STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY AT THE EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT RALLY (As Prepared for Delivery)

(As Prepared for Delivery)
We’re here today to speak up and it’s about time they listened. Let’s speak up so every Congressman hears you. Speak up so every Senator hears you. Speak up so the White House hears you. Let’s speak up! Because we’ve got something to say!We have so many great leaders here today who have given their lives to the cause of working families. They speak up for them every single day. It’s an honor to join John Sweeney, Larry Cohen, Gerry McEntee, Jimmy Hoffa, and Cecil Roberts – and so many other great champions for working families – ACORN, Campaign for America’s Future, American Rights at Work, US Action.We’re here together because the hard working men and women of America have made this nation strong. This is a great nation because of you. You built our economy. You served with pride in our armed forces. You fought in our wars. You’ve sacrificed your brothers and sisters and sons and daughters for our nation. You uphold our values and our pride.Working men and women of America are our greatest strength, and that is why we are here today. Working men and women don’t ask for much in return. A good job that treats them with dignity. Decent pay to raise their children. Quality health care for their families. AND. THEY. WANT. UNIONS!!!Americans know that unions built the middle class. They know that unions made the American dream. They know that unions are the voice of fairness and decency and hope and opportunity for millions of men, women and children in our great land. Americans want that dream back, and we need one thing to get us there – the Employee Free Choice Act! Working families have done so much for our country. Surely we can pass fair labor laws for them.So my friends. This is our moment. This is our fight. This is our destiny. It’s time to call the roll. Let’s call the roll from Boston to L.A. From Chicago to Houston. From Seattle to Atlanta. From the Capitol to the White House. Let’s call the roll!And when they call the name of Kennedy, I’ll raise my hand with pride and cast my vote for the working families of America.