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Oprah Winfrey speaks during DNC program Wednesday night

Oprah Winfrey speaks during DNC program Wednesday night
Yeah. Who says you can't go home again after watching the Obamas last night. That was some epic fire, wasn't it some epic fire? We're now so fired up. We can't wait to leave here and do something. And what we're gonna do is elect Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States. I am so honored to have been asked to speak on tonight's theme about what matters most to me, to you and all of us Americans freedom. There are people who want you to see our country as *** nation of us, against them. People who want to scare you who want to rule you people who would have you believe that books are dangerous and assault rifles are safe that there is *** right way to worship and *** wrong way to love people who seek first to divide and then to conquer. But here's the thing when we stand together, it is impossible to conquer us. In the words of an extraordinary American, the late Congressman John Lewis, he said, no matter what ship our ancestors arrived on, we are all in the same boat. Now, Congressman Lewis knew very well how far this country has come because he was one of the brilliant Americans who helped to get us where we are. But he also knew that the work is not done. The work will never be done because freedom isn't free America is an ongoing project. It requires commitment. It requires being open to the hard work and the hard work of democracy and every now and then it requires standing up to life's bullies. I know this. I've lived in Mississippi in Tennessee, in Wisconsin, Maryland, Indiana, Florida, Hawaii, Colorado, California, and California and Sweet Home Chicago, Illinois. I have actually traveled this country from the Redwood Forest, love those redwoods to the Gulf Stream waters. I've seen racism and sexism and income inequality and division. I've not only seen it at times, I've been on the receiving end of it, but more often than not what I've witnessed and experienced are human beings, both conservative and liberal. Who may not agree with each other, but who would still help you in *** heartbeat if you were in trouble? These are the people who make me proud to say that I am an American. They are the best of America. And despite what some would have, you think we are not so different from our neighbors when *** house is on fire. We don't ask about the homeowners race or religion. We don't wonder who their partner is or how they voted. No, we just try to do the best we can to save them. And if the pa place happens to belong to *** childless cat lady, well, we try to get that cat out too because we are *** country of people who work hard for the money. We wish our brothers and sisters well, and we pray for peace. We know all the old tricks and tropes that are designed to distract us from what actually matters. But we are beyond ridiculous tweets and lies and foolery. These are complicated times people and they require adult conversation and I welcome those conversations because civilized debate is vital to democracy and it is the best of America. Now, over the last couple of nights, we have all seen brave people walk onto the stage and share their most private pain. Amanda and Josh Kaitlyn Hadley, they told us their stories of rape and incest and near death experiences from having the state deny them the abortion that their doctor explained was medically necessary. And they've told us these things for one reason and that is to keep what happened to them from happening to anybody else. Because if you do not have autonomy over this over this, if you cannot control when and how you choose to bring your Children into this world and how they are raised and supported. There is no American dream. The women and men who are battling to keep us from going back to *** time of desperation and shame and stone cold fear they are the new freedom fighters and make no mistake. They are the best of America. I want to talk now about somebody who's not with us tonight. Tessie Prevost Williams was born in New Orleans. Not long after the Supreme Court ruled that segregated public schools were unconstitutional. That was in 1954. Same year I was born, but I didn't have to head to first grade at the all white mcdonna 19 school with *** US Marshal by my side like Tessie did. And when I got to school, the building wasn't empty like it was for Tessie. You see, rather than allowing Madonna to be integrated, parents pull their kids out of the school, leaving only Tessie and two other little black girls, Gail Etienne and Leona Tate to sit in *** classroom with the windows papered over to block snipers from attacking their six year old bodies. Tessie passed away six weeks ago and I tell this story to honor her tonight because she, she like Ruby Bridges and her friends, Leona and Gail the New Orleans four, they were called, they broke barriers and they paid dearly for it. But it was the grace and guts and courage of women like Tessie Prevost Williams that paved the way for another young girl who nine years later became part of the second class to integrate the public schools in Berkeley, California. And it seems to me that at school and at home, somebody did *** beautiful job of showing this young girl how to challenge the people at the top and empower the people at the bottom. They showed her how to look at the world and see not just what is but what can be. They instilled in her, *** passion for justice and freedom and the glorious fighting spirit necessary to pursue that passion. And soon and very soon, soon and very soon we're gonna be teaching our daughters and sons about how this child of an Indian mother and *** Jamaican father, two idealistic energetic immigrants, immigrants, how this child grew up to become the 47th president of the United States is the best America. You know, you know, let me tell you this, this election isn't about us and them. It's about you and me and what we want our futures to look like there are choices to be made when we cast our ballot. Now, there's *** certain candidate says, if we just go to the polls this one time that we will never have to do it again. Well, you know what, you're looking at *** registered independent who's proud to vote again and again and again, because I'm an American and that's what Americans do. Voting is the best of America. And I have always, since I was eligible to vote, I've always voted my values and that is what is needed in this election now, more than ever. So I'm calling on all you independence and all you undecideds. You know, this is true. You know, I'm telling you the truth that values and character matter most of all in leadership and in life and more than anything. You know, this is true that decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024. And, and just plain common sense, common sense tells you that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz can give us decency and respect. They're the ones that give it to us. So we are Americans. We are Americans. Let us choose loyalty to the constitution over loyalty to any individual because because that's the best of America and let us choose optimism over cynicism because that's the best of America. And let us choose inclusion over retribution. Let us choose common sense over nonsense because that's the best of America. And let us choose the sweet promise of tomorrow over the bitter return to yesterday. We won't go back, we won't be set back, pushed back, bullied back, kicked back. We're not going back, not going back, we're not going back. So let us choose, let us choose truth. Let us choose honor and let us choose joy because that's the best of America. But more than anything else, let us choose freedom. Why? Because that's the best of America. We're all Americans and together, let's all choose Kamala
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Oprah Winfrey speaks during DNC program Wednesday night
Oprah Winfrey, one of the most powerful, successful and influential women in the world, spoke during the Democratic National Convention program Wednesday night, lending her voice and support to Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid.Winfrey spoke during the lead-up to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s acceptance of the Democratic vice presidential nomination. She quoted civil rights icon, the late Rep. John Lewis, saying he "knew very well how far this country has come because he was one of the brilliant Americans who helped to get us where we are.”"But he also knew that the work is not done,” Winfrey said. “The work will never be done because freedom isn’t free.” Winfrey, a registered independent, also made a direct appeal to unaffiliated and undecided voters to back Harris, saying, “Decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024.” She adds: “Character and values matter most of all.”Winfrey closed with a resounding shout of “Let us choose Kamala Harris!” The DNC is quickly becoming the hottest ticket in Chicago, with an appearance last night from Lil Jon, and performances from Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Maren Morris and Pink to close out the week.In 2020, Winfrey supported President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, celebrating Harris as the first woman and the first woman of color to serve as VP.“I was thinking the other day, ‘I wish Maya were alive to see it,’ ” Winfrey said to People Magazine in 2020. “…There’s no way to measure what the election of Kamala Harris means for all women, all colors, everywhere.”Winfrey is no stranger to politics. Her endorsement of former President Barack Obama in 2008 made headlines worldwide. She endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016 but largely stayed off the trail. The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Oprah Winfrey, one of the most powerful, successful and influential women in the world, spoke during the Democratic National Convention program Wednesday night, lending her voice and support to Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential bid.

Winfrey spoke during the lead-up to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s acceptance of the Democratic vice presidential nomination.

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She quoted civil rights icon, the late Rep. John Lewis, saying he "knew very well how far this country has come because he was one of the brilliant Americans who helped to get us where we are.”

"But he also knew that the work is not done,” Winfrey said. “The work will never be done because freedom isn’t free.”

Winfrey, a registered independent, also made a direct appeal to unaffiliated and undecided voters to back Harris, saying, “Decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024.” She adds: “Character and values matter most of all.”

Winfrey closed with a resounding shout of “Let us choose Kamala Harris!”

The DNC is quickly becoming the hottest ticket in Chicago, with an appearance last night from Lil Jon, and performances from Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Maren Morris and Pink to close out the week.

In 2020, Winfrey supported President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, celebrating Harris as the first woman and the first woman of color to serve as VP.

“I was thinking the other day, ‘I wish Maya [Angelou] were alive to see it,’ ” Winfrey said to in 2020. “…There’s no way to measure what the election of Kamala Harris means for all women, all colors, everywhere.”

Winfrey is no stranger to politics. Her endorsement of former President Barack Obama in 2008 made headlines worldwide. She endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016 but largely stayed off the trail.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.