIKE TO TAKE CREDIT FOR. I OFTEN CALLED HIM BUD, BECAUSE HE WAS MY ROSEBUD. A ROSEBUD SIGNIFIES BEAUTY AND PURITY. BUT ON APRIL 7, 2016, ONE MONTH AFTER HIS BIRTHDAY, MY BEAUTIFUL BUD WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY ANOTHER TEEN PLAYING WITH AN UNSECURED FIREARM. I NEVER IMAGINED WHEN I SPOKE TO MY CHILD ON THE PHONE JUST HOURS BEFORE IT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME I WOULD HEAR MY BABY BOY. AS ADULTS, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE. AND THAT'S WHY I AM HERE TODAY. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] NO PARENT SHOULD EVER GET THE PHONE CALL THAT THERE CHILD IS SHOT AND KILLED. NO YOUNG PERSON SHOULD EVER GROW IN FEAR OF BEING SHOT AND KILLED. NONE OF US DESERVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS. BUT TODAY I FEEL HOPEFUL. IT MEANS EVERYTHING TO ME TO KNOW THAT I HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTING WHAT HAPPENED TO ME FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] HIS LEADERSHIP ON GUN SAFETY HONORS MY SON AND THE COUNTLESS PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY SENSELESS GUN VIOLENCE IN THIS COUNTRY. WE LAST SHARED A SPACE TOGETHER IN A TOWN FORUM IN 2019, AND I CAN SAY TODAY STANDING HERE RIGHT NOW HE STOOD TRUE TO HIS WORD ON THE URGENCY OF CREATING A SAFER FUTURE FOR FAMILIES LIKE MINE AND YOURS. [APPLAUSE] AND ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HIS LIFELONG DEDICATION TO A SAFER AMERICA MEANS THAT TOGETHER WE ARE WORKING TO PROTECT OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES FROM PREVENTABLE PAIN AND TRAGEDY. I AM PROUD TO STAND WITH HIM, AND IS NOW MY GREATEST HONOR TO INTRODUCE HIM. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, JOE BIDEN. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
• PRES. BIDEN: HELLO, HELLO! THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
• >> FOUR MORE YEARS!
• PRES. BIDEN: THANK YOU. THANK YOU. PLEASE COME HAVE A SEAT. I KNOW FROM EXPANSIVE TAKES EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE TO STAND UP HERE AND SHARE YOUR SON'S STORY. MANY OF YOU HAVE LOST SOMEONE TO GUN VIOLENCE. IT IS BEEN A PASSION OF MINE FOR A LONG TIME. IT'S THE REASON WAY BACK A LONG TIME AGO I AUTHORED THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN'S ACT, WHICH NO ONE THOUGHT MADE SENSE AT THE TIME. I HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE THINKING THEY COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS I REMEMBER WELL WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE. THROUGH YOUR WORDS YOU HELP ENSURE THAT YOUR SON AND ALL THE VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE ARE NOT FORGOTTEN. THEY DIDN'T DIE IN VAIN. THREE YOUR LOVE YOU HELP PREVENT THE NEXT TRAGEDY AND SAVE LIVES. AND THREE YOUR ACTIONS -- AND THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS, ONE THING WE MUST NEVER, EVER LOSE, AND I KNOW IT'S HARD BECAUSE I'VE GOTTEN PHONE CALLS AND I KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE, BUT GUESS WHAT, NEVER GIVE UP ON HOPE. HOPE, HOPE, HOPE. [APPLAUSE] I GIVE YOU MY 2ORD, 2 2NOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE, THAT BLACK HOLE WHEN YOU RECEIVE THAT PHONE CALL. IT FEELS LIKE YOU'RE BEING SUCKED INTO IT. JUST SHOWING UP HERE WITH ALL THE WORK YOU'VE DONE TAKES COURAGE BECAUSE IT REMINDS YOU OF THE MOMENT YOU GOT THAT PHONE CALL. IT REMINDS YOU, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT IS. IT IS HARD. BUT YOU ARE MAKING SUCH A DIFFERENCE. THE MAIN REASON I AM HERE IS BECAUSE I MEAN THIS FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART -- [SHOUTING]
• PRES. BIDEN: NO, NO, NO/ NO, NO. NO, NO.
• >> FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS!
• PRES. BIDEN: FOLKS -- FOLKS, IT'S OK. LOOK, THEY CARE. INNOCENT CHILDREN HAVE BEEN LOST. THEY MAKE A FAIR POINT. COME ON NOW. [SHOUTING] [APPLAUSE]
• PRES. BIDEN: FOLKS, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THE DEDICATION TO THIS VITAL ISSUE YOU'VE SHOWN. ALL THE SURVIVORS, VETERANS, FATHERS, MOMS WHO SHARE YOUR PAIN AND PURPOSE. YOU ARE DETERMINED TO NOT FOCUS ON YOUR ANGER BUT ON WHAT YOU CAN DO. LOOK, FOLKS, YOU HAVE HELPED POWER A MOVEMENT THAT IS TURNING ITS CAUSE INTO REALITY. YOUNG PEOPLE WHO DEMANDED OUR NATION DO BETTER TO PROTECT US ALL, THROUGH PROTESTING, ORGANIZING, VOTING. AND YES, WHO'VE MARCHED FOR THEIR LIVES. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, TODAY IS ABOUT CELEBRATING YOU. YOU ARE THE REASON I'M SO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR COUNTRY. I MEAN THAT. IN TWO WEEKS WE WALMART -- WE WILL MARK THE SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT GUN LEGISLATION AND NEARLY 30 YEARS. WE PASSED IT ONLY BECAUSE YOU WENT OUT AND VOTED TO GET IT DONE. YOU MADE IT HAPPEN. IT WAS DESIGNED TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE AND SAVE LIVES. I'M SO PROUD OF THE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS WE'VE MADE SINCE THEN. THE YEAR BEFORE I BECAME PRESIDENT, THE MURDER RATE WAS THE HIGHEST INCREASE ON RECORD. LAST YEAR WE SAW THE LARGEST DECREASE IN MURDER. [APPLAUSE] THOSE RATES ARE CONTINUING TO FALL FASTER THAN EVER. LAST YEAR WE SAW ONE OF THE LOWEST RATES OF ALL VIOLENT CRIME IN NEARLY 50 YEARS. MURDER, RAPE, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, ROBBERY, ALL DROPPED SHARPLY ALONG WITH BURGLARY AND PROPERTY CRIMES. THIS MATTERS. SO MUCH OF THIS PROGRESS IS -- AND I'M NOT JUST BIG SOLICITOUS -- IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU. DON'T UNDERSERVED MAKE -- DON'T UNDERESTIMATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE. YOU'VE CHANGED PEOPLE'S MINDS, YOUR NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, FOLKS OF THE GROCERY STORE. THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN I WAS ABLE TO INVEST $15 BILLION, THE LARGEST INVESTMENT EVER TO REDUCE CRIME. WE BUILT ON THAT PROGRESS THROUGH YOUR HELP. [APPLAUSE] THROUGH THE BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT. AND HERE'S HOW. FIRST, IT REDUCED COMMUNITY VIOLENCE AND MR. VIOLENCE. IT INVESTS $250 MILLION IN VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. [APPLAUSE] MY DAUGHTER IS A SOCIAL WORKER, WORKING FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN. WHAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE IS THESE THINGS MATTER, THEY CHANGE, THEY CHANGE ATTITUDES. WE'VE FUNDED 80 PROGRAMS AND COUNTING. WE HAVE MADE DRUG TRAFFICKING -- TO CHARGE TRAFFICKERS AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE MORE SEVERE PENALTIES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. [APPLAUSE] ADDITIONALLY, THE LAW HAS BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 TRYING TO PURCHASE A FIREARM. IT'S ABOUT TIME. IT'S A BIG DEAL. SINCE THE LAW WAS PASSED AND OF LIMITED, THE FBI STOPPED FIREARM SALES TO THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 AND ABOUT 20,000 UNLICENSED FIREARMS DEALERS ARE NOW LICENSED TO RUN BACKGROUND CHECKS. [APPLAUSE] WHICH WILL KEEP GUNS OUT OF DANGEROUS HANDS. SECOND, IT HELPS STOP MASS SHOOTINGS. IT PROVIDES ALL THIS ON750 MILLION TO STATES TO IMPLEMENT RED FLAG LAWS AND TEMPORARY LOSS FOR THOSE WHO ARE A DANGER TO THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. IT ALSO GIVES $1.3 BILLION TO THOUSANDS OF SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO BUILD A SAFER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING UPDATING SIFTING PLANS, INSTALLING SECURITY EQUIPMENT, HIRING MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. [APPLAUSE] I'M MARRIED TO A FULL-TIME TEACHER. I GET IT. AS WELL AS VIOLENCE INTERVENTION. THIRD, THE ACT PROVIDES OVER $1 BILLION, THE LARGEST ONE-TIME INVESTMENT EVER, AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR SCHOOLS. [APPLAUSE] IT HELPS THEM DEAL WITH GRIEF AND TRAUMA RESULTING IN GUN VIOLENCE. I'VE ATTENDED TOO MANY MASS SHOOTINGS, GONE TO TOO MANY SCHOOLS AND STOOD THERE AND LOOKED AT THE FACES OF THOSE YOUNG CHILDREN AND ALL THE FAMILIES WHO LOST SOMEBODY. IT'S TRAGIC. BUT THEY NEED HELP TO GET THROUGH IT. IT INCLUDES ADDITIONAL 14,000 MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO BE HIRED AND TRAINED IN OUR SCHOOLS FULL-TIME. THAT IS 14,000 MORE. [APPLAUSE] AND OVER 170,000 AMERICANS ACROSS THE TRENCH ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO IDENTIFY WHEN SOMEONE IS HAVING A MIDDLE HEALTH CRISIS AND CONNECT THEM WITH THE HELP THEY NEED. MORE VETERANS AND MORE ACTIVE DUTY PERSONNEL ARE DYING OF SUICIDE THAN IN ANY COMBAT ZONE. IT MATTERS. FOLKS, THIS LAW IS SAVING LIVES. BUT THERE IS STILL SO MUCH MORE TO DO TO MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS OF THE BIPARTISAN SAFER COMMUNITIES ACT. THAT'S WHY LAST OF TIMBER I ESTABLISHED THE FIRST EVER WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION -- LAST SEPTEMBER I ESTABLISHED THE FIRST EVER WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] WE HAVE FIRST-RATE PROFESSIONALS. OVERSEEN BY MY INCREDIBLE VICE PRESIDENT. [APPLAUSE] WHO WAS A PRETTY FIERCE PROSECUTOR AS WELL. DRIVING AND COORDINATING THE NATIONWIDE GUN VIOLENCE IN AMERICA AND TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THIS ISSUE IS TO ME, YOU AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. FOLKS, YOU ARE CHANGING THE NATION, YOU REALLY ARE. YOU ARE CHANGING THE NATION. IT BUILDS UPON DOZENS OF EXEC AT OF ACTIONS TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE, MANY MORE THAN MY PROFESSOR PREDECESSORS. FOLKS, WE ARE NOT STOPPING THERE. IT'S TIME ONCE AGAIN TO DO WHAT I DID WHEN I WAS A SENATOR -- BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I 2EAN IT.
• >> FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS
• PRES. BIDEN: THANK YOU. WHO IN GOD'S NAME NEEDS A MAGAZINE I CAN HOLD 200 SHELLS?
• >> NOBODY!
• PRES. BIDEN: NOBODY, THAT'S RIGHT. I REMEMBER AS A SENATOR I WOULD GO THROUGH AND MEET THE FISHERMEN AND HUNTERS. I CAN MAKE ARE AWESOME -- I CAME ACROSS A GUY WHO SAID YOU WANT TO TAKE MY GUN. I SAID YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE A GUN, BUT I WANT TO TAKE AWAY YOUR ABILITY TO USE AN ASSAULT WEAPON. THIS IS HOW THE CONVERSATION WENT. HE SAID, WHAT YOU MEAN, I KNEW THAT GUN. I SAID, GUESS WHAT, IF YOU NEED HUNDRED BULLETS IN A MAGAZINE, YOU ARE THE LOUSIEST SHOT I EVER HEARD. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I'M SERIOUS! AND TO HIS CREDIT HE SAID, YOU HAVE A GOOD POINT. [LAUGHTER] THINK ABOUT IT. THEY ARE WEAPONS OF WAR. AND BY THE WAY, IT IS TIME THAT WE ESTABLISH UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND BY THE WAY, AND REQUIRE THE SAFE STORAGE OF FIREARMS. WE SHOULD HOLD FAMILIES RESPONSIBLE IF THEY DON'T PROVIDE THOSE LOCKS ON THOSE GUNS, BECAUSE THREE OF THESE MAJOR CRIME SCENES I VISITED WERE ONES WHERE THE MOTHER OR FATHER HAD LEFT THE STUFF OUT ON THE DESK, LEFT THEM OUT ON THE TABLE AND THE KID CAME AND USED IT. AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS MOST IMPORTANT, THE ONLY THE STREET IN AMERICA THAT HAS IMMUNITY ARE GUN DEALERS. WE'VE GOT TO END IT. END IT NOW./ -- END IT NOW. NO, I MEAN IT. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] IMAGINE, IMAGINE IF WE GAVE TOBACCO AN EXEMPTION THAT COULD NOT BE PROSECUTED. IT WON'T HAPPEN. A THOUSAND MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE DYING OF CANCER BECAUSE OF SMOKING RISKS. IT IS TIME TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE ATF AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AS WELL. TO STOP THE CRIMES FASTER. LOOK, UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY THING I'M GOING TO SAY, CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS OPPOSE ALL THESE, EVERY ONE OF THESE. INSTEAD OF STOPPING THESE, THEY ARE WORKING LIKE HELL TO STOP IT. THEY WANT TO ABOLISH THE ATF. THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FINDING GUN CRIME. YOU CAN'T BE PRO-LAW-ENFORCEMENT AND SAY YOU ARE PRO-LAW-ENFORCEMENT AND BE PRO ABOLISHING THE ATF. YOU CANNOT DO IT. IT'S OUTRAGEOUS. I DISAGREE WITH SOME OF MY OWN PARTY AND ON THE OTHER SIDE ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS. AT LEAST THERE IS SOME RATIONAL ARGUMENT THEY HAVE AS PART OF THEIR ARGUMENT. WHAT IN GOD'S NAME IS THE RATIONALE FOR TAKING AWAY ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS? AFTER THE SCHOOL SHOOTING AND I THAT KILLED A STUDENT AND TEACHER, MY PREDECESSOR WAS ASKED ABOUT IT. YOU REMEMBER WHAT HE SAID. THEY HAVE TO GET OVER. HELL NO, WE DON'T HAVE TO GET OVER IT. WE'VE GOT TO STOP IT. WE'VE GOT TO STOP IT, AND STOP IT NOW! [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] MORE CHILDREN ARE KILLED IN AMERICA BY GUNS THAN CANCER AND CAR ACCIDENTS COMBINED. MY PREDECESSOR TOLD THE NRA HE IS PROUD HE DID NOTHING ON GUNS WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT. AND BY DOING 2OTHING 2E 2ADE 2HE SITUATION CONSIDERABLY WORSE. THAT'S WHY THIS SUMMIT AND ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY ARE SO DAMN IMPORTANT. WE NEED YOU TO OVERCOME THE UNRELENTING OPPOSITION OF THE GUN LOBBY, GUN MANUFACTURERS AND POLITICIANS WHEN THEY OPPOSE COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION. WHEN I WAS NO LONGER THE VICE PRESIDENT, I BECAME A PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, BEFORE THAT I TAUGHT CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, I TAUGHT THE SECOND AMENDMENT. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A TIME THAT SAID YOU CAN OWN ANYTHING YOU WANT. YOU COULD NOT OWN A CANON DURING THE CIVIL WAR. I'M SERIOUS. HOW MUCH DO YOU HEAR THIS PHRASE -- THE BLOOD OF LIBERTY WAS LOST -- GIVE ME A BREAK. I MEAN IT, SERIOUSLY. AND BY THE WAY, IF THEY WANT TO THINK THEY TAKE ON GOVERNMENT IF WE GET OUT OF LINE, GUESS WHAT, THEY NEED F-16'S, THEY DON'T NEED A RIFLE. THIS IS CRAZY WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT. BECAUSE WHETHER WE ARE DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS, WE ALL WANT TO BE SAFE. WE ALL WANT TO DROP THEM OFF AT A HOUSE OF WORSHIP, MALL, MOVIE THEATER, SCHOOL WITHOUT WEARING IT'S THE LAST TIME YOU GET TO SEE THEM. WE ALL WANT OUR KIDS TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO LEARN HOW TO READ AND WRITE IN SCHOOLS RATHER THAN HOW TO DUCK AND COVER, FOR GOD'S SAKES. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] AND ABOVE ALL -- ABOVE ALL WE ALL AGREE WE ARE NOT FINISHED! LOOK, NO SINGLE ACTION CAN SOLVE THE ENTIRETY OF THE GUN VIOLENCE EPIDEMIC, BUT TOGETHER OUR EFFORTS ARE SAVING LIVES. WE CAN HELP REALLY A NATION WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY AND SERIOUSNESS AND PURPOSE. WE ARE CHANGING THE CULTURE. WE'VE PROVEN WE CAN DO MORE THAN JUST THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. WE ARE CHANGING POLITICS. YOU ARE PROVING THAT YOU ARE POWERFUL AND RELENTLESS, AND I MEAN THAT. LET ME CLOSE WITH THIS. I KNOW MANY PEOPLE HERE HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY GUN VIOLENCE AND ARE TIRED AND FRUSTRATED. I KNOW, I'VE BEEN TO TOO MANY, I'VE LITERALLY SPOKEN WITH WELL OVER A THOUSAND FAMILIES AT THESE EVENTS I'VE ATTENDED AND MASS SHOOTINGS. I LOOK IN THEIR EYES. YOU COULD ALMOST -- YOU CAN ALMOST FEEL THAT BLACK HOLE THEY FEEL IN THE CENTER OF THEIR CHEST, THEY ARE BEING SUCKED IN, NO WAY OUT. IF THEY HAVE REMAINING CHILDREN, WE LOOK AT THE CHILDREN AND WONDER, MOMMY, DADDY, HOW ABOUT ME? I KNOW YOU MAY WONDER, ARE WE EVER GOING TO MAKE FULL PROGRESS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE? I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WE HAVE NO CHOICE. WE CANNOT GIVE UP TRYING. ALL THE LIVES LOST AND THOSE WHO ARE STILL THERE TO SAVE, WE WILL GET THERE. I HAVE NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT MAY BE, BUT I ALSO HAVE NO ILLUSIONS ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM. YOU ARE CHANGING THE ATTITUDE OF THE PUBLIC. I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I CAN COME UP WITH ALL THESE IDEAS ABOUT THE LAWS WE CAN CHANGE TO MAKE IT EASIER, BUT YOU ARE CHANGING PEOPLE'S LIVES. YOU ARE CONVINCING YOUR NEIGHBORS AND PEOPLE THIS IS NECESSARY. IT'S BEGINNING TO MOVE. LOOK AT THE MOVEMENT YOU HAVE BUILT. THE ELECTED OFFICIALS STANDING WITH YOU. LOOK AT ALL THE MOTHERS ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
• >> MR. PRESIDENT, YOU'RE MAKING A CHANGE. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
• PRES. BIDEN: LOOK. WHEN THERE'S A CRISIS, HALF OF THE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THE CRISIS HAVE TO KNOW, IS ANYBODY LISTENING, DO YOU HEAR ME, DO THEY HEAR WHAT WE ARE SAYING? LISTEN TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE SPEAKING OUT. THAT'S THE POWER OF THE MEMORY OF YOUR LOVED ONES. THAT'S THE POWER OF THIS MOVEMENT. THAT'S THE POWER OF AMERICA. WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING AND KEEP THE FAITH AND REMEMBER WHO WE ARE. WE ARE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THERE IS NOTHING BEYOND OUR CAPACITY WHEN WE ACT AND DO IT TOGETHER. SO GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GOD PROTECT OUR TROOPS. THANK YOU. KEEP IT UP. [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
• >> I KNOW IT'S RIGHT I GOT JUST ONE LIFE IN A WORLD THAT KEEPS PUSHING ME AROUND GONNA STAND MY GROUND AND I WON'T BACK DOWN HEY, BABY THERE AIN'T NO EASY WAY OUT [CAPTIONS COPYRIGHT NATIONAL CABLE SATELLITE CORP. 2024] [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY. VISIT NCICAP.ORG]
• >> C-SPAN'S WASHINGTON