On Monday, Hillary Clinton announced her next project: a political group called Onward Together. Clinton announced Onward Together on Twitter and in an email blast to her supporters. In the email, Clinton said, “From the Women’s March to airports across the country where communities are welcoming immigrants and refugees to town hall meetings in every community, Americans are speaking out like never before. I believe more fiercely than ever that citizen engagement at every level is central to a strong and vibrant democracy.”
Visiting the website for Onward Together allows supporters to sign up for updates, donate, and read the mission of the newly created group. The mission statement is below:
Onward Together is dedicated to advancing the vision that earned nearly 66 million votes in the last election. By encouraging people to organize, get involved, and run for office, Onward Together will advance progressive values and work to build a brighter future for generations to come.
Citizen engagement at every level is central to a strong and vibrant democracy. In recent months, we’ve seen what’s possible when people come together to resist bullying, hate, falsehoods, and divisiveness, and stand up for a fairer, more inclusive America.
From the Women’s March to airports where communities are welcoming immigrants and refugees to town hall meetings in every community, Americans are speaking up and speaking out like never before.
The challenges we face as a country are real. But there’s no telling what we can achieve if we approach the fights ahead with the passion and determination we feel today, and bring that energy into 2017, 2018, 2020, and beyond.
Hillary Clinton delivered her concession speech this morning in New York City. In the speech, Clinton thanked Tim Kaine and Anne Holton, her family, and the Obamas for all their support on the campaign trail. She also thanked her staff, campaign volunteers, and everyone who has supported the campaign by voting or donating. Clinton asked that everyone not be discouraged by the results saying that she hopes Donald Trump will be “a successful president for all Americans.” She urged everyone to keep fighting for what they believe in saying, “This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it. It is, it is worth it. And so we need — we need you to keep up these fights now and for the rest of your lives. And to all the women, and especially the young women, who put their faith in this campaign and in me: I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion.” A video and transcript of Clinton’s speech is below.
TRANSCRIPT:
Thank you. Thank you all very much. Thank you so much. A very rowdy group. Thank you, my friends. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you so very much for being here. I love you all, too. Last night I congratulated Donald Trump and offered to work with him on behalf of our country.
I hope that he will be a successful president for all Americans. This is not the outcome we wanted or we worked so hard for, and I’m sorry we did not win this election for the values we share and the vision we hold for our country.
But I feel pride and gratitude for this wonderful campaign that we built together. This vast, diverse, creative, unruly, energized campaign. You represent the best of America, and being your candidate has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
I know how disappointed you feel, because I feel it too. And so do tens of millions of Americans who invested their hopes and dreams in this effort. This is painful, and it will be for a long time. But I want you to remember this.
Our campaign was never about one person, or even one election. It was about the country we love and building an America that is hopeful, inclusive, and big-hearted. We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought. But I still believe in America, and I always will. And if you do, then we must accept this result and then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead. Our constitutional democracy enshrines the peaceful transfer of power.
We don’t just respect that. We cherish it. It also enshrines the rule of law; the principle we are all equal in rights and dignity; freedom of worship and expression. We respect and cherish these values, too, and we must defend them.
Let me add: Our constitutional democracy demands our participation, not just every four years, but all the time. So let’s do all we can to keep advancing the causes and values we all hold dear. Making our economy work for everyone, not just those at the top, protecting our country and protecting our planet.
And breaking down all the barriers that hold any American back from achieving their dreams. We spent a year and a half bringing together millions of people from every corner of our country to say with one voice that we believe that the American dream is big enough for everyone.
For people of all races, and religions, for men and women, for immigrants, for LGBT people, and people with disabilities. For everyone.
I am so grateful to stand with all of you. I want to thank Tim Kaine and Anne Holton for being our partners on this journey.
It has been a joy get to go know them better and gives me great hope and comfort to know that Tim will remain on the front lines of our democracy representing Virginia in the Senate.
To Barack and Michelle Obama, our country owes you an enormous debt of gratitude.
We thank you for your graceful, determined leadership that has meant so much to so many Americans and people across the world. And to Bill and Chelsea, Mark, Charlotte, Aidan, our brothers and our entire family, my love for you means more than I can ever express.
You crisscrossed this country, even 4-month-old Aidan, who traveled with his mom. I will always be grateful to the talented, dedicated men and women at our headquarters in Brooklyn and across our country.
You poured your hearts into this campaign. To some of you who are veterans, it was a campaign after you had done other campaigns. Some of you, it was your first campaign. I want each of you to know that you were the best campaign anybody could have ever expected or wanted.
And to the millions of volunteers, community leaders, activists and union organizers who knocked on doors, talked to their neighbors, posted on Facebook — even in secret private Facebook sites.
I want everybody coming out from behind that and make sure your voices are heard going forward.
To anyone that sent contributions, even as small as $5, that kept us going, thank you. To all of us, and to the young people in particular, I hope you will hear this — I have, as Tim said, I have spent my entire life fighting for what I believe in.
I’ve had successes and setbacks and sometimes painful ones. Many of you are at the beginning of your professional, public, and political careers — you will have successes and setbacks too.
This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it.
It is, it is worth it.
And so we need — we need you to keep up these fights now and for the rest of your lives. And to all the women, and especially the young women, who put their faith in this campaign and in me: I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion.
Now, I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday someone will — and hopefully sooner than we might think right now.
And to all of the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.
Finally, finally, I am so grateful for our country and for all it has given to me.
I count my blessings every single day that I am an American, and I still believe, as deeply as I ever have, that if we stand together and work together with respect for our differences, strengthen our convictions, and love for this nation, our best days are still ahead of us.
Because, you know, I believe we are stronger together and we will go forward together. And you should never, ever regret fighting for that. You know, scripture tells us, let us not grow weary of doing good, for in good season we shall reap. My friends, let us have faith in each other, let us not grow weary and lose heart, for there are more seasons to come and there is more work to do.
I am incredibly honored and grateful to have had this chance to represent all of you in this consequential election. May God bless you and may God bless the United States of America.
President Barack Obama also held a press conference today in which he congratulated Trump on his victory and committed to a smooth transition of power. Obama said that he will meet with Trump at the White House on Thursday. He said that he is dedicated to ensuring a successful transition of power because that is how American democracy works. Obama added, “We are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country.” A video of his speech is below.
Hillary Clinton spent the final day of the campaign speaking at events in three states. She began at an event in Oakland, Pennsylvania where she outlined her vision of America and said that she wants “to be the president for all Americans, not just some.” She never mentioned Donald Trump by name, but she urged everyone to “rise above all of this hate-filled rhetoric.” She concluded her speech by asking everyone to get out and vote tomorrow adding, “I’m here to ask you to vote for yourselves, vote for your families, vote for your futures. … Because they are on the ballot.” A video from the event is below.
Clinton then traveled to Allendale, Michigan for a get out the vote rally on the campus of Grand Valley State University. Clinton focused more on her platform and the future of the country than she did her opponent. She spoke about her plans to create jobs, improve health care, make college more affordable, raise the minimum wage, and ensure equal pay for women. She said that if elected president, she will work for everyone and looks forward to working with Senators Debbie Stabenow and Bernie Sanders to pass a platform aimed at helping all Americans. Clinton concluded her speech by asking everyone to vote tomorrow. Watch a video of her speech below.
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a rally was held in front of a crowd of several thousand. The event began with musical performances by Jon Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen. Bill and Chelsea Clinton then took the stage and briefly spoke about the importance of the election. Next, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama each spoke about Clinton’s platform and how she is the only candidate to carry on the legacy of the Obama administration. When Clinton took the stage, she urged everyone to consider the future of the country saying that she is optimistic. She concluded by asking everyone to get out and vote tomorrow. A video from the event is below.
Hillary, Bill, and Chelsea wrapped up the campaign at a midnight rally in Raleigh, North Carolina. The event opened with performances by Jon Bon Jovi and Lady Gaga, then Chelsea and Bill spoke. They spoke about the campaign and the importance of voting tomorrow. When Hillary took the stage, shorty before 1 am, she spoke about her optimistic vision of the future and urged everyone to vote for the future they envision for our country. “I believe it’s the most important election of our lifetime. It’s not just my name or Donald Trump’s name on the ballot, it’s the kind of country you want,” she said. A video from the event is below.
Hillary Clinton will deliver a special 2-minute national closing message tonight in a television ad that lays out the choice in this election and the type of president she wants to be for the entire country. The 2-minute closing message ad is airing to an estimated 20 million people Monday night during the shows with the largest audience available – the Voice (NBC) and Kevin Can Wait (CBS).
In the personal and positive closing message, Clinton makes the case that people are rejecting a campaign “defined by fear and division” and choosing one that is “hopeful and inclusive.” She also lays out a hopeful future for our country saying she’s “convinced our best days are still ahead of us, if we reach for them together” and pledged to “be a President for all Americans. Not just those who support me in this election — for everyone.” And, she makes clear her mission as President will be “To give our kids – and every American — the chance to live up to their God-given potential.”
On Saturday, Hillary for America released a mini-documentary titled “The Story of Us.” The eight minute video chronicles Hillary Clinton’s campaign for the presidency, a story that began on April 12, 2015. As Americans vote and got to the polls on Tuesday, the documentary is a great look back at the last year and a half. Watch the documentary below.
On Thursday in North Carolina, Hillary Clinton continued to make her closing argument for the presidency, outlining her record of championing the interests of people of color throughout her career–in contrast with Donald Trump’s history of racial discrimination and divisive rhetoric. Throughout her professional life and candidacy, Hillary has pledged to take on social injustice, including systemic racism and sexism. If elected president, Hillary has vowed to pass end-to-end criminal justice reform and implement common sense gun reform, priorities of great concern to communities of color.
Trump, on the other hand, has throughout his life and this campaign repeatedly instilled division and hate–from championing the racist birther movement and courting conspiracy theorists, to calling for a deportation force for immigrant families and banning Muslims.
Long before Trump ran for president, he was sued by the Department of Justice for racial discrimination at his family’s housing developments in Brooklyn and Queens–in addition to discrimination at properties in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Norfolk, Virginia. Federal investigators were told that Trump employees would mark applications of prospective renters with “C” for “colored” and refused to rent to African Americans. At her event in Winterville today, Mae Brown Wiggins, a registered nurse who was turned away from an apartment Trump managed because of her skin color, introduced Hillary, describing the impact Trump’s actions had on her life.
Years later, in the 1980’s, Trump took out full-page ads in four newspapers calling for the death penalty for a group of black and Latino teenagers who were wrongly convicted of a crime, some as young as 14 years old. Just recently, Trump doubled down on his view that the five men, who were exonerated based on DNA evidence, are still guilty and should go to jail. Trump’s refusal to accept the evidence and admit he was wrong about the Central Park 5 is deeply disturbing, and continues to exacerbate deep and painful wounds borne by the men and their families.
The choice is clear. Americans deserve a president who believes Americans are stronger together, not one whose dark and divisive vision is fundamentally at odds with who we are as Americans.
As the presidential election draws to a close, here’s a recap of Trump’s pattern of discrimination and divisiveness:
A History of Housing Discrimination
Trump was twice sued by the Department of Justice for discrimination in housing.
Despite Trump’s claim that many companies were sued for discrimination when he was, the truth is that Fred and Donald Trump’s violation of the law was so egregious that the case made against them was “one of the strongest”
At the first presidential debate, Trump admitted he was sued for housing discrimination saying, “we settled… it was very easy.”
Trump’s real estate company had a disturbing practice of marking applications from black families with the letter “‘C’, for ‘Colored.”
A Trump building manager had the rental application of a black woman and was instructed to “‘Take the application and put it in a drawer and leave it there,’ Mr. Leibowitz, now 88, recalled in an interview.”
The N-word was used Trump offices and Donald was reportedly was in the room when it happened.
Black families made up a tiny percentage of renters in Trump-owned buildings.
Trump vs. Central Park 5
Trump paid for a racially provocative ad calling on New York lawmakers to reinstate the death penalty for five teenage Latino and African American men who were wrongfully accused of raping a woman.
Trump refused to acknowledge the innocence of The Central Park 5 even after their 2014 exoneration.
Trump continued pushing his birtherism theory to delegitimize President Barack Obama every Trump’s conspiracy theory: President Obama is a Muslim and rendered ineligible for the presidency because he was born in Kenya.
When asked what he would say to people of color who were hurt by his remarks Trump repeatedly said, “I say nothing.”
Trump said African Americans have “nothing to lose” by voting for him because: “You’re living in poverty. Your schools are no good. You have no jobs.”
Trump continues to ignore history and disparage black Americans, saying the African American community is in the worst shape “ever, ever, ever” and African Americans in cities are “living in hell” and living in “war zones.”
Trump retweeted “racially loaded” and “wildly inaccurate” statistics claiming Blacks were responsible for 81 percent of White homicides.
Hateful Movements
Trump’s campaign shared an anti-Semitic image on his twitter that first appeared on white supremacist websites.
Trump has received an outpouring of support from hate movements like the alt-right.
White Supremacists used Trump’s candidacy as a recruiting tool.
White Supremacists and Klan members supported Trump, comparing his views to their views.
David Duke said Trump has “Made it OK to talk about these incredible concerns of European Americans today, because I think European Americans know they are the only group that can’t defend their own essential interests and their point of view.
“Virginia KKK Leader Endorses Trump: ‘What He Believes In, We Believe In.’”
Trump on being supported by White Supremacists: “A lot of people like me.”
More Discrimination in Trump Organization
Trump Plaza was fined $200,000 for shuffling Black and female dealers away from a high-rollers table to accommodate the preferences of patron and “reputed mob figure” Robert LiButti.
Trump Marina was fined for requesting non-Black driver.
When Trump came to his casino, Black people were allegedly ordered off the floor, according to a former employee in a report by The New Yorker.
Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speaks at a campaign rally at Pitt Community College in Winterville, North Carolina, U.S., November 3, 2016. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Hillary Clinton returned to North Carolina on Thursday where she spoke at two events. Her first event was on the campus of Pitt Community College in Winterville. Clinton spoke for over half an hour about a number of her platform points including criminal justice reform, creating new jobs, making college more affordable, and creating an economy that works for everyone and does not favor those at the top. She also went after Donald Trump for his divisive rhetoric and his comments about various groups including women, Muslims, immigrants, and African Americans. Clinton said that Trump’s comments are encouraging others adding, “He’s giving a dog whistle to his supporters. [He’s] endorsed by the official paper of the KKK.” Clinton concluded her speech by asking everyone for their vote and encouraged them to take advantage of early voting or turn out next Tuesday. A video from the event is below.
Clinton then traveled to Raleigh where she was joined by Senator Bernie Sanders and singer Pharrell Williams. Williams and Sanders spoke first talking about the stakes of the election and encouraging everyone to vote. When Clinton took the stage, she spoke about a number of her platform points including her plans to create more jobs by investing in infrastructure and American manufacturing, continuing to update the health care system to ensure universal coverage, and making college more affordable for families and students. Clinton concluded her speech by encouraging everyone to take advantage of early voting or to vote next Tuesday. A video of the event is below.
Hillary Clinton campaigned in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday where she spoke about the importance of the election and electing down ballot Democrats such as Senate candidate Catherine Cortez Masto. During her speech, Clinton outlined a number of her key platform points including her plans to create jobs, pass comprehensive immigration reform, and build an economy that works for everyone. Clinton attacked rival Donald Trump for admitting that he would only accept the results of the election if he won and for his divisive comments and policies. She concluded her speech by asking everyone to vote. “The question is what kind of change are we going to have? Are we going to build a fairer stronger better America or are we going to fear the future and each other?” she said. A video of Clinton’s speech is below.
Clinton then spoke at a rally in Tempe, Arizona. She appeared at the event with former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband, Mark Kelly. During her speech, Clinton spoke about a number of platform points including passing common sense control, creating jobs, and building an economy that works for everyone. She also went after Trump saying, “Imagine a president who demeans women, mocks the disabled, insults Latinos, African Americans, Muslims, POWs, who pits people against each other, instead of pulling us together. Someone with a very thin skin, who lashes out at anyone who challenges him, who praises adversaries like Vladimir Putin and picks fights with our allies and even insults the Pope.” Clinton concluded by asking everyone to vote on November 8th turn “turn Arizona blue.” A video from the event is below.
On Tuesday, Hillary for America released a series of ads targeting Donald Trump a week before the election on November 8th. The first three ads feature Republicans and one former Trump supporter who have vowed to support Hillary Clinton in light of Trump’s comments about women. The final video highlights a number of comment Trump has made about women over the decades. Next is a video titled “27 million Strong” about how the Latino immigrants in the United States can send Trump a message on election day. The ad is being released in both English and Spanish. Then, the Briefing has a video called “The Trump Effect” which looks at how Trump’s divisive statements affect Americans. Then, an ad that encourages African American voters to get out and reject Trump’s divisive platform. Next is an ad titled “We are America” and outlines the dangers a Trump presidency would present to the American democracy. Then, the next video features Katy Perry’s song Roar and outlines a number of reasons to vote for Clinton. The next video imagines what life in America will be like after a year of a Trump presidency. The final ad is a radio ad talking about Trump’s history of demeaning African Americans. Watch the videos below.
Bill Clinton returned to Florida on Tuesday where he campaigned for Hillary Clinton at three events. His first event was in Florida City where he told a crowd of supporters that Hillary Clinton is, by far, the best candidate for president and that countless military and national security experts agree. “They know what the real security issue is. The real security issue is having somebody who will keep you safe and strong while we can grow our way together,” he said. Bill focused on Hillary’s plans to ensure that Americans are able to prosper together, and he outlined her plans to create jobs, grow the economy, and make college more affordable. He concluded by asking everyone to vote on election day or to vote early. A video of Bill’s speech is below.
Bill then traveled to Immokalee where he was greeted by supporters. Bill is the first former president to every visit the town. He spoke about the stark differences between Hillary and her opponent, Republican Donald Trump, saying that her plans focus on everyday people, and not those at the top. Bill touted Hillary’s plans to ensure college is affordable for everyone, improve the Affordable Care Act, and create jobs by investing in infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy. Again, Bill concluded stressing the importance of voting saying, “The most important thing you can do is to vote and take your friends to vote. Do it today tomorrow and every day through Election Day. If enough people who are for Hillary turn out, she’ll win Florida, and she’ll be the next president.” A video from the event is below.
Bill’s final stop of the day was in St. Petersburg where he focused on Hillary’s platform points and the divisive nature of Trump’s campaign. Bill outlined a number of Hillary’s key policies including her plans to create jobs and ensure an equal opportunity for every American to succeed. He then contrasted that vision with Trump’s saying that the racist undertones of Trump’s campaign are becoming more obvious. “As a 70-year-old Southerner, I know what will make America great again,” Clinton said implying that Trump will make it difficult for anyone who is not white. Bill concluded his speech by encouraging everyone to vote saying, “If people who are for Hillary, vote for Hillary, she’ll win Florida and be our next president.” Watch a video of the rally below.
Hillary Clinton Speeches 